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Toronto Blue Jays 2015 Position Preview: Starting Pitchers

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Toronto Blue Jays 2015 Position Preview: Starting Pitchers

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Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

If the Toronto Blue Jays expect to contend in the wide-open, but ultra-competitive AL East in 2015, they're going to rely heavily on their pitching, specifically the starting rotation. The Blue Jays have dealt with injuries to their pitching staff this spring and have had to sort out plenty of uncertainty, but they've settled on a rotation that blends the young with the old. Here is a preview of Toronto's starting pitchers in 2015.

5. Aaron Sanchez

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5. Aaron Sanchez

Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees
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Sanchez was outstanding coming out of the bullpen for the Blue Jays in the second half of last season, and he looked poised to claim a prominent role as a reliever heading into this spring. However, Toronto needs Sanchez to fill out the rotation, so he'll fill the role the Blue Jays always envisioned for him, as Sanchez has been one of the top pitching prospects in the organization for the last several years.

4. Mark Buehrle

Mark Buehrle Intro
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4. Mark Buehrle

Mark Buehrle Intro
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Buehrle may be the most reliable member of Toronto's starting rotation, as he's made at least 30 starts in each of the last 14 MLB seasons, eclipsing 200 innings each year. As the No. 4 starter heading into the season, the Blue Jays will be looking for Buehrle to take the ball every fifth day and eat up some innings, which he's certainly capable of doing, and there's a good chance by season's end he'll once again have double-digit wins.

3. Daniel Norris

Daniel Norris
Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

3. Daniel Norris

Daniel Norris
Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

Norris has just five big league appearances, but he's going to be a key part of Toronto's rotation in 2015. He also has just 22 innings at Triple-A under his belt, as he quickly moved through the minors in 2014. However, Norris was sharp this spring, looking the part of a top prospect and a potential front-of-the-rotation starter, and so he appears ready for the majors, and Toronto will need him to have a strong rookie season in 2015.

2. R.A. Dickey

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2. R.A. Dickey

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Dickey has been good in Toronto, winning 14 games each of the past two seasons, but he's been far from the Cy Young winner he was in 2012. He did improve some from 2013 to 2014, perhaps indicating that he's growing more comfortable in Toronto, but the Blue Jays are going to need big things from him in 2015 if they're going to contend in the AL East. Dickey is coming off one of the best springs of his career, so he enters the season in good form.

1. Drew Hutchison

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1. Drew Hutchison

Toronto Blue Jays v Baltimore Orioles
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The Blue Jays have tapped Hutchison as their Opening Day starter and leader of their rotation in 2015. In his first full big league season in 2014, Hutchison had some ups and downs, but he definitely showed flashes of being a front-of-the-rotation starter. He was close to unhittable this spring, so Toronto should be confident that he can lead their rotation, but he's still young and has to prove he can be a consistent pitcher all season.

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