Blue Jays Make Shocking Decision on Alek Manoah

The wild and wacky story of Alek Manoah has taken another dramatic turn, as the Toronto Blue Jays have announced that the beleaguered former All-Star, despite an 8.69 ERA at Triple-A this season, will START on Sunday for the Jays against the Washington Nationals.

Alek Manoah will start for the Blue Jays on Sunday vs the Nationals — his first MLB outing since last August

Alejandro Kirk will be behind the plate

— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) May 4, 2024

This will be Manoah's first start for the Jays since last August, after he fell off a cliff last season, with a 5.87 ERA in 19 major league starts, and also went through a couple of trips to the minors. 

His last start at Buffalo was the key, as he appeared to look like his old self, striking out 12 and surrendering only two hits and one run allowed in six innings in Indianapolis.

@BlueJays P Alec Manoah is back to his old self. He’s got to be breathing a huge sigh of relief after tonight’s outing.

He fixed his mechanoreceptor problem in his left hand and is filthy again. He’s back to moving with 135 degree angles and will make a huge impact on the Jays… pic.twitter.com/y74uocU2rq

— Tommy Maestas (@tommym8) April 30, 2024

It was hoped that the 2022 Cy Young Award finalist would be able to regain his confidence (and stuff) this year, but through his first few starts in the minors, it wasn't pretty. 

But something seems to have clicked... at least at Triple-A... we'll see if it can hold for a major league start. 

His first three starts at Buffalo were mostly dreadful, but this last one was enough to bring his ERA "down" to 6.50. 

On the basis of that one dominant start, the Jays will give him another shot at the majors. 

 Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports