Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Optioned to Florida Complex League
Rotowire
Manoah was optioned to the Blue Jays' Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
The move comes one day after Manoah was pummeled for six runs while recording just one out in a loss to the Astros to push his ERA on the season to 6.85. The Blue Jays sending Manoah all the way down to their FCL affiliate figures to mean he won't be pitching in any games right away and instead will be working on mechanics and other things in hopes of regaining his old form. He'll likely be put into the Triple-A Buffalo rotation once he's deemed ready, with the hope that he'll eventually return to Toronto.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Crumbles in first inning
Rotowire
Manoah (1-7) allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk while taking a loss against Houston on Monday. He recorded just one out.
In what's been a year full of struggles, Manoah turned in his worst and shortest start of the season. He's fallen to 0-7 with a brutal 6.85 ERA over his last 10 starts while completing at least six innings just once during that stretch. The 25-year-old has produced a 48:42 K:BB and an outrageous 1.90 WHIP through 58 innings. Manoah is currently lined up for a home tilt with the Twins this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Struggles again in loss
Rotowire
Manoah (1-5) took the loss Thursday, allowing five runs on three hits and five walks over three innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out six.
Command was an issue for Manoah again Thursday-- he's issued 13 walks over his last three starts (12 innings), raising his BB/9 to 6.4. The 25-year-old right-hander's ERA is up to 5.53 with a 1.79 WHIP and 46:38 K:BB through 11 starts (53.2 innings) this season. Manoah will look to get on track in his next outing, currently lined up for next week at home against the Brewers.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Five strikeouts in no-decision
Rotowire
Manoah did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over 5.2 innings during a 6-5 loss to the Orioles. He struck out five.
Manoah allowed two or fewer runs while completing at least five innings for the fifth time this season, but he still holds a 5.15 ERA and 1.74 WHIP due to a couple of poor outings. The right-hander's 40:33 K:BB over his first 10 starts (50.2 innings) is also worrisome after he posted a 180:51 K:BB over 196.2 innings last year. Either way, Saturday's outing was a step in the right direction, and Manoah will look to continue on that path in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for the finale of a four-game set in Tampa Bay.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Struggles with command in loss
Rotowire
Manoah (1-4) took the loss Monday, allowing five runs on six hits and seven walks over four innings in a 7-4 loss to the Yankees. He struck out three.
Manoah walked a season-high seven batters and allowed five or more runs for the third time this year. He currently sports a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP with an abysmal 35:32 K:BB over 45 innings. The right-hander was one of the best pitchers in the AL last year, posting a 2.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 180:51 K:BB over 31 starts (196.2 innings), but he hasn't looked like the same guy to start 2023. Manoah will look to find a rhythm during his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for a three-game weekend set versus Baltimore.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Inefficient in third loss
Rotowire
Manoah (1-3) took the loss Tuesday as the Blue Jays fell 8-4 to the Phillies, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out one.
The big right-hander's early season struggles continue, as he generated only three swinging strikes among his 94 pitches. Manoah's slider has regressed significantly -- batters are chasing it less and making more contact with it, and as a result his swinging-strike rate has dropped from 11.2 percent last year to a paltry 8.4 percent through his first eight starts this season. Combine that ineffectiveness with a career-worst 13.1 percent walk rate, and Manoah has been one of the most disappointing pitchers so far in 2023 relative to his ADP. He'll look for answers in his next outing, likely to come early next week at home against the Yankees.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Done in by poor defense
Rotowire
Manoah (1-2) took the loss against Boston on Wednesday, allowing five runs (two earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out three batters over five innings.
Manoah clearly didn't have his best stuff Wednesday, as he induced just three swinging strikes and tied a season low with three punchouts. Still, he navigated through three scoreless frames before Toronto's defense let him down. Two errors in the fourth -- including one by Manoah himself -- helped lead to two runs, and another error in the fifth opened the door for Boston's three-run frame. This was the third time on the campaign that Manoah has given up at least five runs in a start, though only two were earned Wednesday. The right-hander holds a disappointing 4.71 ERA and 1.65 WHIP through 36.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Fans seven in no-decision
Rotowire
Manoah didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Mariners, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
The right-hander once again had trouble finding the strike zone consistently, walking at least four batters for the fourth time in six starts, but Manoah also set a new season high in strikeouts, as he produced 29 called or swinging strikes among his 100 pitches. The 25-year-old's wildness has led to a 4.88 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 28:20 K:BB through 31.1 innings, but he'll try to regain last year's form in his next outing, likely to come next week in Boston.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Struggles Sunday
Rotowire
Manoah (1-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and four walks over 4.2 innings during a 8-1 loss to the Rays. He struck out five.
Manoah walked two, hit a batter and served up a single to start the game and was ultimately tagged for three runs in the first inning. He was able to settle down after the shaky start and posted three scoreless frames before getting into trouble again in the fifth. After striking out the first two hitters of the inning, Manoah allowed five consecutive batters to reach, including a three-run homer by Christian Bethancourt, before getting pulled in favor of Zach Pop. Manoah currently sports a 6.98 ERA and has a questionable 16:15 K:BB. He has just one quality start through four starts this season.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Early exit Tuesday
Rotowire
Manoah didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Tigers, giving up three runs on four hits and five walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
All the damage came on a three-run shot by Nick Maton in the second inning, but Manoah had trouble finishing off hitters and got the hook after 85 pitches (58 strikes). With that, he didn't get a chance to benefit from the Blue Jays' offense coming to life in the second half of the game. The big-right-hander has a 4.91 ERA and shaky 11:11 K:BB through his first three starts and 14.2 innings this season, and he could have trouble rebounding this weekend, as he lines up to face the unbeaten Rays in his next outing.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Shuts down Royals
Rotowire
Manoah (1-0) earned the win over Kansas City on Wednesday, hurling seven scoreless innings during which he gave up one hit and four walks while striking out five batters.
Manoah endured one of his worst outings as a major leaguer on Opening Day against St. Louis, giving up five runs on nine hits over 3.1 innings. His second outing was a completely different story, as the right-hander yielded just one hit -- a single -- across seven sterling frames. Manoah still walked too many batters (four), but he got stronger as the game went along, retiring the final eight hitters he faced. Manoah is one of the most talented young hurlers in the game, and this outing likely provided some assurance to his fantasy managers that the Opening Day struggles were not a sign of things to come in his third big-league campaign.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Allows career-worst nine hits
Rotowire
Manoah did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks over 3.1 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out three.
Toronto's offense gave Manoah a nice cushion to work with, but the right-hander simply didn't have it. He coughed up the lead in the fourth on a two-run Brendan Donovan homer before getting the hook. The nine hits allowed are a career high for Manoah, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, but while Manoah's velocity was reported to be down in spring training, he was comfortably sitting 94-95 mph with his fastball Opening Day.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Sharp in final spring start
Rotowire
Manoah allowed one run on three hits and two walks over six-plus innings while striking out six in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
Facing a Philly lineup lacking its biggest names, Manoah tossed 80 pitches (53 strikes) and cruised through six scoreless frames before watching a runner he left behind cross the plate in the seventh. The right-hander will look to build on a 2022 campaign that saw him post an outstanding 2.24 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 196.2 innings. He's set for an Opening Day assignment against the Cardinals.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Looks ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
Manoah gave up one run on five hits and a walk over six innings while striking out four in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
Tampa Bay's run in the third inning was the only one of the game, as Manoah found himself in a spring pitcher's duel with Drew Rasmussen. Manoah tossed 71 pitches (50 strikes) and appears ready for Opening Day after turning in a 15:6 K:BB through 14.1 frames this spring while not allowing a homer.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Fights control in spring start
Rotowire
Manoah allowed three runs on two hits and four walks over 3.1 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He struck out five.
The right-hander had trouble finding the plate but still got stretched out to 67 pitches, with 40 of them going for strikes. Manoah came into Monday's start with one walk in five innings this spring, so the performance can be chalked up to just one of those days. He otherwise appears on track for the regular season -- Manoah has struck out out 11 batters in 8.1 frames in camp and has yet to serve up a homer.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Starting Friday's wild-card matchup
Rotowire
Manoah will start Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Mariners on Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
The Blue Jays opted against using Manoah as a starter on the final day of the regular season Wednesday, and the right-hander will instead take the mound for the Blue Jays' first postseason game of the year. Manoah was dominant over six starts in September, posting a 0.88 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 41 innings.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Unlikely to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Manoah is unlikely to pitch the final game of the regular season Wednesday in Baltimore, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
While Manoah is on turn, Yusei Kikuchi is the likely starter in what would amount to a bullpen game. The Jays will likely save Manoah, who is fifth in the majors with 196.2 innings, for what they hope is a long postseason run.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Seven shut-down innings
Rotowire
Manoah (15-7) earned the win Saturday without allowing a run on four hits and two walks over seven innings against the Rays. He struck out eight.
Manoah allowed just two extra-base hits in the form of doubles from Randy Arozarena and Francisco Mejia. The righty has been outstanding in his last seven starts, recording a 1.13 ERA and 0.90 WHIP over 48 innings. In addition, the 24-year-old has not allowed a home run in eight of his last 10 games.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Effective in no-decision
Rotowire
Manoah allowed a run on four hits and four walks while striking out five in six innings in a 5-4 loss Sunday against Baltimore. He did not factor into the decision.
Manoah wasn't at his best Sunday but he navigated trouble to keep Toronto in a position to win. Three consecutive hits in the fourth inning led to the lone run but he settled down after that, retiring eight of the last nine batters he faced. The former West Virginia Mountaineer has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last six starts, compiling a 1.32 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB in 41 innings in that span. His next start will likely be next weekend in Tampa Bay.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Allows no runs in seven innings
Rotowire
Manoah (13-7) earned the win against the Pirates on Friday, allowing no runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one over 7.1 innings.
Manoah pitched another gem Friday, keeping the Pirates off the scoreboard while striking out six of them. He threw 64 of 98 pitches for strikes across seven frames, stranding six baserunners. This was Manoah's first win since Aug. 4 but his third quality start in a row. The righty is up to 20 quality starts this season. He will take a 2.48 ERA into his next appearance.
