Sixth-starter strategy could be key for Toronto in '22

TORONTO -- The sixth-starter experiment was always in the Blue Jays’ plans, but after Ross Stripling and the bullpen strung together nine excellent innings on Friday night, you can expect to see more of it.

Stripling knows this role better than anyone, embracing it with both the Dodgers and the Blue Jays. In Friday’s 4-1 win over the A’s, Stripling opened with four shutout innings on 62 pitches, limiting Oakland to just two hits while striking out three. It’s exactly what the Blue Jays needed.

This is the Stripling we saw for a stretch from mid-May to early July last season, when he emerged as one of the Blue Jays’ most effective starters. That won’t be asked of him in 2022, but there’s significant value in having a reliable arm to slide in and out of the sixth spot instead of rolling the dice with a committee.

“The mental side of this is knowing that I’m a huge asset in that I can go get outs in any situation,” Stripling said. “The other one is knowing that’s how I’m going to stay [here]. I’m not necessarily Jacob deGrom, and I’m not necessarily Jordan Romano. I’m somewhere in between as a guy that can get nine outs any time and then fill in and go five or six [innings] as a starter. I take pride in that role and want to be successful, because I know it’s valuable.”

While this isn’t permanent by any means, it’s still by design. Let’s call it a “recurring role” as the Blue Jays look to navigate a dense, 162-game season coming out of a shortened Spring Training.

Looking ahead, here’s why it’s happening, who you’ll see and when it will be needed.

Why use a sixth starter?
As starters work through their second appearances of the season, they’re just now getting to the point they’d typically be in time for Opening Day. With the shortened spring schedule coming out of the lockout, though, that buildup has spilled over into the season, and teams will be careful. Not just the Blue Jays, but all 30 clubs.

Keep in mind that the Blue Jays aren’t just trying to play 162 games, either. Hyun Jin Ryu has preferred extra days of rest in the past, and he’ll be the first to benefit as he looks for a bounce-back outing on Saturday. José Berríos and Kevin Gausman have carried heavy loads in the past, but Alek Manoah, who already has ‘Postseason Performer’ written all over him, has a career high of just 111 2/3 innings.

If mixing in Stripling every now and then saves the Blue Jays from possible hiccups in the middle of a playoff push, you’ll thank them later.

Who will the sixth starters be?
At some point this season, the Blue Jays will want to mix in the sixth starter but could be forced to turn to Stripling the day before in a bullpen role. Injuries could hit, too, which might move Stripling into the rotation and require other arms to step in.

“[Stripling] has done it before,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “When we acquired him, we knew that he could do both, and he’s really good at it. He doesn’t mind when he goes back to the bullpen, and when you tell him, ‘We need you to start, Strip,’ he does it and has no problem with it. We are very lucky Stripling’s that guy.”

Nate Pearson is the perfect fit if the Blue Jays can build him back up into a hybrid role after his bout with mono, offering tremendous bullpen upside with starter’s experience. Besides, four or five innings will do just fine.

Thomas Hatch is another option down in Triple-A who will be fully stretched out, along with Bowden Francis, both of whom are on the 40-man roster. Anthony Kay represents the other 40-man roster option and is currently pitching in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen.

When will the sixth starter be needed?
The Blue Jays will be happy to see Monday’s off-day come before they fly to Boston, but beginning Tuesday, they play 20 games in 20 days. The middle of May is a little more generous, with three off-days built in, but there are some longer stretches waiting in June and into July.

In a perfect world, the Blue Jays will sprinkle in this strategy throughout the summer and punch the gas with their starting five all healthy in September. Perfect worlds don’t exist in baseball, of course, so as the Blue Jays’ season develops and hits some potholes along the way, they’ll need to adjust the ways they work in this sixth starter, too.