DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Toronto Blue Jays say right-hander Alek Manoah has been bumped from his next scheduled pre-season start due to right shoulder soreness.
Sebastian Espino will start Sunday's game against the Boston Red Sox instead of Manoah, who allowed four earned runs over 1 2/3 innings in his first start of the spring last Tuesday.
A team spokesman says an MRI exam did not reveal any structural concerns.
Manoah was an American League Cy Young Award finalist in 2022 but struggled to a 3-9 mark and 5.87 earned-run average last season.
If healthy, the six-foot-six 285-pound right-hander will be in the mix for the fifth spot in Toronto's starting rotation this season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 2, 2024.
The Canadian Press
