Blue Jays: Aaron Sanchez to miss start with finger issues yet again

Toronto Blue Jays hurler Aaron Sanchez will miss Monday’s start versus the Houston Astros after traveling to have his right index finger re-examined by a specialist.

Aaron Sanchez has had his career derailed the last two seasons due to blister issues and this most recent injury involving a suitcase. The pitcher reportedly caught his finger in his suitcase at the end of June and required a DL stint because of it.

The Jays were very tight-lipped about the injury and if I were a betting man, I would wager it is blister related again. Regardless the finger is still troublesome enough that Sanchez needed to seek out a specialist nearly three months since the “Finger-Gate” incident occurred on June 21st.

Sanchez has been a shell of his former self on the mound this season pitching to the tune of an inflated 4.89 earned run average. The 26-year old sports a 4-6 record with a 1.562 WHIP in 20 starts this season.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

In all likelihood, Sanchez will be shut down for the remainder of the season with Marco Estrada slated to fill in on the bump tonight. There is no point in taking any chances with Sanchez from here on out especially with the abundance of pitchers on the roster.

Sanchez breakout campaign seems like a lifetime ago when he finished 7th in AL Cy Young voting. Since 2016, Sanchez has made only 28 starts and has not seen his earned run average break the 4.00 mark.

The Jays will need both Sanchez and Marcus Stroman to put it all together during the same season and step-up to mentor the likes of Ryan Borucki, Thomas Pannone, and Sean Reid-Foley in 2019.

However, for now, Sanchez will search for answers in an attempt to rehab his finger back to health and hopefully, the blisters are a thing of the past. Sanchez has what it takes to be one of the games best, he just needs to overcome these nagging finger injuries and find a way to remain on the field.