Roark feeling fresher; Vlady at hot corner

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- There should be some open road for Tanner Roark's Diesel engine in 2021 as the Blue Jays stretch out their rotation to cover 162 games. Roark can handle the quantity, but this is about quality, too.

Coming off a rough 2020, where Roark posted a 6.80 ERA over 47 2/3 innings, the 34-year-old made his first start of the spring in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Phillies at TD Ballpark. There were a pair of deep fly ball outs over two scoreless innings, but Roark stayed out of trouble and allowed just one hit with a strikeout.

"It felt OK. I'd like to get ahead of guys a little better, but overall, it felt pretty good," Roark said. "Some guys made some good plays, and that's also just me not hitting my spots right away, being a little amped up, trying to be a little too perfect."

One key to Roark's 2021 success will be his two-seamer, which he feels like he lost in his first season with the Blue Jays.

"I just think it got smacked around a little too much last year," Roark said. "It wasn't moving as much. It was moving very little. Now that I have better feel this year coming into Spring Training and games, I feel like there's no reason I can't have it come back, because I used to have it."

• Palacios an early standout at Blue Jays camp

Roark's right. That two-seamer -- classified as a sinker by Statcast -- gave up a .383 average and .851 slugging percentage in 2020, which just isn't going to work. Down 10 pounds now thanks to an improved diet, Roark is feeling a bit fresher this spring and working to get some velocity back, which he expects to help.

That fastball velocity sat at 89.1 mph on Saturday, below his 2020 average of 90.6 mph and '19 average of 92.1 mph. There's plenty of time in camp for that number to bump up, which will help Roark in getting back to his old form.

"I'd like to be the feelin'-good Tanner of old in 2016, 2014, but I've got a lot of mileage on me and now I've just got to hone what I have and utilize what I have," Roark said. "I think me staying on the plate and around the plate and making the hitters get themselves out is going to be a huge part of why I'll have success this year."

Vlad at hot corner
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made his first Grapefruit League start at third base and saw just one ground ball, a slow chopper for an easy out. If the Blue Jays stick Guerrero at third for the odd game in 2021, that's what they'd like to see, too. It makes sense for those games to come on days when the Blue Jays have a fly ball pitcher -- like Roark -- on the mound. Guerrero is optimistic in the strides he's made since 2019 at the position, which he worked on over the offseason, including a stint in the Dominican Winter League.

"I'm reading the balls good off the bat. My legs feel great right now," Guerrero said. "I feel a lot better than a couple of years ago."

Blue Jays claim Payamps, DFA Waguespack
The Blue Jays claimed right-hander Joel Payamps off waivers from the Red Sox on Saturday and designated Jacob Waguespack for assignment. Toronto first claimed Payamps on Feb. 10 from Boston, but it lost him on waivers back to the Sox on Feb. 22. Now, he's bounced back, giving the Blue Jays' 40-man roster another piece of starting depth for the time being. Waguespack struggled in two Grapefruit League games, allowing four runs on five hits over 1 1/3 innings.

Observations from camp
• George Springer hit a leadoff single to the opposite field and quickly stole second base in the first inning. The pitch that Springer went on skipped out in front of home plate, but he got a fine jump from first and beat the throw fairly easily. It's already easy to see how Springer can change the Blue Jays' lineup from the leadoff spot, where he's expected to open the season.

• Tyler Chatwood looked sharp in his second Spring Training appearance. Sitting at 94 mph with his fastball, he forced three swinging strikes on four curveballs and threw 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes.

"His first two outings have been impressive," manager Charlie Montoyo said. "He's throwing nothing but strikes. He's been really good, really sharp. That's good news for us if he keeps throwing like that."

• Last time out, A.J. Cole was hit hard. On Saturday, the right-hander bounced back very well by working a clean inning on just five pitches, all strikes. He's right on the edge of a bullpen position and every outing will matter over the next three weeks.

• Tim Mayza looked great in his second outing of the spring. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Mayza needed just 11 pitches in a clean seventh, striking out two.

"If Tim Mayza throws strikes, he's going to get people out, because the movement on his fastball, it's outstanding," Montoyo said. "He did that today. So far, so good. He's healthy and feels good. He's competing for a job."