DETROIT – Regardless of where the 2017 season leads for the Toronto Blue Jays, they need a strong finish from Aaron Sanchez.
If you’re still hoping that the Blue Jays can return to the playoffs, then they’ll need Sanchez’s arm. As much as anyone, he has the ability to help the Blue Jays go on a run.
Even if you think that’s unrealistic, that this flawed team won’t be capable of overcoming slim playoff odds, Sanchez’s finish matters a whole lot. After three stints on the disabled list, the Blue Jays are cautiously optimistic about the health of his right middle finger. Continued setbacks would shatter that optimism and impact the club’s 2018 outlook. But if he puts together a couple of strong months? Those concerns dissipate and it’s easier to chart a return to the post-season next year.
So far, so good for the Blue Jays’ short- and longer-term prospects.
Sanchez pitched six strong innings Friday, as the Blue Jays started the second half of the season with a 7-2 win over a Detroit Tigers team that got in its own way early and often. The outing, Sanchez’s second since returning from the disabled list, represents a considerable improvement over his first game back—an ugly start against the Houston Astros in which he allowed five earned runs while recording just five outs.
“He was really good tonight,” manager John Gibbons said. “He was popping it pretty good, sticking it with some good breaking balls. He looked like the old guy today, and that’s a good sign.”
It also marked a fresh start of sorts for the Blue Jays, even if there’s no escaping their 42-47 record.
“We had such a disaster of a first half in terms of guys going down, not playing our best,” Sanchez said. “Today, for us, it’s like a new season.”
To be fair, Sanchez wasn’t perfect Friday. He struggled to find his release point early, scattered the ball more than he hoped to, and saw his pitch count climb as a result. He threw just 11 curveballs—not as many as he’d usually throw in the course of six innings.
“Really it’s a hard pitch to control, because you throw that thing so hard and the break can be so damn big,” Gibbons said. “A lot of times (hitters) buckle at it—they’re not even offering.”
Still, he topped out at 98 m.p.h. and showed improved feel for the curve, striking out Victor Martinez with back-to-back hooks in the fourth inning.
Most importantly, he appeared to have no physical issues while throwing 101 pitches. That will allow him to prepare for his next start the way he did last year–that is to say without having to worry about blisters or cracked nails.
“There’s been no issues with my finger,” he said. “Obviously you’ve got to be cautious with it. You don’t want this thing to flare up in a bullpen session. You’ve got to be smart. But as of now there are no reins on it.”
Opposite Sanchez, Justin Verlander looked just as impressive until the fifth inning, when Steve Pearce continued his hot streak with a home run. Kevin Pillar followed with a routine fly ball to right field, but J.D. Martinez botched the play and Pillar scored on a Jose Bautista sacrifice fly two batters later.
The Tigers then took advantage of a Blue Jays error, as a wild throw from Josh Donaldson allowed Jose Iglesias to score an unearned run off of Sanchez. Though Donaldson didn’t necessarily atone for the mistake the following inning, he did work Verlander for a 10-pitch strikeout after falling behind 0-2, working the count full and fouling off four pitches.
Verlander walked the next two hitters, foreshadowing what was to come from the shaky Detroit bullpen. Tigers relievers issued six walks Friday, including two with the bases loaded, turning a pitchers’ duel into a blowout to the dismay of Tigers fans.
“We’re not in any position to wait around,” Pearce said. “We have to make a move.”
By the time the game ended, the Blue Jays had a season-high 10 walks. “It’s kind of a trademark of our hitters, so maybe that’s a good sign,” Gibbons said.
That total includes three from Kevin Pillar, who has now matched his 2016 season tally with 24, and two each from Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales. Still, the Blue Jays did more than take advantage of the Tigers’ wildness. Bautista homered, passing George Bell for third place on the franchise RBI list with his 15th of the season, and Pearce collected two singles and a homer.
That all pales in comparison to what happened on the mound, though. For the first time in months, Aaron Sanchez looked like himself, allowing the Blue Jays to breathe a little easier about a prized arm.
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