The Toronto Blue Jays received 89 video games final season and went to the postseason thanks largely to their pitching employees. They had been nearly precisely league common in runs scored, however the Blue Jays allowed the sixth-fewest runs and had been high 4 in ERA and ERA+. Toronto was a run prevention membership a yr in the past and that’s anticipated to proceed in 2024.
The early days of spring coaching haven’t been type to the Blue Jays by way of pitcher well being, nevertheless. On Monday, supervisor John Schneider revealed ace Kevin Gausman is coping with a shoulder challenge — described as “basic fatigue” — that has delayed his spring debut. An MRI revealed “no structural considerations or harm,” Schneider informed reporters (per MLB.com).
“It sort of simply popped up,” Schneider stated (per MLB.com). “He did not actually bounce again after his (bullpen session a couple of days in the past). We’ll see how he’s in a few days.”
Gausman was scheduled to throw 40 or so pitches in a simulated sport Tuesday, although that has been placed on maintain. Alek Manoah, who allowed 4 runs and hit three batters in 1 2/3 innings in his spring debut, can be coping with a shoulder challenge. High prospect Ricky Tiedemann has been nursing a hamstring harm as properly. Toronto’s rotation depth chart seems to be one thing like this:
- RHP Kevin Gausman (slowed by shoulder challenge)
- RHP Chris Bassitt
- RHP José Berríos
- LHP Yusei Kikuchi
- RHP Alek Manoah (slowed by shoulder challenge)
- RHP Bowden Francis
- RHP Yariel Rodriguez (slowed by again spasms)
- LHP Ricky Tiedemann (slowed by hamstring challenge)
Bassitt, Berríos, Gausman, and Kikuchi all made a minimum of 30 begins final season. The Blue Jays weren’t solely the lone group in baseball to have 4 starters make a minimum of 30 begins, they had been the primary group to perform the feat since 2019. The sturdiness of Toronto’s starters was integral to their success, and that sturdiness is being examined this spring.
After all, spring coaching is the time to be cautious, and Opening Day is greater than three weeks away. Gausman and Manoah nonetheless have sufficient time to construct up and be prepared for the common season so long as their shoulder hassle clears up moderately quickly. If we’re sitting right here in 7-10 days and so they have not resumed throwing but, then it’s going to be time to surprise if they’re going to be prepared for the season.
Gausman, 33, is getting into his third season with the Blue Jays. He completed third within the AL Cy Younger voting final yr and has been terrific in his two years with Toronto, pitching to a 3.25 ERA and averaging 180 innings and 221 strikeouts per season.
There are not any indications the Blue Jays will go exterior the group to herald pitching assist — Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell stay unsigned — although a critical harm may change issues.
