TORONTO — Because of baseball’s relentless schedule, there’s rarely a chance to anticipate individual regular season games. When you play 162 times in 180 days, the mentality in clubhouses must stay simple: play the game in front of you.
But occasionally, there are exceptions. Like opening day, for instance. Or maybe Max Scherzer vs. the Yankees, Justin Verlander vs. Dylan Cease. Those days are rare, but they happen. And lately, Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre has been emerging as one of the most anticipated games of the Blue Jays’ 2022 season.
Not only will Alek Manoah take the mound in front of a sellout crowd on a day the Blue Jays celebrate the 30-year anniversary of their first championship, he’ll be facing another pitcher sure to get Cy Young consideration in 2022: reigning American League MVP Shohei Ohtani.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Manoah said before working out Friday afternoon. “We’re honouring the 1992 World Series team as well. It’s going to be a day game. The atmosphere’s going to be amazing. And he’s probably the most talented guy in the game, so it’ll be fun.”
Batting third as the Angels’ designated hitter Friday, Ohtani hit a two-run triple, adding to a season in which he has already hit 27 home runs with 11 stolen bases and an .863 OPS. That's nothing new for Ohtani, who beat Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for last year's MVP in large part because of his bat (46 HR, .965 OPS in 2021).
But his pitching has improved this year, with a 2.83 ERA in 121 innings through 21 starts. Ohtani's walk rate is down to 6.5 per cent, his strikeout rate is up to 33.9 per cent and he's pitching deeper into games. All told, he has already generated 5.6 wins above replacement.
“He’s as unique a player as you’ll find in the game,” interim Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “It’s exciting. It’s a challenge and we’re looking forward to it.”
Facing Ohtani has never been easy given his overpowering 97.2 m.p.h. fastball, his hard slider and his biting splitter. But his velocity has increased this year and his control has improved, too. Plus, the recent addition of a two-seam fastball keeps hitters guessing.
Jackie Bradley Jr. puts it simply: “He’s good.”
Even so, Bradley Jr. has had some success against Ohtani, with four hits in seven career at-bats, including a double. In the hours leading up to Saturday’s game, Bradley Jr. doesn’t expect his preparation to differ from his usual routines.
“It’s the same,” Bradley Jr. said. “Obviously he’s a very good player, but he still has to throw it across the plate. We’ll prepare the same and I’m sure he’s preparing for us as well.”
And while Bradley Jr. certainly appreciates Ohtani’s unique skillset, he’s not necessarily inclined to put the two-way star on a pedestal.
“I marvel at a lot of guys in this game,” he said. “To be able to play at a high level, at the highest level there is, it’s a tribute to all the work a lot of guys have put in. Learning and getting better. He’s a special player. He’s dynamic on both sides of the ball and he’s good for the game.”
So, too, is Manoah, a pitcher who brings big-game energy every time he starts, regardless of the opponent. This time, he’s well aware of who he’s facing, eager for the challenge ahead and determined to be the one celebrating a win on Saturday night.
“I’m not worried about what he’s doing,” Manoah said. “The only time I’m worried about him is when he comes to the plate and we have a good game-plan in place to try to get him out. Hopefully it’ll be one of those really good pitching duels where we’re both going back and forth. Hopefully we get him in the end.”
