DETROIT – The Toronto Blue Jays began the season hopeful that their starting rotation would deliver them back to the playoffs only to arrive at the all-star break disappointed.
Now, as the Blue Jays begin the second half with a three-city road trip through Detroit, Boston and Cleveland, they’re still hopeful their starting staff can fuel their success. The odds are against the Blue Jays, 41-47 entering play Friday, but manager John Gibbons points to his now-healthy rotation as one reason for optimism.
“It’s going to be a difficult task. There’s no doubt about that. But I’m still holding out hope that we run that stretch where we get good pitching,” Gibbons said.
“Because starting pitching has been up and down and the offence has been up and down. You’ve got to get both of those things clicking for a stretch. That’s how you make up some ground. We really haven’t that.”
The Blue Jays open the second half with Aaron Sanchez on the mound, and he’ll be followed by Francisco Liriano and Marco Estrada in Detroit. Marcus Stroman and J.A. Happ will then pitch the first two games against the Red Sox next week.
Sanchez allowed five earned runs on seven hits in his return from the disabled list Friday, when he threw just 28 of 55 pitches for strikes. If there’s anything positive to take from the start it’s that he experienced none of the finger issues that he battled earlier in the season.
“I thought he looked fine,” Gibbons said. “I thought he looked healthy. I thought he was popping it pretty good. But like anybody else, he’s still got to pitch. Use his change-up, use his breaking ball and get them over. The fastball was good.”
Gibbons said isn’t concern over the right-hander now that’s he’s feeling better physically. Next up: develop better feel for his breaking pitches.
“The key for him will be getting his breaking ball over,” Gibbons said. “He doesn’t have to hit on it all of the time, but a little more consistency with that will do wonders.”
Meanwhile, Stroman won’t pitch until Monday because of caution over a potential blister that surfaced two starts ago in New York. Gibbons said the right-hander’s fine physically, but the club wanted to build in a little extra rest regardless.
Conversely, the Blue Jays wanted to get Estrada and Liriano out there early since they haven’t pitched since July 5 and 6, respectively.
“You don’t want them to sit too long,” Gibbons said. “Nothing more scientific than that.”
And though nobody in uniform wants to contemplate the possibility, that long-awaited surge in the standings might not happen. Even then, the Blue Jays would have far more options in trade talks if the likes of Estrada and Liriano pitch well before July 31.
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SMITH COULD RETURN THIS WEEKEND
Right-handed reliever Joe Smith will pitch Friday for the Buffalo Bisons and, if he feels strong physically, could return to the MLB level later in the weekend against the Tigers.
Smith posted a 3.41 ERA in 31.2 innings with 47 strikeouts against just eight walks before hitting the disabled list due to right shoulder inflammation. Once he returns, the Blue Jays will have another late-inning relief option.
“I like (the bullpen) the way it is now,” Gibbons said. “That’s only going to enhance it.”
Expect Joe Biagini to see some lower-leverage opportunities for the time being after allowing four earned runs in his most recent relief appearance.
TIGERS VS. BLUE JAYS
The Blue Jays open the second half against a team that’s somewhat comparable to theirs.
“Two similar-type teams to begin with,” Gibbons said. “Both teams placing a lot on their rotations. Both teams have lineups that have always hit—basically right-handed hitting lineups. Neither team much speed. A lot of similarities. They’re trying to get it going, too.”
Both the Tigers and Blue Jays will also have to consider mid-season trades if their first-half struggles continue, but as the Tigers showed two summers ago, teams can move impact players while still adding talent. Their 2015 trades for Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd allowed the Tigers to contend last year and continue to pay dividends now.
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