Blue Jays: New season, new skipper, same Aaron Sanchez

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 04: Starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on April 04, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 04: Starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on April 04, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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In what by now should be no shock to anyone, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez exited yesterdays contest in the fourth inning after 59 pitches with another finger issue.

Since the onset of Aaron Sanchez and his “Finger Gate” issues in 2017, the Blue Jays hurler has been sidelined with contusions, lacerations, split fingernails, and blisters multiple times. The latest prognosis appears to be a broken fingernail on the middle finger of his throwing hand, however, time will tell.

The Blue Jays can ill afford to lose Sanchez for any amount of time on the heels of losing pitcher Matt Shoemaker for the remainder of the campaign with a torn ACL. Manager Charlie Montoyo went on record yesterday stating he is hopeful that Sanchez will be ready for his next start.

The fingernail issue apparently began during Sanchez previous start versus the Minnesota Twins. It sounds like Sanchez left his start yesterday as a preventative measure but the nail was bleeding.

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Sanchez was beginning to resemble a shell of his 2016 self before this latest setback. In 26 innings thus far, the 26-year old sports a respectable 2.77 earned run average with 23 strikeouts in five starts.

The Jays are going to need to anoint a replacement for Shoemaker in the rotation although Sam Gaviglio presumably is the favourite with Thomas Pannone as possibly another option. Clayton Richard has yet to make a start for the team and Trent Thornton has struggled of late so his future in the rotation is also a question mark.

Sean Reid-Foley has been absolutely destroyed by Triple-A hitters to the tune of a 13.94 earned run average. Reid-Foley has been torched for 16 runs in 10.1 innings of work so it is safe to assume he is not a viable option.

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The rotation is in flux but hopefully, Sanchez can put his broken nail behind him without missing a start or the injury spiraling into another season-long blister epidemic.