Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, in St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 19.Gerald Herbert/The Associated Press
The Toronto Blue Jays have named ace right-hander Alek Manoah as their opening-day starting pitcher for the upcoming Major League Baseball season.
Manoah, 25, was a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award last season after posting a 16-7 record with a 2.24 earned-run average and 180 strikeouts over 31 starts.
The six-foot-six, 285-pound native of Homestead, Fla., was scheduled to start in the Blue Jays’ pre-season game against visiting Philadelphia on Friday. He entered the game with a 1-2 record, 3.77 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings over four starts this spring.
Toronto opens the season next Thursday in St. Louis.
Manoah will be tasked with anchoring a promising Jays rotation that includes Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and newcomer Chris Bassitt. Yusei Kikuchi has made a compelling case for the fifth spot in the rotation with an excellent spring.
Berrios was Toronto’s opening day starter in 2022.