Special season unfolding for Happ
JAYS: Lefty’s 17th win is five more than career high
With 17 victories in 2016, J.A. Happ has already won five more games than in any of his previous seasons, but the best may be yet to come.
Happ gave up three home runs to the Yankees on Wednesday, but each one was a solo shot.
“I look back on those three and the one I’d want back is the one to (Chase) Headley,” said Happ. “That was the only mistake I felt I made. He crushed that one. The other two I felt were pretty good pitches.”
Happ’s best previous season as far as wins and losses are concerned was 2009 when he won 12 with Philadelphia. He now has as many as eight more starts this year.
He knows that if he keeps getting offensive support like he got Wednesday, he’ll be just fine.
“On the offensive side, we put up some crooked numbers and that always helps,” said Happ, whose demeanour on the mound has evolved. He now seems totally composed at every turn.
“That goes with confidence and the trust in Russ and myself, just going out there and trying to execute one pitch to the next,” said Happ.
MVP banged up
With his wrist and thumb wrapped in a bandage, reigning AL Most Valuable Player Josh Donaldson is expecting to be back helping out his teammates in Cleveland this weekend.
Six-man rotation on mound
The Jays are in the second turn of their sixman rotation, still trying to find the best way to handle their pitching situation.
“It’s still a gamble and we’re trying to figure it out,” said Gibbons. “We’ve been one time through and it’s been OK. We’ve got some guys that are banged up too, so we’re hoping that’ll help us.”
There is a chance the Jays might move Marco Estrada up a day or two, after his latest start was abbreviated by rain after just four innings on Tuesday. He could pitch as soon as Sunday in Cleveland but Gibbons said no changes to the rotation are anticipated right now.
Pillar close to returning
Kevin Pillar will stay with the Blue Jays for the next couple of days and then likely head to Florida for a couple of rehab assignment games with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League.
If all goes well, he’s expected to be back in Toronto by Tuesday when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list. He’s dealing with a torn ligament in his left thumb but has been taking swings in the cage and doing fielding drills with the team this week.
“He was out working on defensive stuff this morning, hitting in the cage,” said Gibbons. “He’ll take the day off with everybody else (Thursday), then come out and go through the full pre-game workout on Friday.”
Gibbons added that Jose Bautista’s knee is feeling better.