ATLANTA, Ga. – Marcus Stroman’s encouraging season debut and Drew Hutchison’s road struggles prompted the Toronto Blue Jays to use a five-man rotation for the remainder of the regular season.
The move bumps Hutchison from the starting rotation for the second time this year and means Marco Estrada will start Thursday in the series finale against the Atlanta Braves. But if Hutchison’s disappointed he’s not about to dwell on it.
"There’s not time for that. You don’t have time for personal things like that," Hutchison said Tuesday. “I need to be ready to go tonight if my name’s called, so there’s no time for that. I can’t feel sorry for myself or anything like that. I’m not going to make excuses."
For now Hutchison moves to the bullpen, and if all goes well for the Blue Jays he will stay there for the remainder of the regular season — or at least as long as there’s something at stake. Still, there’s always a chance the 25-year-old could be asked to spot start.
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"If we feel like we need to insert him in there, give somebody a break, we can do that, but we’d like to just roll with five," manager John Gibbons said.
Hutchison was Toronto’s opening day starter, but he posted a 5.33 ERA in 147 innings due in large part to an unexplainable 9.44 road ERA. The Blue Jays optioned him to triple-A in late August, opting for a four-man rotation while off-days permitted. He returned Aug. 29, pitching well against the Detroit Tigers before struggling against the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox.
Paired with Stroman’s return, those struggles were enough to prompt the change. The Blue Jays told Hutchison of the move Sunday at Yankee Stadium before the series finale against the Yankees.
Mark Buehrle’s start against the Braves Tuesday will give the Blue Jays an idea of whether a recent cortisone shot helped his sore left shoulder. If necessary, Hutchison could spell the veteran left-hander, but Gibbons suggested his shoulder’s "not that bad.”
"He’s felt that way probably the last couple of years anyways," Gibbons said.
The change of plans sets Marcus Stroman up to start Friday’s series opener against the Red Sox and prevents the right-hander from pitching in an NL park, where he would have to hit and run the bases soon after rehabbing a torn ACL. R.A. Dickey will then start Saturday with Buehrle starting Sunday and David Price pitching Monday in the first of three crucial games against the New York Yankees.
That leaves Hutchison on the outside looking in, intent on staying as mentally and physically sharp as possible while he awaits his next outing.
"Like I’ve said a million times I want to win, so whatever I can do to help us and put us in the best position to win I will," he said.
ENCARNACION SIDELINED: Edwin Encarnacion will rest his sore finger again Tuesday, with Justin Smoak getting the start at first base.
The Blue Jays haven’t ruled out calling on Encarnacion as a pinch-hitter, but there’s a chance they will use their final interleague series of the season as a chance to rest their DH. National League rules mean only one of Encarnacion, Smoak and Chris Colabello can start, which means some of the Blue Jays’ bats will be on the bench no matter how Gibbons configures his lineup.
Still, the Blue Jays are eager for the return of Encarnacion, who has 32 home runs and a .906 OPS thanks to an extended hot streak.
"It’s a different look without him and (Troy Tulowitzki)," Gibbons said.
Encarnacion left the second game of the Blue Jays’ Saturday doubleheader after aggravating a finger injury he has battled on and off since July. He did not play Sunday and the Blue Jays were off Monday, allowing for consecutive days of rest.