Blue Jays: Left-handed pitchers struggling to stay healthy this season

MLB teams from across the league have to deal with injuries to their roster every season, whether it be to All-Star calibre players or members of the bullpen. The Blue Jays are no different and have experienced their fair share of injuries so far in the 2022 campaign.

Looking at the position players, Danny Jansen has been hit the hardest this year, spending just over a month on the IL earlier this year with an oblique injury as well as breaking his fifth metacarpal on his left hand two days ago via HBP, sending him back to the IL. The Jays were also without Teoscar Hernandez for a few weeks with an oblique injury as well, giving Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer more reps in the outfield. Cavan Biggio missed some time on the COVID-19 IL as well late in April/early May, returning to the big leagues on May 26th after a quick stint in Buffalo.

Looking at the pitching staff injuries, RHP Nate Pearson began the year on the IL due to mononucleosis and is still fighting his way back to being 100% game ready, now rehabbing in AAA Buffalo. Left-handed reliever Ryan Borucki also began the year on the IL but returned to the squad in quick order on April 17th.

The Toronto Blue Jays have had their fair share of injuries this season, with the pitching staff southpaws struggling the most to stay healthy.

With Borucki’s injury in consideration, it seems that the Blue Jays have a very unique trend going on so far this year: all of the remaining pitchers who have hit the IL since the start of the regular season have all been left-handers. Not a single right-hander so far in 2022.

Let’s do a quick breakdown of all the pitchers who have landed on the injury list this season who have spent some time on the Jays’ roster:

Ryan Borucki: Prior to the season start & April 27th

Hyun Jin Ryu: April 17th & June 2nd

Anthony Kay: April 24th

Tayler Saucedo: April 30th

Tim Mayza: May 15th

Fellow southpaw Andrew Vasquez may also be joining the list shortly, as he left Wednesday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals with an ankle sprain. I think he will be put on the IL as well but no official announcement has been made yet. As many of you also know, Borucki is no longer with the Jays after being DFA’d and traded, so we won’t see him on the IL anymore (at least as a member of the Jays).

While lefty throwing pitchers have been IL prone this season for the Blue Jays, that’s not to say the right-handers haven’t had a few close calls. Closer Jordan Romano did miss a few days because of illness but he never went on the IL, overcoming his non-COVID-related sickness and returning after a few days. After him, the starting pitchers and the bullpen arms who throw from the right side have boasted a relatively clean bill of health this season (knocks on wood).

Considering the only stalwart arms on the pitching staff of the Blue Jays to miss time due to injury are Mayza and Ryu, I would say the club has experienced their fair share of injury setbacks but not to the degree of some teams around the league. A very weird coincidence for the Blue Jays so far this year, and one that is hopefully limited as the campaign continues on.

Protect Matt Gage and Yusei Kikuchi at all costs.