Thursday Bantering: Bits of Blue Jays news

There is a little bit of news this morning:

Rafael Dolis had appendicitis and had a ‘laparoscopic’ Tuesday. He’ll be out at least a week. It makes it fairly unlikely that he will break camp with the team. He’ll likely start the season on the IL. They removed it before it ruptured.

Tanner Roark gets the start today.

Keegan tells us who we’ll see over the next three days.

Well, who you will see over the next three days. I’m going on holiday, leaving Saturday for Morocco. I’m going to miss opening day for the first time in....well likely for the first time. But I’m going to get to ride a camel, among other things. I’m back April 1st, but I’m sure you will hardly notice I’m gone.

It would be a good time to write that FanPost you have been planning.

Over in the Athletic, Eno Sarris writes about the Blue Jays starting rotation.

There’s evidence that just adding one pitch — no matter how good the pitch or how well you can command it — can help you get through the lineup one more time, and so it’s not surprising that despite below-average fastball velocities, Roark and Ryu have been able to follow this path to starterdom. Add in new research just this week about the value of command, and slider command in particular, and you have another view into the unique strengths of this duo at the top of the rotation. Roark has a 118 slider Command+ (sixth among starters) and Ryu’s 106 cutter Command+ speaks to his ability to place that pitch well.

The Red Sox are shutting down Chris Sale for 2-3 weeks. When he starts throwing again they will see if he needs Tommy John.

Today’s lineup. Alford starts again, he had a hit and a steal yesterday, with no errors, maybe he can build up from that. The Jays brought a number of regulars on the short bus ride to Clearwater.