“Hyun-jin Ryu will not be on the wild-card roster.”
Following MLB.com, Jays Journal, which covers the Toronto Blue Jays on FanSided, reported on Tuesday (Feb. 2) that Hyun-jin Ryu will not be on the roster for the Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Twins. JaysJournal said Chris Bassett would be the second starter behind Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios would be the third starter.
Barring an upset, they are likely to start the best-of-three series against Minnesota on Thursday. The fourth starter is Yusei Kikuchi. “The hard-throwing lefty is likely to move to the bullpen,” the Jays Journal said. He could return to the starting rotation if they reach the Division Series, but for the Wild Card Game, he’s expected to pitch out of the bullpen.
This leaves no room for Ryu. He’s 3-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 11 starts, but it’s his 2-2 record and 4.50 ERA in six games in September that’s been most damaging. In August, he went 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in five games, but in September, he struggled with command and got hit often. It’s hard to compete with his velocity, but it’s also hard to pitch borderline every time.
He’s not a postseason starter, and he’s not a professional bullpen arm, so he’s not likely to help your team by holding onto a roster spot. If the starters have a major meltdown and Kikuchi goes to long relief, there’s nothing for Ryu to do.
Of course, if Toronto beats Minnesota and advances to the Division Series, Ryu could be used. That’s because it’s a best-of-five series, which basically requires more pitching. But in a best-of-three series, he’s more likely to be cut from the roster.
Hyun-jin Ryu’s only postseason start in Toronto came on October 1, 2020, in Game 1 of the wild card against the Tampa Bay Rays, and he struggled, giving up seven runs (three earned) on eight hits (two home runs) in 1⅔ innings. As much as Ryu would like to put that outing behind him this year, it’s not going to happen.
In a worst-case scenario, Ryu would have to hit free agency in 2023-2024 without a postseason appearance. There are often local articles suggesting that the team should sign Ryu to a short-term deal, but free agency is a market that needs to be opened up to determine value. Heading into free agency, Ryu won’t have much of an advantage. As you can see, the September slump has been devastating. 메이저사이트