Blue Jays plan to occasionally skip Aaron Sanchez in pitching rotation

TORONTO — John Gibbons wouldn’t say when, but the Toronto Blue Jays intend to occasionally skip Aaron Sanchez in the rotation.

It’s the latest turn in the twisting narrative regarding the team’s 24-year-old ace.

“We’re going to bump him along the way,” Gibbons said before the Jays faced the Houston Astros on Friday. “That’s going to happen.”

In hopes of preserving his health for the long-term, Toronto originally planned to shift Sanchez to the bullpen before abruptly changing course earlier this month. The team opted to keep him in a six-man starting rotation instead, which includes the recently acquired Francisco Liriano.

Gibbons said it was still being determined whether the Jays would skip Sanchez entirely during one turn through the rotation or simply shuffle the deck.

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“We’re not exact yet, but we’re close,” he said of a plan.

Toronto’s management was initially firm on the plan to send Sanchez to the bullpen. Team president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins were insistent on that being the decided course for Sanchez, who was piling up innings as an unexpected Cy Young candidate (11-2 record).

It was thought that a shift to the bullpen would minimize the risk of injury: Sanchez threw only 92.1 innings last season, on track to potentially double that this season with 145.1 innings already under his belt.

Then, the team shifted course while visiting the Astros last week and said that Sanchez would go with a six-man rotation, the effects of which are yet to be determined on Sanchez and the rest of the starting pitchers.

The hope is a little extra rest and less wear on Sanchez’s arm.

Earlier this week, following one of his shortest outings of the season, Marco Estrada hinted at adjusting his routine to accommodate the six-man rotation.

Tied for second in the American League in earned-run average (2.85), Sanchez is due to make his 23rd start of the season against the Astros on Saturday afternoon.

The Canadian Press