Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman strikes out seven in encouraging spring debut

Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman had a very encouraging performance in his spring training debut on Monday, raising hopes he could be ready to pitch in a major-league game early in the season.

Gausman, who was dealing with shoulder soreness throughout camp, threw three scoreless innings in the team's spring finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday in Bradenton, Fla.

Gausman threw 52 pitches, 33 for strikes, and allowed three hits while striking out seven. He was pulled after allowing Ke'Bryan Hayes to reach base on a weak single to open the fourth.

Tim Mayza replaced Gausman and allowed Hayes to score on a double by Henry Davis.

Gausman's fastball was sitting just above 95 m.p.h. He struck out three with the fastball and four with his split.

“Felt like I had the command and the velocity," Gausman said. "Nothing happened with the (pitch) clock, clock is fine. Kind of checked all the boxes."

Before the game, Gausman said he wanted to “three innings, 55 pitches and go from there."

This could position Gausman to start on the back-end of the rotation’s first turn, but he didn't want to pencil himself in just yet.

“We’ll see how I feel tomorrow, kind of how I bounce back. I think that will be a big question mark. Then, we’ll talk and see what the next step is," he said.

Had he not experienced some shoulder soreness earlier in camp Gausman would have been the club’s Opening Day starter, but Jose Berrios will handle those duties instead, followed by Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi, manager John Schneider said last week.

Bowden Francis is tentatively slated to handle the finale of the season-opening four-game series at the Tampa Bay Rays, setting up Gausman for the series opener at Houston next Monday. He’d likely have 70-75 pitches for a start after Monday and the Blue Jays could progressively stretch him out from there.

"I think that's a doable jump for sure," Gausman said.