Alek Manoah, baseball’s big bad wolf, runs into Astros brick house

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah’s rough start to the 2023 season continued, as he was torched by the Houston Astros on Monday.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah had an impressive 2022 campaign in which he made the All-Star Game for the first time in his young career, and finished third in AL Cy Young award voting.

But in 2023, Manoah has not found that same magic as he did in his first two seasons with the Blue Jays. Entering Monday’s game against the Houston Astros, Manoah carried a 5.46 ERA and a 1.769 WHIP, while issuing a major league-high 41 walks.

Well, Monday was another rough outing for Manoah, who tried everything he could to get some help. That included following a bunt by Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena and trying to blow it foul. Did it work? Well, no.

Alek Manoah pulled in the first inning after getting torched by Astros

A for effort.

Unfortunately for Manoah, things got even worse. With Pena and Mauricio Dubon on base, Yordan Alvarez hit a single to send home Dubon for Houston to take the 1-0 lead.

Manoah did get an out in the form of a flyout by Alex Bregman. But, Kyle Tucker hit an RBI single to increase Houston’s lead to 2-0. A walk to Jose Abreu loaded up the bases, and Corey Julks crushed a grand slam to left field to give Houston a 6-0 lead.

Manoah’s night was called after surrendering back-to-back singles to Yainer Diaz and Jake Meyers.

In just 0.1 innings, Manoah gave up six earned runs on seven hits, recorded zero strikeouts, and issued one walk on 38 pitches (22 strikes).

With this start in the books, Manoah now owns a 6.36 ERA, a 1.90 WHIP, and a 1-7 win-loss record, while recording 48 strikeouts and 42 walks in 58.0 innings (13 starts).

It was a night to forget for Manoah, but he did go viral for his attempt to get Pena’s bunt attempt to go foul.