Does the Blue Jays Success Depend on Alek Manoah? - The Homestand Show

Yes, it is safe to say that Alek Manoah doesn't need to perform at his peak level for the Toronto Blue Jays' rotation to be successful this season. The team's primary requirement from Manoah is for him to make regular starts, ideally every fifth or sixth day, especially if Hyun-Jin Ryu returns to the rotation and they adopt a six-man rotation. Ryu has shown promising signs during his rehab games in the minor leagues.

What the Blue Jays need from Manoah is to give them a chance to win by pitching five to six innings and allowing two to four runs. While this may not sound impressive, it is considered an acceptable outing. It is an improvement from his performances in 2021 and 2022, where he often struggled.

What the team cannot afford is for Manoah to have too many outings where he can't get out of the second inning. This puts excessive strain on the bullpen and disrupts the team's schedule. As long as Manoah can pitch deep into the game, reaching the middle or back half of the second or third time through the opposing lineup, and keeps the team in a position to win, the Blue Jays will be satisfied with his performances.