Thomas Hatch, Trent Thornton are among the Blue Jays’ rotation hopefuls lining up behind Alek Manoah

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This article was published 28/05/2021 (1632 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alek Manoah became the latest player to get a big-league call from the Blue Jays this week, his stellar debut undoubtedly earning at least another turn in Toronto’s rotation.

Even if the 24-year-old right-hander joins Toronto’s staff for the long term, it won’t be the last time the Jays look for rotation help in Triple-A this season. Between injuries and performance, the starting staff is sure to need a boost again.

But injuries and performance also muddy the Jays’ options.

The Bisons led the 20-team Triple-A East with a team ERA of 2.87 heading into play Friday. Some of that success is because of Manoah, who posted a league-best 0.50 ERA through three starts for the Bisons. Right-hander Connor Overton has also helped Buffalo’s cause, posting a 1.00 ERA, fourth in the league, over 18 innings, 13 in starts.

Many of Buffalo’s relievers deserve credit, too. Kirby Snead, Tayler Saucedo, Hobie Harris and Jackson McLelland are all carrying ERAs between 0.87 and 2.25 thus far.

Eight Bisons have worked as traditional starters this season. Five of those arms fall into the bottom six when comparing Buffalo ERAs: Jacob Waguespack (4.67), Nick Allgeyer (5.19), Nate Pearson (5.59), T.J. Zeuch (5.68) and Casey Lawrence (6.75).

Those middling results mean Toronto would likely prefer to turn to a group of players at various stages of recovery — provided they’re available.

Trent Thornton, who the Jays have relied on as a bulk man so far this year, hasn’t rejoined the rotation because his stuff overall was down to start the season, pitching coach Pete Walker said earlier this month. Pitching in small increments, after missing much of last year with an elbow issue that led to surgery, has helped Thornton, and his velocity has started to tick up of late. Whether or not the Jays will move him from his current role remains to be seen.

“We’re really happy with where he’s at right now physically, how he’s throwing the ball, the life on the ball is probably better than it’s been in a long time,” Walker said. “I still think he’s in a great place doing what he’s doing right now and we’ll just continue to evaluate as we go throughout the season.”

Thomas Hatch, who was pushing for a spot at the back of Toronto’s rotation before he was sidelined by right elbow impingement in March, is back on the mound with the Bisons as part of a rehab assignment. Walker believes Hatch, currently on Toronto’s 60-day injured list, will be a big part of the team in the second half of the season.

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“Certainly with him, it’s just a typical progress, building his arm strength and building him up to a normal workload for a starter,” Walker said. “When he’s there, he’ll be in the conversation again.”

And don’t count out Anthony Kay, either, Walker said. The left-hander was placed on the injured list with a left fourth-digit blister and optioned to the minors this week, but Walker still has high hopes for Kay, who has a 6.62 ERA in 17 2/3 innings for Toronto this year.

“We’re still trying to refine his stuff and where he’s throwing his stuff,” Walker said. “But I still think he’s a viable option as a major-league starter … I still think there’s a lot of upside there and I still think he’s going to help us out in that rotation.”

The Jays will most certainly need help again this season. Who gets the call first is up for grabs.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy