Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Manoah (shoulder) will start for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday or Thursday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manoah made his last rehab start Friday, when he allowed two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings while striking out five. Schneider noted that he liked Manoah's fastball command and slider movement from Friday's outing. Manoah was placed on the 15-day IL at the beginning of the season due to right shoulder inflammation that kept him out of most of spring training.

Manoah (shoulder) showed improvement in his rehab start Friday with Triple-A Buffalo, allowing two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander still wasn't at his sharpest, giving up a two-run shot to Columbus' Johnathan Rodriguez in the first inning as well as three doubles, but Manoah threw 61 of 92 pitches for strikes, and the lack of free passes was encouraging. The Blue Jays are still counting on the 26-year-old to fill a rotation spot in the majors this season, and while Yariel Rodriguez is currently filling the No. 5 starter role admirably, Kaithyn McGrath of The Athletic reports that the Cuban rookie will be kept on a strict workload limit this season and is a candidate to transition into a multi-inning relief role. Rodriguez and Manoah are pitching on the same schedule, so assuming Toronto wants Manoah to make at least one more rehab start before activating him, he could make his season debut as early as April 29 at home against the Royals.

Manoah (shoulder) struck out four and was charged with four earned runs on eight hits and one walk over 3.1 innings in his second minor-league rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Syracuse.

EDGE Analysis

Manoah was far from dominant Saturday, but he still took a big step forward while shifting his rehab assignment to a higher level of competition. In his first outing April 7 with Single-A Dunedin, Manoah retired only five of 16 batters while throwing just 26 strikes on 58 pitches, but he did a better job of finding the zone Saturday. He still spotted only 48 of his 78 pitches for strikes, though, so despite looking to be fully ramped up from a workload standpoint, Manoah will probably need to make further improvements with his command and control before he returns from the 15-day injured list and receives a look in Toronto's rotation. Yariel Rodriguez should stick around as the Blue Jays' No. 5 starting pitcher for the time being.

Manoah (shoulder) said he will make his next rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Buffalo, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander made his first rehab outing Sunday at Single-A Dunedin and threw 58 pitches, but he retired just five of the 16 batters he faced. Manoah is expected to build up to around 75 pitches Saturday, and he'll likely need to illustrate better control to have a chance of joining Toronto's rotation once fully ramped up.

Manoah (shoulder) retired only five of the 16 batters he faced in his rehab start Sunday for Single-A Dunedin while allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits and four walks. He struck out two batters.

EDGE Analysis

Coming off a disastrous 2023 season in which he saw his velocity dip to go along with major declines in his command and control, Manoah has yet to show any signs of re-emerging as one of the game's more promising young pitchers. After issuing one walk and hitting three batters in his lone Grapefruit League start Feb. 27, Manoah was shut down with shoulder inflammation soon thereafter and opened the season on the 15-day injured list. He was cleared to begin his rehab assignment Sunday but once again showed an inability to put the ball where he wanted. He threw 16 of his first 18 pitches for balls and walked the first four batters he faced, finishing the day with only 26 strikes on his 58 pitches. Manoah will need to display major improvement in his subsequent starts in the minors to put himself back in consideration for a spot in the Toronto rotation once he completes his rehab assignment.

Manoah (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Dunedin, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manoah pitched a three-inning simulated game Tuesday at the Jays' spring training facility without any issues, and he's slated to up his workload to four frames in his first rehab start. If Manoah's Single-A outing goes well, his assignment may move to a higher-level affiliate, but the 26-year-old is likely still several rehab appearances away from making his season debut with Toronto.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Manoah (shoulder) will pitch a three-inning simulated game with minor leaguers Tuesday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

After one spring training outing in late February, Manoah was restricted to bullpen sessions and live batting practices due to right shoulder soreness. The right-hander managed to throw 34 pitches over two innings in a simulated game Wednesday, and he'll up that to three innings for Tuesday's session. Manoah is looking to bounce back from a rough 2023 season in which he registered a 5.87 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 79:59 K:BB over 87.1 innings while going 3-9 over 19 starts.

The Blue Jays placed Manoah (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Manoah is opening the season on the IL while he recovers from right shoulder inflammation, which kept him from pitching in the Grapefruit League after he made his spring debut Feb. 27. He was able to throw a two-inning, 34-pitch simulated game Wednesday, so his next step could be heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Manoah will likely require multiple starts in the minors to get fully stretched out before the Blue Jays consider activating him from the IL and including in the rotation.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Manoah (shoulder) completed a two-inning, 34-pitch simulated game Wednesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manoah has two minor-league options remaining, but Schneider noted that the Blue Jays are likely to stash the right-hander on the 15-day injured list rather than sending him to Triple-A Buffalo. Coming off a confounding 2023 season in which his command and control completely betrayed him, Manoah may not be guaranteed a rotation spot once he moves past his right shoulder injury -- an improbable development for a young pitcher who performed as a frontline starter in 2021 and 2022. He'll likely steadily build up his arm at the Blue Jays' spring training facility before joining a minor-league affiliate for a rehab assignment. Once Manoah is deemed to be healthy, his performance on his rehab assignment as well as the state of the Toronto rotation will likely determine what role he fills for the big club.

Manoah (shoulder) threw 23 pitches in a live batting practice session Friday, Rob Longley of The Toronto Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander's fastball reportedly touched 97 mph in his first live session since going down with a sore shoulder early in camp. He will begin the season on the injured list and Manoah said he's uncertain what his next step will be. Bowden Francis was named to the Blue Jays' rotation and another spot could open up if Kevin Gausman (shoulder) does not gain clearance for the start of the season.