The duo of Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman, affectionately known as Strochez, is the key to the Toronto Blue Jays rotation. Their 2016 seasons have gone in opposite directions, unfortunately, but these two should be a part of Toronto’s success for many years to come. As Sanchez and Stroman continue to pitch at the major league level, teams will further discover the holes in their games. The great pitchers adapt; the not-so-great move to the pen or down to AAA. The 39-34 Jays currently sit 2.5 games back of the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. If they want to repeat as division champs, Sanchez and Stroman must continue to live up to the first round picks that brought them to Toronto.
Sanchez and Stroman Key to Toronto Blue Jays Future
Sanchez Successes
The success of Aaron Sanchez this season has been a pleasant surprise. A 7-1 record with a 3.35 ERA is excellent for a guy who, just back in March, was fighting for the fifth starter job. He is also averaging almost a strikeout per inning, with eighty-nine over 91.1 innings pitched, and could be a 200-strikeout pitcher at season’s end. With the exception of Marco Estrada, he has become the most consistent and reliable starter in the Jays rotation this season. He owns a 4-0 in his last seven starts, despite an elevated 4.11 ERA in that span. If he executes well in his next start on Friday against the Chicago White Sox he may start getting some All-Star consideration, if he hasn’t already.
Drafted 34th overall by Toronto back in 2010, Sanchez was expected to one day play a predominant role in the Jays pitching staff. Since his debut on July 23, 2014, he has played up to the hype. He is still only 23 years old and has shown only seen a brief glimpse of what he can bring to the table. He has pitched 216.2 innings at the MLB level, but over that time has a 16-9 record and a 2.95 ERA. His best start of his career came back on June 7th of this year, when he went eight innings and gave up a mere three hits while striking out twelve. Although he did not walk away with a win, that type of performance will one day be closer to the norm for Sanchez.
Stroman Struggles
On the flip side, Marcus Stroman, after a miraculous return from right knee surgery last season, has stumbled out of the gate in 2016. A 6-3 record and 5.23 ERA is not exactly the stat line the organization wants out of a player hailed as the ace of the future. Despite a great seven inning, six strikeout game back on June 14, Stroman has failed to execute at a number one starter caliber.
Selected with the 22nd overall pick by Toronto in 2012, Stroman quickly rose through their minor league system and made his MLB debut on May 4, 2014. Despite an unfortunate knee injury, Marcus maintained his positive demeanor and turned this negative into a positive. While recovering, he returned to Duke and earned his Sociology degree. He belongs on the diamond, however, and, through dedication and hard work, he made a surprisingly early return to the mound in September, and what a September it was. He went 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA and gave Toronto that extra boost to get into the playoffs and make a run. Anticipation and expectations ran high for the 2016 season.
Although he has gone 2-3 with a 7.59 ERA over his last seven starts, Marcus is still only 25 years old and is certainly far from becoming Ricky Romero 2.0. He needs to make adjustments, and a trip to Triple-A would not be disastrous. Don’t forget, even the greatest pitcher in Blue Jays history, Roy Halladay, got sent down early in his career. Stroman does have a 21-9 record over his thirty-nine starts and a career ERA of 4.04. He has also only pitched 254.0 innings, and so remains in the learning process. With a positive attitude and an open mind, he can get back on track.
The Future of Strochez
Together, their jerseys make up 416, appropriate for the Toronto duo. The future is bright for both Sanchez and Stroman. The Jays should feel confident that they will continue to find success in the rotation and make Toronto a winning franchise. They have one of the greatest veteran catchers in the game in Russell Martin to control games and keep their composure intact. They have a veteran in R.A. Dickey to learn from, and one of the best Jays hitters of all time in Jose Bautista, who graciously takes the time to give his insight on what batters may be thinking with them on the mound.
Sanchez and Stroman can and will easily combine for thirty or more wins per season. They feed off each other and make one another better. Get ready, Jays fans. It may be Our Moment, but it is also certainly Their Moment. #Strochez will not just be trending on Twitter, but in the hearts of Blue Jays fans for many seasons to come.
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