Although there are a few more months until the 2020 regular season starts, it is worth predicting the Toronto Blue Jays starting rotation. Now with the Winter Meetings in the rearview mirror, Blue Jays fans are starting to get a better idea of their team. For the past few months, fans have been hearing about the organization’s weakness in pitching. With veterans such as Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez being traded away in 2019; the 2020 rotation may not be as good. However, the young pitchers have the opportunity to solidify their spot in the rotation.
While it’s likely that the Blue Jays may acquire another arm through free agency or trade, if they don’t here is what the rotation could like.
Opening Day Starter
As Marcus Stroman was the 2019 Opening Day Starter, the Toronto Blue Jays will have a new Opening Day starter in 2020. Whoever it is this will be the sixth different opening day starter in seven years. Here are the likely favorites to become the Opening Day Starter.
Chase Anderson
Chase Anderson was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays back in November in exchange for minor league prospect Chad Spanberger. He has six years of Major League experience (his last four with the Brewers). During the 2019 season in Milwaukee, he produced a 4.21 ERA with a WHIP of 1.266 with 139 innings pitched. Although the 2019 season wasn’t great for Anderson, he’s hoping that Toronto can help his career.
Looking deeper at last season, half of his 32 starts have gone at least five innings and only gave up more than two runs on seven different occasions. As the second pitcher in the Brewers rotation, Anderson is seen as a top of the rotation guy. While his numbers in 2019 may not show it, he hopes to be the Blue Jays’ opening day starter.
Matt Shoemaker
The 2019 season did not go according to plan for Matt Shoemaker. While he got off to the est start of his career; his season came to an abrupt end with a season-ending ACL injury. In 28 innings pitched, Shoemaker had an ERA of 1.57 with a 0.872 WHIP. Shoemaker has a career ERA of 3.81, which is what Blue Jays fans should expect from him. If he could pitch as he did at the start of the 2019 season, it’s easy to say he would be the Opening Day starter. While he appears healthy now, he will have to prove himself in Spring training to be considered the ace of the Blue Jays.
Middle of the Rotation
Tanner Roark
Having recently signed to a two year/ $24 million contract, Tanner Roark is one of the newest members of the Blue Jays. Roark is likely to be considered a middle of the rotation guy in Toronto. In an average game in 2019, Roark goes five innings while only giving up less than three earned runs. If the Blue Jays can get at least 175 innings out of Roark he will be a valuable acquisition. The challenge for Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker is working on reducing his 1.397 WHIP from 2019.
Trent Thornton
After a respectable rookie season in 2019, Trent Thornton looks to build on his performance in 2020. As the only Blue Jays starting pitcher who played the whole year, Thornton is the only familiar face to the Blue Jays rotation. Heading into his 26-year-old season, Thornton will hopefully be a solid starter for the Blue Jays. In 154 innings pitched, Thornton had an ERA of 4.84 an 8.7 Strikeouts per nine innings. Trent had a rate of 3.6 walks per nine innings, which will hopefully be reduced in 2020.
Battling for the Last Spot
Ryan Borucki
If there’s any pitcher that is excited that 2019 is over, it’s Ryan Borucki. After a great 2018 with the Blue Jays, Ryan was poised to gain a spot in the rotation in 2019. Borucki started the season on the 60-day injured list with elbow inflammation and finished with only four starts between the Toronto Blue Jays, Buffalo Bisons, and Dunedin Blue Jays. He will hope to lower his 4.31 career ERA, and 2020 will be his chance to do so.
Anthony Kay
For those who are unaware, he is what the Blue Jays got in exchange for Marcus Stroman. While he did make a few starts with the Blue Jays last September, he played most of 2019 in Triple-A with the Blue Jays and the New York Mets. While Anthony Kay is heading into his 25-year-old season, he has a chance of making the rotation out of Spring Training. Although he will likely start the season in Buffalo.
Shun Yamaguchi
The newest member of the Toronto Blue Jays, Shun Yamaguchi signed with the team on December 17 for 2 years. He comes from the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) League in Japan. In 2019, Shun produced a 2.91 ERA with a WHIP of 1.171 in 170 innings pitched. After 14 seasons in the NPB, he is hoping to make the Blue Jays starting rotation at the age of 32.
T.J. Zeuch
Similar to Anthony Kay, T.J. Zeuch played most of 2019 in Triple-A and came up to make his Major League debut in September. In five games, he produced a 4.76 ERA in 22 innings pitched and 7.9 strikeouts per nine. The Blue Jays 2016 first-round draft pick will become a starter eventually and 2020 might be the year he breaks into that starting rotation.
Starting the Season in Triple-A Buffalo
Jacob Waguespack
Last season Jacob Waguespack got the call up to the majors due to the Blue Jays needing starting pitchers. In 13 starts with the Blue Jays, he had an ERA of 4.38, a WHIP of 1.333 in 78 innings pitched. He will likely be the odd man out of the Blue Jays rotation. Although he would likely start the season in Buffalo, chances are he would come up to Toronto and make a few starts by the end of the 2020 season.
Sean Reid-Foley
After his first call up in September 2018, Sean Reid-Foley showed a lot of promise for years to come. He came into Spring Training in 2019 with a chance to make the starting rotation. Unfortunately for him, he was unable to do that and started the season in Buffalo. While in Buffalo, he produced a 6.47 ERA; but still managed to get called up to the Blue Jays in September 2019. He will likely start a third season in Buffalo, hopefully, able to make the Blue Jays starting rotation in 2021.
Final Thoughts
A lot of criticisms have been made around the Blue Jays starting pitching. While 2020 may not show a dominant rotation, the future looks bright for the young Blue Jays starters. The front office wants to trust the young starters, but not just yet. It’s likely every pitcher on this list will make at least one start for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020.
