Stroman on DL with shoulder fatigue
Right-hander ‘never really got going’ after being sidelined in spring
Marcus Stroman plans to take a step back, physically and mentally, during a stint on the 10day disabled list with right shoulder fatigue, a move announced by the Blue Jays on Friday.
The 27-year-old right-hander hasn’t been himself in the first six weeks of the season. He has worked 51⁄ innings or fewer in 3 all but one of his seven starts, throwing anywhere between 85 and 99 pitches per outing. His ERA sits at an uncharacteristic 7.71.
Speaking to the media before Toronto kicked off a threegame home series against the Boston Red Sox, Stroman said there have been spurts where he felt great, but he would lose that feeling from time to time despite working harder on the mound. In 2017, he said he felt like he was effortlessly working at about 85 per cent.
It’s an issue that dominates his thoughts, Stroman added. Going on the disabled list is the smarter decision, if a difficult one to swallow.
“I don’t want to go to the DL,” Stroman said. “I’ve prided myself on being that person to take the ball every fifth day, no matter what. I’ve never made excuses. I go out there every fifth day no matter what. No matter what I’m feeling ...
“It’s just, I’m off right now. It’s not all there.”
Stroman, manager John Gibbons and general manager Ross Atkins all downplayed any talk of links between the current ailment and the right shoulder inflammation that delayed the pitcher’s start to spring training.
“In spring training it was different because I could put more emphasis on doing everything that I can during spring training,” Stroman said. “Now, it’s hard to do everything that I can for my shoulder and my body in between starts while also focusing on lineups and being my best out there.”
There is no timeline for Stroman’s return, though Atkins said there’s a “strong potential” that his recovery will take longer than 10 days.
“He never really got going,” Gibbons said.
“There were some good spots and then he struggled, but never really the same consistency that he’s always had, for the most part. He was fighting through it. It chewed him up pretty good.”
Atkins said it’s a testament to Stroman’s strength that he is aware of, and talking about, the psychological toll the injury is taking on him. The general manager said no MRI was done and that the diagnosis came after Stroman started mentioning fatigue.
“What it came down to is, any time that you are inefficient and experiencing fatigue, then it’s a dangerous time to continue to push through that,” Atkins said.
Stroman will head to Florida in the next few days to begin rehab. In the meantime, the Blue Jays called up Joe Biagini and Sam Gaviglio, both starters with the Buffalo Bisons, and optioned reliever Tim Mayza to Triple-A. There is a good chance Biagini will take Stroman’s scheduled start on Sunday, Gibbons said.