Happ’s return to hill makes Jays rotation almost whole

The Blue Jays are almost whole again, at least offensively, with the return of Troy Tulowitzki and Josh Donaldson. As for the rotation, that’s up in the air. The cavalry appears to be charging into the valley of dearth.

J.A. Happ is now confirmed to start on Tuesday, and Francisco Liriano could be back as early as Friday. But what’s not known is if the charge of the arms brigade is arriving on stallions or Shetland ponies.

At spring training, the Jays’ five-man rotation was recognized as one of the deepest in the league, even if they were minus a confirmed No. 1 starter. But the problem was health.

There was little depth in the minors after the summer of 2015, when they traded young pitching for the chance to make it back to the post-season. Last year’s good health has not been repeated, with 14 replacement starts needed in 50 games.

Happ was a 20-game winner a year ago, one of two in the AL along with Cy Young winner Rick Porcello of the Red Sox. The 34-year-old lefty made three starts this season before being shut down with elbow inflammation after leaving a game against the Orioles on April 16. Despite the fact he has not walked a batter in 16 innings with 20 strikeouts, Happ was back to throwing too many pitches in too few innings.

His first start at Baltimore on April 5 was solid, after a season in which he logged a career-high 195 innings in 32 starts. But his second outing, which may already have been affected by the elbow issues, saw him throw 102 pitches in 42⁄

3 innings, even with no walks. Following Thursday’s rehab start at Class-A Dunedin, in which he threw 56 pitches in three innings, Happ may be expected to ease back into his Jays role, maybe 70 to 80 pitches vs. the Reds.

An interesting angle to Happ’s Tuesday return is that he will be facing righthander Asher Wojciechowski.

The 28-year-old was part of a 10-player deal with the Astros that made Happ a Blue Jay on July 20, 2012. The Jays had made Wojciechowski the 41st player selected in the 2010 draft, seven picks after choosing Aaron Sanchez and three after they’d decided on Noah Syndergaard late in the first round.

As for Liriano, he had made seven less-than-level starts before he was shut down with a shoulder strain following an outing against the Indians on May 10. In that start, the 33-year-old left-hander allowed seven runs in two innings, but the Jays came back to win the game. The Jays are 4-3 in Liriano’s seven starts despite a 6.35 ERA and 1.906 WHIP. Liriano’s possible Friday start against the Yankees will be confirmed once the medical people give him the go-ahead.

Liriano made his first rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo in Charlotte on Sunday, throwing 72 pitches in 41⁄

3 innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts. In the majors before the injury, Liriano had managed six-plus innings just once in seven starts, while leaving before completing five innings in three of those assignments. What the Jays will get when he is back on the hill is up for debate. He will likely be allowed 80 to 90 pitches.

It’s the questionable health and performance of both Happ and Liriano that leaves the roles for interim starters Mike Bolsinger and Joe Biagini up in the air. The incumbents need to prove they are back and healthy.

Recall that Biagini made his mark in his rookie year as a Rule 5 revelation, setting up closer Roberto Osuna. He has made five starts, finally going more than five innings in his last one on Sunday against the solidhitting Rangers. He’s not set in stone as the fifth starter, but at least his movement has been forward.

If both Happ and Liriano emerge from their first test healthy, then Bolsinger is likely the odd-man out with Biagini remaining in the rotation until Aaron Sanchez comes back — and that date is anyone’s guess as the young right-hander has indicated he is in no hurry until he knows his finger is 100 per cent.

Bolsinger was acquired from the Dodgers for Jesse Chavez last summer. He has made four replacement starts, with another scheduled on Wednesday afternoon. But he hurt his own chances of remaining with the major-league team in his last start when he twice failed to execute fundamentals, a must when you are battling for a spot.

In the second inning Friday, Devon Travis threw a ball past Donaldson at second base with the shift on. Third was obviously open and Bolsinger stood watching on the mound as the runner strolled to third. Then in the fourth, a ball was grounded to Justin Smoak at first base. Bolsinger was late covering from the mound. Smoak had to slide feet first into the bag to make the play.

Manager John Gibbons does have an interesting decision to make regarding Friday’s start. That would be Biagini’s day, but Gibbons could choose to start Liriano and hold Biagini back in case the rehabbing lefty is unable to go deep into the game. If he’s not needed, Biagini could take next Monday’s series opener in Oakland, which going by the current rotation would be Bolsinger’s start.

Whatever the case, the Jays are getting healthier and, in the meantime, have managed to hold the fort until the cavalry finally arrived.