Marcus Stroman didn't make a good impression in five relief appearances earlier this season, allowing four earned runs in each of his final two before returning to Triple-A Buffalo.
So perhaps his start Saturday, the first of his big-league career, caught Fantasy owners by surprise. In six innings, he allowed just one run on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
Given Stroman's stuff and his pedigree, though, it really shouldn't. In the first 20 starts of his professional career at Double-A New Hampshire last year, he went 9-5 with 3.30 ERA and 1.13 WHIP -- good enough numbers in their own right, but his strikeout-to-walk ratio showed the full extent of his dominance. He averaged 10.4 strikeouts compared to 2.2 walks per nine innings.
And he was just as effective in seven starts at Triple-A Buffalo this year. Combined with Saturday's start, it's enough to suggest he may not have been completely comfortable breaking into the big leagues in an unfamiliar role. It's not like they eased him into it or anything. He went from suddenly starting to suddenly relieving.
Considering the Blue Jays sent down a surprisingly effective Liam Hendriks to clear a rotation spot for Stroman, they must think the 23-year-old is ready. Right now, he has the perfect combination of job security and upside, making him a sleeper in all formats.