Projecting the Toronto Blue Jays' pitching rotation for Opening Day

The Toronto Blue Jays are gearing up for next season, with five starting pitchers seemingly on track to make the final roster.

And while some years there might be a heavy position battle going into spring training, that doesn’t quite seem to be the case this year.

Barring any major moves or unexpected injuries popping up over the next few months, here’s what Toronto’s rotation will likely look like come late March, if they don’t make a major splash in free agency or via the trade market:

Kevin Gausman

While the Jays haven’t always had consistent performers throughout the lineup, it’s hard to criticize Kevin Gausman’s body of work. Finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young voting in each of his first two years in Toronto, Gausman enters 2025 as the team’s ace once again, and the most likely candidate to be its Opening Day starter.

Jose Berrios

Coming over in a high-profile trade in 2021, Jose Berrios has answered just about every question asked of him during his time with the Blue Jays. Since joining the organization, he’s fifth in the major leagues — and second in the American League — in wins over that time, picking up 44 victories.

Bowden Francis

Bowden Francis might be the biggest question mark out of the Jays’ starting rotation, but only due to a relatively small sample size as a starter. Just 13 of his career 48 appearances have been starts, though he was must-see TV over the final stretch of the season, having an ERA of 1.33 and tossing up 49 strikeouts across 54 innings in his final eight starts.

Chris Bassitt

Chris Bassitt might not be the flashiest pitcher in the world, but he’s been quite the workhorse over his first two years in Toronto. Since joining the team prior to the 2023 season, his 371 innings pitched rank 13th in the major leagues, and trail only Berrios for first in the Jays organization over that time. With one year left on his contract, expect Bassitt to slot into a middle-of-the-rotation slot.

Yariel Rodriguez

Yariel Rodriguez dealt with a few injuries in his first season in the big leagues, but likely showed enough to stick around as a starter once again. Amazingly, he picked up just one win in his 21 starts (to go along with eight losses), though there’s likely some internal optimism that the 2023 World Baseball Classic star can find his mojo at the big league level. Given that he’s got four years left on his contract signed prior to last season, it only makes sense Toronto would give him another go at a starting role.

Who’s on the cusp for the Toronto Blue Jays?

Alek Manoah is the obvious next man up, despite all the struggles he’s dealt with over the last two seasons. With Manoah still expected to be rehabbing an injury come Opening Day, it’s hard to really foreshadow where he could fit among the Jays once he returns.

Jake Bloss, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher who was acquired in a trade with Houston centred around Yusei Kikuchi, had three starts for the Astros last season, and is the most likely sixth man in the rotation should there be an injury or other opening among Toronto’s five current starters.

You might also like:
• Projecting Blue Jays' Opening Day batting order after latest moves