Alek Manoah is heading back to Toronto, and manager Kurt Suzuki plans to use the former Blue Jays All-Star out of the Angels bullpen this weekend.
That is the twist in Manoah's return story. After nearly two years away from a major-league mound, his first appearance back may come in relief, not in the rotation.
The Angels activated Manoah from the injured list before Wednesday's 8-2 win over the White Sox. But instead of plugging him into a start right away, they sent him to the bullpen as a multi-inning arm.
Suzuki explained the thinking clearly. Right now, Los Angeles needs another arm in relief, so Manoah's first job is to give the club coverage while they sort out the rest later.
That makes this weekend series at Rogers Centre a little more loaded than it already was. Manoah's first big-league outing since 2024 could come against the team where he became an All-Star and a Cy Young finalist.
There is real emotion in that setup, but there is also real baseball logic. The Angels are thin enough in pitching that they cannot afford to wait for the perfect storyline before using a healthy arm.
Manoah's own buildup also helps explain the role. In his lone rehab outing on May 2, he allowed 6 runs, 5 earned, on 7 hits and 2 walks over 4 1/3 innings, throwing 87 pitches.
The Angels are easing Manoah back into the majors
That rehab line did not scream ready-made starter, and neither did the fastball. Blue Jays Nation reported he sat at 90 to 91 mph in that outing, which tells you this is still a work-in-progress return.
The role is also shaped by the Angels' injury issues. Yusei Kikuchi, Ryan Johnson, and Grayson Rodriguez are all on the injured list, leaving Los Angeles thinner than it wants to be.
For now, the Angels have Reid Detmers, Jack Kochanowicz, and José Soriano lined up to start the 3 games in Toronto. That leaves Manoah as a bullpen option this weekend and maybe a rotation possibility after that if he is not needed.
That uncertainty fits where Manoah is in his comeback. He is almost 700 days removed from Tommy John surgery, healthy enough to be back, but not yet locked into one clean lane.
Blue Jays fans know how sharp he once looked in this city. Over 75 career starts from 2021 through 2024, Manoah posted a 3.34 ERA and built the kind of presence that made him feel like part of Toronto's long-term core.
That is why this return lands with some edge. He is not walking back into Rogers Centre as the same power starter who burst onto the scene. He is coming back as a reliever trying to rebuild his footing.
And that may be what makes the weekend so interesting. The Blue Jays will not just be seeing a former ace in a different uniform. They may be watching Alek Manoah begin the next phase of his career one bullpen inning at a time.
Will Alek Manoah earn his way back into a starting role with the Angels soon?
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