Yariel

Rodriguez

Apart from one bad curveball deposited into the stands by Jeremy Peña, Rodríguez was exceptional today, generating 13 missed swings and six strikeouts while needed just 83 pitches to get 20 outs. We’d still suggest shying away from Rodríguez in shallow leagues, especially in light of his workload concerns, but he could be a sleeper next year when he’s presumably under fewer restrictions.

There hadn’t been any rain in the forecast, but a storm popped up early in the second inning and washed out any chances of the two sides getting this game in. The game will resume on August 26 in the top half of the second inning, with the Blue Jays having a runner at first base with one out. Unfortunately for this week, both Kutter Crawford and Yariel Rodriguez won’t be able to deliver anything for fantasy managers.

Rodríguez’s return to the Blue Jays’ rotation left a lot to be desired. His usually impressive slider did not look sharp and was moving less compared to before his injury. Without that, he didn’t have a put-away pitch and struggled to retire nearly every batter he faced. He’d built up to about 80 pitches in April and could get back there with legitimate strikeout upside if the Jays let him. He just isn’t there yet.

Rodríguez will start Friday night’s game against the Guardians. He made four starts with Toronto earlier this season and had a 4.11 ERA and 1.76 WHIP. The workload concerns are legitimate since he’s never pitched beyond the fourth inning in any of his starts at the highest level yet. The 27-year-old right-hander is pretty much off mixed-league fantasy radar screens until he shows he’s capable of working deeper into games.

The Jays considered starting Rodríguez last weekend, but they had him pitch in Triple-A instead and he allowed two runs over three innings, striking out seven in the process. His six rehab starts for Buffalo covered a total of 14 innings in which he walked 10 and struck out 23. He might be able to help the Jays, but unless they use an opener in front of him, it’s hard to see how he’d be any sort of candidate for wins.

The team is deciding when Rodriguez will be called up, but it seems likely to happen this weekend. They could push Jose Berrios up to Saturday on regular rest and start Yariel Rodriguez on Sunday, but they seem to be inclined to give Berrios extra rest, which would mean starting Rodriguez on short rest on Saturday. The Blue Jays seem committed to Rodríguez as a starter even though most of his international success has come in a multi-inning relief role. Even in his first MLB stint failed to pitch more than four innings in any of his four starts. According to Schneider, the Blue Jays are “viewing him to be pitching on a regular turn” and that is driving their decision-making in how to fill Alek Manoah’s spot in the rotation. Until Rodríguez proves he can pitch deep into games, he will be off the fantasy radar unless the Blue Jays use an opener in front of him.

Rodríguez scattered three hits and one walk, needing an economical 67 pitches (46 strikes) to navigate four frames. The 27-year-old righty has made a handful of rehab appearances so far and figures to be ready to return to Toronto’s pitching mix as a multi-inning relief weapon at some point in the near future. There isn’t a ton of fantasy appeal in that limited role from a volume standpoint, but the strikeouts and ratios should be stellar enough to help out in deeper mixed leagues.

Rodríguez allowed two hits, issued one walk and also notched one strikeout, needing 43 pitches (25 strikes) to complete two frames. The 27-year-old righty has made a couple rehab appearances so far as he works his way back to Toronto and figures to operate in a multi-inning relief role upon returning.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider added that Rodríguez will aim for roughly 30-35 pitches in his second rehab outing. The 27-year-old figures to return as a multi-inning reliever after hitting the injured list in late April due to back inflammation.

Rodríguez threw 16 pitches (nine strikes) in his first rehab outing since landing on the injured list back in late April with back inflammation. The 27-year-old righty will presumably be built up to handle a multi-inning relief role with Alek Manoah pitching reasonably well since rejoining Toronto’s starting rotation.