TORONTO — With each hit in the Boston Red Sox’s eight-run first inning Thursday came a reminder.
The Blue Jays need pitching.
Since right-hander Aaron Sanchez went on the disabled list June 6, right-hander Scott Copeland and then left-hander Matt Boyd, despite some first-start success, showed they aren’t a short-term answer.
Even with Sanchez, who was on a roll before sustained a strained right lat, pitching was a Blue Jays’ priority.
Boyd did not get an out Thursday in Toronto’s 12-6 loss to the Red Sox. After the game he was returned on option to Triple-A Buffalo, where he will join Copeland.
Next up on the Buffalo shuttle could be highly touted left-hander Daniel Norris, who opened the season in Toronto but was soon back in the minors when he seemed surprisingly fragile in the mental part of the game.
If the Blue Jays are to contend in the wide-open American League East, general manager Alex Anthopoulos must make a move. Losing three of four games on home turf to the division rival Red Sox not only is embarrassing but unacceptable for a contender.
Anthopoulos said he would even be open to considering what is often called a rental pitcher.
“I think we’re always interested in taking a rental,” Anthopoulos said. “It’s just that the rental component impacts what you’re willing to pay. That’s the hardest part — managing the short term and the long term. You want to be in a position to have to make a tough decision, but it is much easier to swallow when you’re giving up a young player when you know you can keep the guy you’re getting.”
Anthopoulos would prefer to add a starter, but now is not the time to get picky.
“We would take either (a starter or a reliever) to improve, but I think clearly the rotation is the area that has the most need,” he said. “Not that the bullpen can’t use some work, but I think the bullpen is starting to settle in a little bit.”
Anthopoulos said he nearly made a trade in May.
“We thought we had a deal 90 percent of the way there, I guess,” he said. “It just didn’t get done.”
He left it at that. No names, no details.
He likes being cute about such things.
It is getting too late for that. It is about time he filled in the blanks and did something about an obvious need.
