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Spring training is underway, with exhibition games starting as early as Sunday. The Blue Jays went out this summer and improved the teams in some big ways, bringing in stars such as George Springer and Marcus Semien.
Perhaps the biggest question mark for this team entering the season in the starting rotation, especially the fifth spot, which is still very much up for grabs.
Currently, it looks like the Blue Jays have four guaranteed starters entering the season. Those players are Hyun Jin Ryu, Nate Pearson, Robbie Ray, and Tanner Roark. Beyond that, some intriguing names will be battling throughout camp to be named the fifth and final starter. So, let’s take a look at some of the options.
Trent Thronton
This is the player Blue Jays fans will be most familiar with, as Thornton was the Jays most reliable pitcher during the 2019 season. That season he had a record of 6-9, starting 29 games and having 154.1 innings pitched.
Last season, injuries kept him to just 5.2 innings pitched, which was disappointing. We didn’t get a chance to see if there were any significant improvements in his game from 2019.
He’s a pitcher with a tremendous ability to throw strikes and get strikeouts. His consistency is a big question mark, but the ability to eat innings was something he did on an awful rotation in 2019. Now, he has a better support system around him in both the starting rotation and the bullpen and could be a very effective fifth starter.
Steven Matz
Matz was acquired in a trade with the New York Mets in exchange for Sean Reid-Foley, Josh Winckowski, and Yennsy Diaz. Matz, similar to Thornton, had an injury-plagued 2020 season. He saw action in just nine games, six of which were starts, and had 30.2 innings pitched.
His 9.68 ERA in 2020 might scare some Jays fans; however, it honestly shouldn’t. It looks to be a one-off in terms of his production, as in both 2018 and 2019, he was a very serviceable starter for the Mets.
In 2019, Matz had a record of 11-10 with a 4.21 ERA and 253 strikeouts. His 2.2 war that year won't be winning him any awards, but it shows he can have value as a starting pitcher. He won't be asked in Toronto to be a top of the rotation pitcher. However, if he can pitch 150 or more innings in 2021, most teams would be thrilled about that from their fifth starter.
Ross Stripling
Stripling was a deadline accusation by the Blue Jays from the eventual World Series Champion Dodgers. He appeared in five regular season games with the Jays, two of which were starts. He isn’t an innings eater, only hitting 100 innings pitched in two seasons so far in his career. 2020 was a bad year for his standards, having an ERA at 5.84. Meanwhile, in the four previous seasons, he had an ERA below 4.00. He is a prime candidate for a bounce-back season, and he’s only making $3,000,000 this season, which could make him a steal.
He has excellent pitch control when he’s on his game. In 2018, his best season yet in the major, he threw for 136 strikeouts in 122 innings while only walking an incredible 22 batters.
Anthony Kay
This is the player Charlie Montoyo would love to see come in and steal a job from one of the players previously mentioned. The Jays acquired Kay as part of the package for Marcus Stroman in 2019 along with Simeon Woods-Richardson.
Kay has been a starting pitcher all throughout his minor league career. In 2019, Kay was called up and started two games for the Blue Jays and didn't look out of place. Last season, with there being no minor league season, Kay appeared in 13 games for the Blue Jays but all as a relief pitcher.
Still, there is a ton of upside in the 25-year-old pitcher, and he will likely be a part of this rotation for a long time. The decision is, though, does that begin this season, or does he need more time to develop?
Predictions
This is a tough decision, one I'm sure Montoyo is happy to have, though.
Matz and Thornton look to be the early frontrunners based off of skill and experience alone. If one of those two shines in camp, they could be given the job to start but could have short leashes if their first couple starts don't go so hot.
Kay would be the player that would make management, and most fans, thrilled about. However, the only way he slides into that spot is if he is completely light's out in the exhibition matchups, to the point where Montoyo would look like a fool not to give him a shot.
The Jays seemed to be alright with using Stripling out of the bullpen last season, but he's someone who can come in a pitch multiple innings if a starter has a bad first couple innings and needs to get pulled from the game early.
Competition is good for players, it pushes them to be their absolute best, and the Jays have that. Likely, each of these players will get some starts throughout the season, and all will likely see some appearances out of the bullpen.
The Jays shouldn't have any instances this season where they don't have a capable starter on the mound, no more Edwin Jackson situations. Having too many good starting pitchers has never been a bad thing, and it never will.
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