May 9, 2022

By Cole Shelton

Canadian Baseball Network

For the longest time in the Toronto Blue Jays’ off-season, the fifth starter role was up in the air.

Perhaps Ross Stripling would grab it?

Or maybe Nate Pearson would finally take the step many in the organization thought he would?

The Blue Jays’ front office, however, ultimately decided to go a different route, signing left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $36-million US deal.

Kikuchi was an interesting signing and another project for pitching coach Pete Walker. In 2021, he was one of the best starters in baseball in the first half, which earned him an All-Star Game selection. Yet, in the second half, he struggled with command which is what happened early in his Blue Jays’ tenure.

The 30-year-old started out this season going just 3 1/3 innings and allowing two earned runs against the New York Yankees. He then had a great outing against Boston, but in back-to-back starts against Houston he went just 3 2/3 and 2 2/3 innings, respectively, and many in Toronto started to lose faith.

Yet, in Kikuchi’s last start on May 4, things began to change. He went six innings against a solid Yankees’ lineup, allowing just three hits and one run, and the key reason he was effective was his command. His arm angle has changed and he allowed just one walk and struck out seven.

This season he has a BB% of 15.1, which is the highest of his career, but in his last start, he began to mix up his pitches more.

Kikuchi was throwing his fastball over 50% of the time in his two games prior to his start against the Yankees and only throwing his changeup under 10% of the time. Yet, in his last start, he threw the change 17.9% of the time and had a whiff rate of 50%, while his cutter was also working effectively, inspiring a whiff rate of 41.2%. He also stopped using his slider.

Kikuchi is no longer solely relying on his fastball and if he can start to mix in the cutter and changeup, it should lead to more success. When he was throwing the fastball, nearly 60% of the time, hitters were waiting for it and were able to make hard contact on it.

If the left-hander can keep getting whiffs on his off-speed pitches and keep hitters guessing, then it should lead to longer outings and less hits against him.

He is set to start against the Yankees again on Tuesday.