TORONTO – One day after the Toronto Blue Jays managed a weather-shortened win on a blustery night at Progressive Field, the threat of rain pushed back Saturday’s scheduled game in Cleveland, leading to the second double-header of the week for the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon.
"It's fine right now, but they say during the (scheduled game time) it's supposed to get like it did last night when it was unplayable," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "That's the explanation I heard."
The postponement means the Blue Jays will play five consecutive seven-inning games dating back to Thursday’s double-header in the Bronx and including Friday’s 11-2 win. It also means Cleveland will play consecutive double-headers Sunday and Monday, though that may actually be preferable for manager Terry Francona given that double-header games last just seven innings and are typically less taxing for a bullpen.
Either way, the Blue Jays appear to be in relatively good shape with respect to a pitching staff that’s been pushed hard in recent weeks. Ross Stripling and Steven Matz are slated to start Sunday, and while the Blue Jays would ideally get extended outings from both, off-days on Saturday and Monday give them some flexibility should they need more from their bullpen.
"We're rested now," Montoyo said. "But when it comes to seven-inning double-headers, you're hoping your starter goes six innings and then you can use just two pitchers. So that's our hope: that Matz and Strip go at least six."
At this point, the Blue Jays plan to use Stripling as a traditional starter but they haven’t ruled out using an opener as they did on Monday, when he pitched seven strong innings of relief after making some adjustments to his delivery in an attempt to build in more deception.
On Tuesday, the Blue Jays will open the Buffalo portion of their home schedule with a two-game series against the Miami Marlins. After Robbie Ray starts Tuesday, Miami native Alek Manoah will get the ball Wednesday for the second start of his big-league career.
Following the two-game series against Miami, the Blue Jays have another off-day Thursday before the Houston Astros arrive for a three-game series. In theory, then, the Blue Jays’ oft-used bullpen should be relatively well-rested over the upcoming week or so.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are being cautious with one of the pitchers they’re hoping to add to the big-league pitching staff this summer. Thomas Hatch, who’s working his way back from an elbow injury at triple-A, struck out four in three innings of work in his first rehab outing but the right-hander’s now getting some extra days of rest after experiencing what the team’s describing as mild cramping/tightness in his side.
