Blue Jays 2023 Pitching Rotation

Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays finished second in the AL east and were set to face the Seattle Mariners during a wild card round. Unfortunately, The Mariners swept the Blue Jays in only two games, and it seemed as if the pitching was to blame. Even though the pitching was decent throughout those two games, it simply wasn't enough to keep the Blue Jays’ World Series hopes alive. Throughout this article, we will dive into which Blue Jays Pitchers have retained their spot in the starting rotation and if any new names are to be added for the upcoming season.

Alek Manoah:

Alek Manoah is undeniably the Blue Jays’ best starting pitcher in every aspect. The Blue Jays picked him 11th overall in the 2019 draft and certainly haven't regretted it since. Last Season Alek Manoah finished with a 2.24 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP over 196.2 innings, which is outstanding and rare for such a young pitcher. The 24-year-old, right-handed pitcher had a record of 16-7 during 2022 and was the AL pitcher of the month in September. Coming in at 6 '6, Alek Manoah looks intimidating standing on the mound, and his variety of pitches confirms it. 67% of Manoah's pitches are fastballs registered at an average of 94 MPH, but don't underestimate his slider. Even though he only throws his slider 27% of the time, it is tricky to track and has acceptable movement, making batters more likely to strike out. Alek Manoah was voted into the AL all-star team for the first time in his career, but it won't be the last. If Manoah can keep his numbers consistent with the previous season, he will benefit the Blue Jays, and Alek Manoah will continue to be one of the best pitchers in the league.

Kevin Gausman:

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins signed RHP Kevin Gausman to a five-year $110 million contract during the offseason before the 2022 season. Gausman had come off a great season with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP, earning the NL pitcher of the month award in May as a San Francisco Giant. Blue Jays’ management was confident that Gausman could fill the hole in their pitching rotation, and he did just that. 31-year-old Gausman showed solid pitching, helping the Blue Jays in an area in which they had always been unsuccessful. With a 12-10 record, he put up a 3.35 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, pitching 174.2 innings. Kevin Gausman came into a leadership role for younger pitchers within the team and became a reliable pitcher his teammates, and Blue Jays fans could count on.

Chris Bassitt:

Newly acquired Chris Bassitt is the latest addition to the Blue Jays’ pitching rotation as of December 12. Ross Atkins signed Bassitt to a three-year deal worth $63 million. Last season Chris Bassitt played with the New York Mets, where he recorded a 3.45 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The Ohio-born pitcher nicknamed “C Bass” was drafted in the 16th round in 2016 by the White Sox and has had good stats ever since. Bassitt is a consistent pitcher, which his new ball team has always needed. The Blue Jays hope he can step up and help them go further in the postseason in 2023.

Jose Berrios:

Jose Berrios didn't put up the best numbers in the 2022 season for the Jays, with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. However, even with those numbers, he still had a record of 12-7, probably due to his outstanding slider. Berrios was featured in David Adler's “Nastiest Pitches of ‘22,” published on November 26th, 2022, for the 93.7 MPH slider he had thrown on June 4th that had a 25.2-inch horizontal break. While allowing more runs than the other starting pitchers on the Jays, he still had a favorable record, which is why he has kept his spot in the rotation. 

Last Spot Still Undecided:

With four exemplary starting pitchers, Ross Atkins and the Blue Jays aren't too worried about this last spot. Most analysts assume it will be Yusei Kikuchi who transitioned into a bullpen pitcher early in the year after having the stamina for only three to five innings. His numbers were comparable to Jose Berrios, but his stamina makes it not certain that he could fill a starting pitcher role again. Another name we could see fill this spot is Mitch White, whom the Jays acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline. During his brief time with the Jays, White had a 0-5 record and a 7.74 ERA. These numbers are nowhere near exceptional in the Major Leagues, so he definitely won't be the first choice, but he is there in case of injuries. Lastly, there have been rumors recently about Toronto eyeing veteran pitcher Johnny Cueto, who put up a 3.45 ERA throughout 158.1 innings.

Articles and news reports have stated that the Toronto Blue Jays will have one of the top pitching rotations going into the new year. Only time will honestly tell.