(Dunedin) The Toronto Blue Jays named right-handed ace Alek Manoah their starter for the season.
Manoah, 25, was a finalist in the last American Cy-Young Trophy campaign. He was 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA and 180 strikeouts in 31 starts.
The 6-foot-1 colossus is scheduled to start on Friday in a preseason game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Manoah is 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.
The Blue Jays open their season on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Manoah will be tasked with being the mainstay of a promising Blue Jays rotation that includes Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and newcomer Chris Bassitt. Yusei Kikuchi made a convincing case for fifth in the rotation with strong performances during spring camp.
Berrios was the starting starter for the Blue Jays in the team’s 2022 opener.
