BALTIMORE — Twelve days after his last pitching appearance, Alek Manoah is in Toronto "doing everything he needs to be doing to get rolling” but without an immediate plan for returning to game action, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday.
Manoah last pitched on Aug. 10, when he allowed four runs on four hits in four innings to the Cleveland Guardians while striking out six and walking three. The next day, the Blue Jays optioned the 25-year-old to triple-A Buffalo.
Only Manoah didn’t immediately report to Buffalo, the way players typically do. Instead he’s staying in Toronto with the big-league team’s blessing while the Blue Jays play on the road in Cincinnati and Baltimore — a less conventional approach with next steps yet to be determined.
“We're just trying to work through the right time to get him back rolling again,” Schneider said. “So nothing really to report.”
Manoah finished third in American League Cy Young voting last year, when he posted a 2.24 ERA in 196.2 innings during his first full season. But early-season struggles in 2023 led to a demotion to the Florida Complex League on June 6.
After a month of work behind the scenes, Manoah returned to the big-leagues on July 7, when he impressed in Detroit against the Tigers. Yet in six total starts back in the majors he posted a 4.91 ERA, and was ousted from the rotation soon after Hyun Jin Ryu returned.
Asked who was driving the decision to have Manoah remain in Toronto, Schneider said it was mutual.
“It's kind of both of us working through it to figure out what's just best for him to get back and be productive,” the manager said. “So yeah, a joint thing and just taking it day by day.”
After 12 days without appearing in a game, it’s unclear whether Manoah would be available to rejoin the rotation should a starter be needed on short notice in case of injury. Bowden Francis and Trevor Richards have pitched more recently, which might make them more appealing options.
While Schneider didn’t rule Manoah out as a possible sixth starter, it appears the situation is still developing.
“I’m not sure at this point, really,” Schneider said. “I think just looking at other options that we have — him being one of them, obviously — but I'm not sure at this point. I think with everyone, especially, starting pitching and especially him, you just try to make sure he's in the best possible spot if that does pop up. We like our other options, too.”
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