Blue Jays: Sanchez stellar, goes eight strong innings in earning ninth victory

Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez has left little doubt he deserves to be in the conversation for the American League all-star team.

The brilliant right-hander had another gem of a start Monday and it’s something he does so often you come to expect it, as if it were the sun coming up in the morning.

Against the defending World Series champions, one of the Jays’ main rivals, Sanchez picked up his ninth win, dominating early and getting help from his defence as the Jays turned away the Kansas City Royals 6-2 at the Rogers Centre.

There is a compelling argument for Sanchez’s inclusion on the American League team: On Monday, he matched his season high of pitching back-to-back eight inning starts, and the win was also gave him 14 quality starts, tying him for the most in MLB with some lofty company in Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner and Jon Lester.

The win also put his winning percentage at .900 (9-1) — the highest winning percentage prior to an allstar break of any Jays pitcher in team history.

Royals manager Ned Yost, who will manage the AL all-stars, said he had finalized the roster Monday morning, which means Sanchez’s start Monday night against Yost’s Royals wouldn’t carry any more weight in the argument for his inclusion on the team.

But it also doesn’t mean Sanchez’s chances took a hit. The only other factor that may work against him is the fact he has one more start prior to the all-star game, this Saturday at home against Detroit.

The proximity of that start to the all-star game could work against him, since he’d be pitching on just two days’ rest. However, the all-star game also falls on what would normally be his bullpen day between starts, so he could be fine to work an inning.

“It would mean the world to me,” Sanchez said after his win Monday night.

“It’s everything, the epitome of being one of the best in the league. I’m not focusing on that, but if it happens, it would be huge.”