Blue Jays rotation desperately needs Ryan Borucki in 2018 form

The Blue Jays have needed rotation help all year, and Marcus Stroman could get traded soon, which is why Ryan Borucki could be so important in the 2nd half.

It’s no secret the Blue Jays are currently shopping Marcus Stroman and should he get moved by July 31st, the rotation would lose the one pitcher who truly gives the team a chance to win every fifth day.

As Ryan Borucki prepares to rejoin the club sometime over the next couple weeks, the Blue Jays will desperately need him to look as he did in his rookie campaign or even take a step forward. According to mlb.com the current Blue Jays rotation aside from Stroman consists of Trent Thornton, Aaron Sanchez and Clayton Richard, who sport a combined ERA of 5.63.

Borucki’s return couldn’t come sooner for a rotation starving for consistency and his 3.80 FIP will need to be matched if the club would like to save innings for its bullpen who pitched the 4th most innings prior to the All-Star Break.

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The 25-year-old lefty looked dominant during his first two rehab starts, pitching seven innings while allowing just one hit, no walks and fanning ten batters between rookie ball and Single-A.

He took the mound again last night, this time with the Triple-A Bisons and the Pawtucket Red Sox proved to be a little more challenging than the previous two teams. He threw five innings allowing six hits, three earned runs, two walks and two home runs.

Despite a tough outing and the first time he wasn’t able to get his own way since joining live game action, the positive is that he threw 80 pitches. It will depend on how Borucki feels and other factors but we will have to see whether it takes one start or two starts before he’s removed from the Injured List.

Borucki felt some discomfort in his pitching elbow during Spring Training and it eventually culminated in a trip to the 60-day IL. He should be rested and ready to contribute down the stretch, barring an unforeseen setback, and he’s been able to command all of his pitches which will be a breathe of fresh air for the rotation that leads the league in walks per nine innings. The young southpaw’s 3.04 walks per nine last year was third among starters during his tenure, behind just Stroman and Sam Gaviglio.

Not only would a strong return from the 2012 15th-rounder help the Blue Jays this year, but would give them some assurance pitching wise going forward in addition to a farm system that is suddenly beginning to develop some exciting young arms.

The next two months would be the perfect time for Borucki to back up the respectable numbers he posted in 2018.