Nate Pearson’s 2021 debut is expected to take place in a start against the Astros on Sunday, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters (including Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith). For now, the plan is for Pearson to start the game and Anthony Kay will be available in relief if needed, unless Kay is required to pitch tonight.
One of the sport’s top pitching prospects, Pearson posted a 6.00 ERA over 18 innings for Toronto last season while missing some time due to elbow tightness. Pearson then suffered a Grade 1 groin strain during Spring Training, and while the initial injury was thought to be pretty minor, he then reaggravated the issue in rehab. After missing so much time in camp, Pearson had to get healthy and then essentially reboot much of his preseason training, though the early returns are promising. In a start for Triple-A Buffalo earlier this week, the right-hander recorded eight strikeouts while allowing one run on four hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings.
If Pearson is able to pitch close to his potential, it will be an enormous boost to a Blue Jays team that has been both racked by pitching injuries this season, and is arguably thin on arms even with everyone was at full strength. Hyun Jin Ryu and Robbie Ray have both looked good in the early going, while Steven Matz has struggled over his last three outings after beginning his Jays tenure with three quality starts. Tanner Roark has already been released, so if Pearson is able to assume a regular turn in the rotation, that would allow the Jays to move Kay or Ross Stripling into spot starter/swingman/long relief duty.
So pumped!
Over/Under 5 games before Pearson hits the IL?
I’ll take the under
I’ll take the under on 5 innings
I’ll take the under on 5 pitches! though I might be getting carried away
Should the jays move him to late innings / closer role real quick ?
Jays need him to start and go 6 every five days.
It’s not a bad idea to develop Nate Pearson into a closer. Sure every team wants a number 1 Alpha leading the rotation but Pearson is a long way from there and a long way from consistent 6 inning starts.
You probably said the same thing about Halliday. Oh wait you likely were not a Jays fan back then. And no before you or your alter ego jump to conclusions I am not comparing current Pearson to HOF Halliday. My point being you do not give up on a SP with that much talent without a really good look. If he shows he can not stay healthy /perform in the rotation for the remainder of 21 then possibly look at the Pen but not now. That makes 0 sense.
A real Blue Jays fan would have enough respect to spell Roy Halladay’s name properly.
Oh look it’s the genius who thinks 18M on Semien for 1 yr was a bad signing while wanting the Jays to spend 90M for 2 yrs on Bauer .
Although it might be too soon to say I was right, I can say I was right. Semien forced Biggio to 3rd hurting the defense, Yates still hasn’t thrown a pitch and won’t this year, and Bauer is pitching like a TOR starter the Jays could use.
No excuse for your ineptitude on Roy Halladay. I’m sure your takes on Joe Cartel, Roberto Alimay and Carlos Delgirdle are just as putrid as your other opinions.
You repeatedly overlook the acquisition cost of Bauer for the Jays , the guy is not worth 45 million per only in your alternate universe is that the case. 6War, 40Hr, 95 RBI, 120 OPS+ i’ll take that from 2b for 18m. You keep doing you -trolling, insulting people when you can’t put up an intelligent rebuttal , and giving a plethora of nonsensical outtakes on baseball. There is a reason you are a joke to most on here.
No
If you think making him a closer would keep him healthy, take a look at how many Blue Jays relievers have gone on the IL this year. If you think he can’t cut it as a starter, then sheesh, give the guy a chance before you vastly reduce his value…. nobody has let him go deep into games yet and he has under 200 professional innings.
I do believe in him, tremendous talent. Drafted him in my fantasy and kept him all along during his stint on the IL. Just starting to question his health, seem like he’s throwing 20 pitches and goes 2 months on the IL
His health is a huge question and I’m not very optimistic about it, but putting him in the bullpen just means he may average 20 innings a year instead of 80. I’d rather have the 80.
And with his current control problems, I don’t want him walking in runs as the closer. It’s not like he’s one of those guys who can’t control secondary pitches and can benefit from reducing his repertoire in the bullpen… it’s the fastballs he can’t locate.
He’s a starter! If you look at where his pitch location was, it is just an arm slot adjustment. Throwing more over the top instead of 3/4 would have helped alleviate the drift up and in to righties. He needs the fastball working first! Give him a couple more starts to work the kinks out