We’re deep enough in spring training that teams are no longer allowed to end innings prematurely once a pitcher has thrown at least 20 pitches…but apparently, teams can still pull a pitcher mid-inning and have him re-enter the following inning.
That’s exactly what the Blue Jays did in Sunday’s game against the Yankees, thanks in part to a four-run first inning for the Bombers.
Tanner Roark started for Toronto, but after throwing 27 pitches and allowing four runs while getting just one out, he was replaced by Anthony Castro. Castro retired the next two hitters in order on nine pitches, and when the Jays came back out for the top of the second…Roark was once again on the mound.
Substitution rules have been relaxed this spring as part of MLB’s COVID protocols and efforts, but while the Yankees have seen innings end prematurely – DJ LeMahieu hit a walk-off homer in the second inning of a game last week, for instance – this kind of pitcher re-entry was a first.
Roark went on to pitch two more innings, throwing 72 total pitches and allowing seven runs total – the final three on Thairo Estrada’s three-run homer in the third. He was replaced by A.J. Cole for the fourth inning, and this time, that was truly it for Roark.
No such issue on the other side for the Yankees, who got five strong innings out of Gerrit Cole, allowing one run on four hits while throwing 78 pitches. He was replaced by Asher Wojciechowski for the sixth.
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