Toronto Blue Jays pitchers have been been outstanding in the second half (2.79 ERA, .229 BAA) compared to baseball’s first half (4.18 ERA, .257 BAA). The very promising Marcus Stroman is continuing the process of rehabilitating from a torn ACL suffered in Spring Training by progressing to live game action. The recovery seems improbable, but the Jays cannot ignore what’s going one here.
Marcus Stroman departs two outs into the 5th, relieved by Conor Fisk for the final out. His final line: 4.2 IP, 1 BB, 7 K. Lugs lead, 3-0.
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) September 3, 2015
Stroman proved with a multitude of five-plus pitches in 2014 that he has similar stuff to one-time Toronto ace Roy Halladay. That comparison alone means a lot for his ambitious future.
Right now, the Jays are saying if he impresses enough during his rehab assignments and shows no signs of risking further injury to his surgically repaired knee, Stroman will work his way back into a role with the club out of the bullpen. Stroman himself seems hell-bent on returning to the rotation, both through his determined recovery efforts, but also with his words.
David Price and Mark Buehrle have to be considered locks for postseason starts at this point, barring injury. It would be tough to remove Marco Estrada from the rotation or even R.A. Dickey for that matter, who is now 8-5 with a 3.26 ERA since June 2. On the same night the 24-year-old Stroman silenced opposing bats with the Lansing Lugnuts, Dickey pitched himself an absolute gem versus the Indians with a complete game win. He allowed only one earned run and four hits during the contest while punching out six. The knuckle ball is working well at the moment and so long as it remains a baffling pitch, manager John Gibbons will have the humble Dickey’s back.
That leaves the fifth and final starter, Drew Hutchison to be considered. A mess on the road(2-1, 9.00), Hutch has been strangely effective at the hitter friendly Rogers Centre (11-1, 2.46) in 2015. Stroman clearly boasts more explosive stuff and has a higher ceiling, so moving Hutchison to the bullpen could be the play if Stroman returns. But should it be?
It would seem almost anti-climatic if the Blue Jays don’t hand Stroman the ball in a starters capacity when he is ready to return. This season has been one of great hope and pleasure for Jays fans, and the miraculous comeback by one of the premier young pitchers in the organization feels like a perfect storm of sorts for Toronto to make its impression felt this postseason.
The New York Yankees kept pace with the Toronto Blue Jays after also securing a win Wednesday night. Top prospect Luis Severino (2-2, 2.17) has been a great addition to the Yanks’ rotation since being called-up on August 5. If Toronto wants to create a larger gap between themselves and the hungry veterans of New York by forcing them into a wild card situation, it would be difficult to deny Macrus Stroman any starts in September.