Toronto Blue Jays: Don’t Take Any More Risks With Marco Estrada
By Paul Taylor
Regardless of the outcome of Marco Estrada’s MRI, the Toronto Blue Jays need to do the smart thing and give him some much-needed rest.
Most Toronto Blue Jays analysts and fans alike will happily admit Marco Estrada pitched better than they expected in 2015. He was arguably the best pitcher on the staff not named David Price, as he enjoyed a career year and even received a couple of AL Cy Young Award votes.
For anyone who feared Estrada would prove to be a flash in the pan, he’s continued him impressive form into this season. He is the only starter with an ERA under 3.00 and he leads the team in strikeouts.
As if fans didn’t love the 32-year enough, he endeared himself even more to the Blue Jays faithful on Saturday, with a gutsy effort against the Cleveland Indians. Not only did he help his team end the Indians 14-game win-streak, he did it while battling through the pain barrier.
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Estrada has been dealing with a back issue throughout this season. It was so bad on Saturday, he couldn’t bend over to pick up the ball at the start of the game and had to wear a back brace between the first and second innings.
When it was all said and done, the 2005 sixth round draft pick managed to pitch five innings, strike out seven and allow no walks. Keep in mind he achieved this, despite losing four-five miles off his average fastball.
In truth, Estrada probably shouldn’t have started, but he felt he had to give it a go, after Friday’s 19-inning marathon. Speaking to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, he said: “We just played a 19 inning game. We used everybody. What else are we going to do?”
The Sonora, Mexico native was clearly in pain. After the game, he admitted to the media: “I don’t know if I can do this again.
“If it hurts as much as it did today, I’m probably going to have to watch the next game. I’m hoping to make it, but we’ll see.”
Taking all of this into account, it comes as no surprise to hear Estrada will have an MRI on Sunday. The news was confirmed by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi.
Depending on the result, the former Milwaukee Brewer could miss his next start on Thursday, against the Detroit Tigers. Here’s the thing though – he should miss his next start, regardless of the outcome of the MRI.
Estrada is a far too valuable commodity to risk for the sake of one game, especially given how long his back has been an issue. With the All-Star break coming up, if the Blue Jays play it right, he could rest for nearly two weeks.
Of course, this all becomes a moot point if the MRI results are serious enough, that the 2015 Blue Jays Pitcher of the Year ends up spending time on the disabled list. Either way though, give the man a break – he’s more than deserved it.
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Assuming the MRI results are not that serious, would you risk Estrada in his next start, or rest him? Further, how do you rate his performance so far this season, and how important is he to the Blue Jays? Let us know in the comments section below.