Blue Jays to keep Manoah in rotation despite rough start

Manager John Schneider said Alek Manoah will remain in the Toronto Blue Jays' rotation despite Sunday's rough outing against the Washington Nationals.

It was the right-hander's first MLB start since last August.

"Today, he was as good as I've seen him stuff-wise in quite a while," Schneider said following an 11-8 loss, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. "I think it's just being efficient with that stuff going forward. And trying to get a little bit deeper in the game."

The Blue Jays built a 6-1 lead for Manoah by the third inning, but the Nationals responded with a five-run fourth. The 26-year-old ultimately allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits (two homers) and four walks with six strikeouts on 92 pitches over four innings.

Manoah doesn't believe control was an issue in his start but rather "trying to be too fine," according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.

"It's about understanding I'm not Greg Maddux," Manoah said postgame. "I'm not going to be Greg Maddux. My fastball has great life. I've just got to go out there and trust it."

Manoah returned to the Blue Jays on Saturday after starting the season in Triple-A while rehabbing a sore shoulder that limited him to one start in spring training. A spot in the rotation opened up with Yariel Rodríguez and Bowden Francis on the injured list.

The 2022 AL Cy Young finalist was demoted to the minors twice last year, finishing his big-league campaign with a 5.87 ERA with a 1.74 WHIP and 59 walks in 87 1/3 innings. He received multiple injections in his arm and shoulder at the end of the season after he failed to report to Triple-A in August.