Blue Jays' Kikuchi Wraps Up Dominant Spring

The lefty struck out 25 batters in 18 innings this spring.

The Toronto Blue Jays have the line-up to do just about anything they want. Armed with sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman and Alejandro Kirk, the Jays own arguably the deepest line-up in baseball.

If the Blue Jays are going to win the American League East this season, they are going to have to get pitching that matches that line-up.

One guy trying to do that is the oft-frustrating Yusei Kikuchi, who just wrapped up a dominant spring that saw him strike out 25 batters in 18 innings.

Yusei’s Day: 6 Ks, 0 ER 😤

Yusei’s Spring: 0.87 ERA 😱 pic.twitter.com/fqnzVSsAds

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 28, 2023

Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt form a very solid 1-3 but if Kikuchi and Jose Berrios can rebound from disappointing 2022 seasons and deliver good numbers, the sky is the limit for Toronto.

Kikuchi had a 5.19 ERA a season ago across 20 starts and 12 relief appearances. His frustrating outings were also common in Seattle, where he had a 4.97 ERA over the previous three years.

As for Berrios, he was acquired in a big deadline deal in 2021 (going 5-4 with a 3.58), but he regressed in 2022, going 12-7 with a disappointing 5.23 ERA.

He did go 2-0 in spring training with a 2.70 ERA across 10 innings, but he was shelled in the World Baseball Classic, where he pitched for Puerto Rico. He allowed five earned runs in one inning against Venezuela.

Berrios signed a seven-year deal worth $131 million in November of 2021.

The Blue Jays starting rotation for the first five games is Manoah, Gausman and Bassitt. Berrios will go in game four and Kikuchi in Game five.

The Blue Jays open up the season Thursday at the Cardinals.