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Toronto Blue Jays: Marco Estrada Impressive Again, Officially in Ace Conversation

By Adam Piede

Jun 5, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marco Estrada (25) reacts after a line drive by Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (not pictured) is caught by Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (not pictured) to end the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 5, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marco Estrada (25) reacts after a line drive by Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (not pictured) is caught by Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (not pictured) to end the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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It was barely a blip on the sports ticker when the Toronto Blue Jays traded Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers for Marco Estrada in November of 2014.

When discussing the trade former Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos remarked, “If the season were to start today, Marco would be in the bullpen.” At the time, no one could have predicted the Jays were acquiring the future ace of their rotation and one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. At 32, Estrada is experiencing a career reformation north of the border and dominating the American League East in the process.

Yesterday Estrada bewildered the Boston Red Sox over seven no-hit innings, before losing his no-hitter with one out in the eighth. The Blue Jays won the game 5-4 and shutting down the hottest hitting team in baseball was the latest in a long string of excellent starts for Estrada. After compiling career highs last year in every major pitching category, Estrada is taking his game to a new level this season. He has allowed a mere 44 hits in over 72 innings, while his 2.41 ERA ranks fourth in the American League.

After the departure of David Price, Estrada has emerged as the staff ace in Toronto this season. He also proved his mettle during his three starts in the 2015 post season where he went 2-1 while giving up just five runs in nearly 20 innings pitched. This year he has been the rock in the rotation, giving the Jays a solid outing each time his turn to take the ball comes up. Considering Toronto’s slow start to the season, Estrada’s excellence has been paramount to the team staying within striking distance in the competitive AL East. On the back of Estrada and an improved offense, the Jays have picked up the pace recently and now sit just 2.5 games out of first in the division.

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One does raise the question as to where this newfound success suddenly came from. It is quite rare for a player to elevate his game so dramatically, especially as they enter their early 30’s. Often you will find a converted starter find success as a reliever, but Estrada has become elite while staying in the starting rotation. The answer to this question likely has many different layers. In his roughly 250 innings for Toronto, Estrada has commanded his pitches down in the zone much more effectively. Without one dominant pitch, Estrada has been able to consistently keep batters off-balance with an array of off-speed pitches. The presence of Russell Martin behind the dish cannot be overstated either. The battery mates work great together and the results clearly have shown on the field.

Starts like yesterday in Boston are now almost becoming routine, as Estrada has taken three no-hitters into the eighth inning since he joined Toronto last year. It is really remarkable to think that in 2014 he allowed the most home runs in the league, and the following year he was garnering Cy Young votes. It is even more amazing when you take into account that he is pitching in the homer happy AL East.

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Marco Estrada is certainly not a name that comes to mind when you think of the top pitchers in baseball. His pitching over the past year and a half has put him into the ace conversation. Since donning the maple leaf on his cap, Estrada has most certainly performed at the caliber of an ace. The Blue Jays have designs on a return to the playoffs, and they will need to lean heavily on the right arm of Estrada, a thought that seemed utterly outrageous just one year ago. Chris Sale, Felix Hernandez and David Price have long been the best pitchers in the American League, but its time to add one more name to the list: Marco Estrada.

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