Chase Anderson suffered an oblique stress while getting ready for a bullpen session and is everyday with the injury, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo informed Sportsnet.cas Shi Davidi and other press reporters. Montoyos description would seem to suggest that Anderson suffered an extremely moderate strain, as more severe oblique injuries have been known to keep gamers out of action for months at a time.
Anderson was acquired from the Brewers at the start of November, coming off a season that saw him post a 4.21 ERA, 2.48 K/BB rate, and 8.0 K/9 over 139 frames (starting 27 of 32 games). The 32-year-old has posted strong numbers over his 6 MLB seasons with Arizona and Milwaukee, working mainly as a starter and averaging 143 innings annually. Anderson has been fairly long lasting over his career, though its worth keeping in mind that he missed near to two months of the 2017 season due to a left oblique stress.
Still, the timing of Andersons problem produces doubt regarding whether or not the right-hander will be prepared for the beginning of the season. If a replacement is required within Torontos rotation, the Jays have a number of prospective arms behind the starting four of Hyun-Jin Ryu, Tanner Roark, Trent Thornton, and Matt Shoemaker.
Speculation has already focused on whether or not top possibility Nate Pearson might take that 5th starters function, and such hurlers as Anthony Kay, Ryan Borucki, Thomas Hatch, Jacob Waguespack, or others could also potentially get the call if the Jays wished to limit Pearsons service time. As Davidi notes, the team would get an extra year of control over Pearson by keeping him on the taxi team for approximately a week into the season. Regardless of the particular timing of the promotion, it seems likely that Pearson will make his MLB launching at some time in 2020.
