BALTIMORE – Seeking to minimize the number of times they need to resort to bullpen games, the Blue Jays will start Kevin Gausman on regular rest against the Texas Rangers Friday.
The move sets up a bullpen game Saturday, but could allow the Blue Jays to stave off another all-hands-on-deck effort until July 1 against the Red Sox. The first time Alek Manoah’s vacant rotation spot came up, the Blue Jays turned to a combination of Trevor Richards and Bowden Francis, both of whom figure to have a role in Saturday’s game.
"That blueprint played out pretty well," manager John Schneider said Wednesday. "Those guys are stretched out enough to cover five innings, at least ... I like the way that rolled out for sure."
Thomas Hatch is another candidate to pitch Saturday after impressing the Blue Jays by striking out eight of the 18 hitters he’s faced this year.
Gausman's numbers are far better with extra rest this season (1.08 ERA, .493 OPS allowed on five-plus days' rest vs. 5.77 ERA, .777 OPS allowed on four days' rest) but there’s some small sample noise there and his career splits aren’t nearly as pronounced.
Off days on June 22 and June 26 will allow the Blue Jays to get by with a four-man rotation for most of the second half of the month if they so choose. While pitching plans are made to be changed, that appears to be the way the club’s leaning at a time when they only have four established starters.
As for Manoah, he threw an extended, 72-pitch bullpen session Saturday, some of which took place in the Blue Jays' Dunedin, Fla. pitching lab and some of which occurred on a standard mound.
"Every report has been good,” Schneider said afterwards. “He's working his ass off down there."
Manoah has had company in Florida as Hyun Jin Ryu has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery at the team’s complex. The left-hander’s now almost a full year removed from the ligament replacement procedure and was slated to throw a live batting practice session this week.
As Schneider said: “It is good to have a buddy that you can kind of confide in a little bit, who's been through his own ups and downs over the course of his career.”
If all goes well, Manoah could theoretically be a candidate to return to the rotation July 1. It’ll be a while longer before Ryu’s a realistic option to return to the rotation, though he’s certainly trending in the right direction.
Meanwhile, the 42-25 Rangers will counter with starters Martin Perez, Dane Dunning and Jon Gray.
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