What questions remain for Blue Jays as spring training comes to an end?

DUNEDIN, Fla. – While one of the best seasons are memorable, one of the best springs are forgettable. In that respect, the Blue Jays are proper the place they need to be.

With one date remaining on the Grapefruit League schedule, they’re basically able to play video games that depend. In truth, as supervisor John Schneider joked Monday morning, they’ve been prepared for not less than per week.

To be honest, there was not less than one large query in Blue Jays camp when spring started: who would spherical out the beginning rotation? But after posting a 1.00 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 18 Grapefruit League innings, Yusei Kikuchi supplied a definitive reply.

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Notwithstanding a short Vlad Guerrero Jr. damage scare and a few ongoing elbow irritation for Mitch White, the roster’s wholesome. In the bullpen, all eight jobs are spoken for. And sure, there’s one bench spot remaining, however even on that entrance, there’s a nice lack of drama. Otto Lopez? Nathan Lukes? Vinny Capra? They’ve all performed properly, however none can be candidates to play all that a lot – not less than to start out.

So, are there any main questions left?

“No,” Schneider stated with a smile. “Everyone’s where they should be and where we had hoped they would get to. So it’s been it’s been nice to sit back and say, ‘okay, all quiet here,’ which is a good thing. Kikuchi, in particular, I think has been awesome, taking changes he made in the off-season right into camp. So yeah, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to watch it unfold and hit the season.”

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Realistically, then, these final 24 hours are all about staying wholesome and leaving Florida behind. But in baseball, there are all the time questions – even for good groups, even after robust springs. With that in thoughts, let’s take one closing take a look at the most important questions dealing with the Blue Jays …

Are Yusei Kikuchi & Jose Berrios actually fastened?

Give Kikuchi credit score. He pitched with extra tempo and confidence, difficult hitters to make contact together with his plus stuff. This was the spring the Blue Jays needed. After some command points on the World Baseball Classic, Jose Berrios seems to be to be finding his fastball higher, too.

But it was simply final 12 months that this duo mixed to put up a 5.22 ERA in 272.2 innings, so it’ll take greater than exhibition video games to take away all doubt right here. The actual problem begins when the video games depend, and the 2 pitchers slated to make their season debuts towards the Royals subsequent week. That’s a pleasant solution to begin the season, however the exams will intensify quickly afterwards with the Angels subsequent on the schedule for each.

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Still, at this level the Blue Jays be ok with their beginning rotation, and why not? Few groups have 5 former all-stars of their rotation, and a few golf equipment with good rotations on paper at the moment are dealing with main well being questions – working example, the Yankees.

Who’s subsequent in line?

At some level, the Blue Jays will flip to triple-A for rotation depth and after they do, Zach Thompson figures to be first in line. Casey Lawrence, Drew Hutchison and Bowden Francis may even be a name away in Buffalo whereas prospects Ricky Tiedemann and Sem Robberse check themselves at double-A.

If one or two of these pitchers can stabilize issues when referred to as upon, that’ll make an enormous distinction. Not solely wouldn’t it save the big-league bullpen and forestall lengthy shedding streaks, it’d enable the entrance workplace to proceed extra intentionally on the commerce deadline.

What’s on second?

Between Whit Merrifield, Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal, the Blue Jays have greater than their share of choices at second base. But since there’s no must declare a starter on the place, the Blue Jays will combine and match – not less than to start out the 12 months. Then, if somebody performs so properly they will now not be denied, the Blue Jays will modify.

“Ideally, in a perfect world, someone is kind of just saying, ‘hey, I’m playing every day’ based on performance, but there are so many ways to do it,” Schneider stated. “There’s going to be contributions from all of them. I don’t think that we have a real set rollout of who’s going to be where how many times. It’s a good problem to have when you have three good guys in a certain spot. So they’re all going to be called upon in different ways.”

If the Blue Jays want defence, count on Espinal within the lineup. If there’s a lefty on the mound, Merrifield (profession .807 OPS vs. LHP) will see loads of enjoying time and Biggio (profession .749 OPS vs. RHP) figures to play often towards righties. But once more, nobody’s speaking a few strict platoon right here as Merrifield and Biggio will contribute within the outfield combine, too.

How will the Blue Jays modify to the brand new guidelines?

Friday’s sport towards the Phillies confirmed that Alejandro Kirk nonetheless hasn’t totally tailored to MLB’s new guidelines. Clearly, that’s an adjustment that he should make earlier than the video games depend, as a result of no pitcher needs computerized balls referred to as needlessly. Yet all concerned say the required changes are occurring behind the scenes.

Along these strains, there might be changes to the brand new expertise permitted with starter Chris Bassitt planning to name his personal video games by transmitting indicators to his catcher’s earpiece utilizing a PitchCom machine worn on his glove.

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Who will spherical out the Blue Jays’ roster?

This a lot is value retaining in thoughts whether or not it’s Lopez, Lukes or Capra who breaks camp with the Blue Jays – there’s realistically little job safety for the twenty sixth man on the roster. Still, there’s an fascinating query to think about right here if Lopez is certainly the main contender for the job: would taking Lopez and limiting his at-bats impede his improvement? Or would the prospect to proceed studying in a big-league atmosphere off-set any potential disadvantages?

Either method, Schneider stated the Blue Jays expect to advertise internally right here as an alternative of creating a last-minute acquisition by way of commerce or waivers.

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