Pitcher Alek Manoah Returns to Toronto Blue Jays in Fine Form

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The much-maligned Alek Manoah got a starting nod last week in Detroit against the Tigers and fared quite well. As David Bastl asks, can Toronto Blue Jays fans breathe a sigh of relief or is it too early to celebrate the return of a former ace?

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Is the Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah Back to Former Form?

The stats from last Friday’s contest versus the Tigers speak for themselves. Six innings pitched, one earned run, five hits, no batters walked, and eight strikeouts. best of all, the Blue Jays won 12-2. That all sounds like a good day at the office, and it certainly was. After all the turmoil surrounding Manoah’s poor first half to the season, it was nice to see him go out there and ball.

But Bastl invites former Toronto manager John Gibbons to consider caution. Is it indeed too early to think that everything is back to normal with the team’s starting pitcher?

“He stepped up. I saw some comments by him, some expressions on his face, he felt good. That’s the key because he was wearing it on his face back before he was sent down. You could see it. The stress on him (before). So that’s a good sign.”

“Gibby” still errs on the side of caution. Although last week’s outing was solid and suggested that the old Manoah is back, it would be better to see how he performs a few more times. In cases such as these, consistently is key.

The Toronto Blue Jays Will Make the Playoffs

Just before shifting over to more MLB-wide topics, Bastl offers up a question that sounds so simple yet holds many nuances given Toronto’s up and down campaign.

Will the Blue Jays make the playoffs? Gibbons is unequivocal.

“Definite yes!”

A reminder that Toronto is currently 50-41, third place in the AL East, and in the thick of a Wild Card hunt.