Spencer Arrighetti’s latest rehab start gives Blue Jays another reason to dream on their playoff push

The Toronto Blue Jays still do not have a firm timeline for Spencer Arrighetti to make his debut with the team, but his latest rehab start seems to be pointing in the right direction. At this point, any news that isn't a set back is music to the ears of the Blue Jays' staff. For a team trying to turn a surprising late-season surge into something a playoff appearance Arrighetti’s outing with Triple-A Buffalo could be that spark they are looking for.

Arrighetti, one of Toronto’s trade-deadline acquisitions, went 3.2 innings for the Bisons, allowing two earned runs on three hits, including one home run. He walked one, struck out three and threw 35 of his 50 pitches for strikes. He induced three whiffs and averaged 90.5 mph with his fastball, although that was 1.9 mph slower than his season average. Part of that could be due to his foot troubles.

Arrighetti was diagnosed with Morton's neuroma, a condition related to a damaged or enlarged nerve that causes pain in the bottom of the foot. That caused him to leave his last start and after receiving treatment he was back on the mound for this outing on Sunday (Aug. 17). So while his stuff isn't exactly where they want it to be, he's trending in the right direction.

The Blue Jays acquired Arrighetti from the Houston Astros in exchange for Daulton Varsho at the deadline with the hope that he could eventually provide rotation depth over the next few seasons. He's not a free agent until after the 2028 season, but with the Blue Jays jumping back into the playoff race, his arm could be very useful down the stretch. They could use another credible arm at a point in the season when every healthy starter could make a huge difference.

Blue Jays' starting rotation still keeping the alive, but the cracks are showing

After the deadline the Blue Jays were thinking that they would have a six-man rotation. That lasted one day as Trey Yesavage left the game on Aug. 4, and has since had surgery to repair a left meniscus tear.

Then Jameson Taillon, in his first home start for the Blue Jays, left the game after the fifth inning with forearm discomfort. He's landed on the 15-day injured list. Taillon was picked up in a trade with the Chicago Cubs at the deadline, in the hopes of providing some insurance, but the 34-year-old veteran has joined a long list of injured starting pitchers the Blue Jays have sent to the infirmary this year.

The Blue Jays showed some mettle though as they used a bullpen game to win on Saturday (Aug. 15) against the New York Yankees which secured them another series win. The irony being, they had seven pitchers hold the Yankees to four hits and one run to get the win, but when Dylan Cease took the ball Sunday and struck out ten hitters while only giving up two runs on three hits, the Blue Jays couldn't pull out the win, losing 4-3 in ten innings.

That underscores the importance of having a full rotation down the stretch as the 61-65 Blue Jays remain just one game out of a Wild Card spot.

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