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Toronto Blue Jays: Aaron Sanchez takes step in right direction

By David Morassutti

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 5: Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning during MLB game action against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre on September 5, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 5: Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning during MLB game action against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre on September 5, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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In his third start for the Toronto Blue Jays since returning from the disabled list, Aaron Sanchez showed progress and hopefully something to build from for next season.

At this point of the season, wins and losses aren’t the priority for the Toronto Blue Jays. However, their 10-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays brought some positive news for Aaron Sanchez.

The 26-year-old hasn’t pitched into the sixth inning since Jun. 15 against the Washington Nationals. In both outings, he allowed six hits, two walks and three earned runs while recording eight strikeouts.

Considering the tough season Sanchez and Marcus Stroman have had, the Blue Jays need both to turn things around if the team ever wants to get back on track. It also helps if the offence provides support for the starting pitching, which is exactly what they did against Tampa Bay.

The Blue Jays starting rotation has had its struggles this season, posting a 5.23 ERA (28th) and pitching only 715.1 innings (28th). That’s obviously been a contributing factor to the team’s struggles and it should be a priority for the front office.

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Ryan Borucki has shown potential and even though he’s only had 13 starts, he should have no problem making the team next season. The sample size has been too small to properly assess whether Sean Reid-Foley and Thomas Pannone are options for next season. Then there’s Marco Estrada and Sam Gaviglio, who have struggled with consistency this season.

Hopefully, the rest of the season affords the Blue Jays a chance to see what they have in the organization, while getting Sanchez to pitch the rest of the season without any issues with his finger.

Rowdy Tellez overcomes personal loss to record his first hit

It was an emotional debut for Tellez, who had endured a lot of personal and professional struggles on his way to his first major league at-bat. As Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote, the 23-year-old lost his mother a month ago after she passed away from brain cancer.

Tellez swung at the first pitch he saw for a double and after that he wrote “MOM” in the dirt at home plate when he scored, as a tribute to his mother. Understandably, he struggled to give his thoughts to Hazel Mae during a postgame interview with Sportsnet.

Considering the circumstances, Tellez should be commended for his ability to pull it together and provide a memorable moment. It was that not long ago he was a well-regarded prospect who struggled in his first season in triple-A, but now there’s a legitimate explanation for it.

In his second season in Buffalo, the first baseman was hitting .270/.340/.425 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI in 112 games. Depending on how the offseason plays out, Tellez could be a potential option if the team decides to move Justin Smoak or Kendrys Morales.

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What did you make of Sanchez’s strong performance against the Rays? Should Tellez be an option for next season? Let us know in the comments below. 

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