Norris allowed three hits, one run and no walks while striking out seven in six innings. He has 21 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Left-hander Daniel Norris appears to have forced himself into a spot in the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation.
He improved his spring-training record to 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA in a 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Sarasota on Wednesday. It was his fifth start.
Norris allowed three hits, one run and no walks while striking out seven in six innings. He has 21 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings.
“He’s getting better every time out there,” manager John Gibbons said. “He’s more relaxed out there. His changeup is getting better. They had their A lineup out there.”
Gibbons would not say whether Norris will open the season in the rotation. Norris is taking nothing for granted.
“I’m still looking at it like I have to fight for a job,” said Norris, who went through four levels last season that ended with a September trial at Toronto.
Norris fits in with one of the major themes of the Blue Jays’ camp: the progress of rookie pitchers.
Right-hander Aaron Sanchez already is in the rotation after the Jays considered making him the closer. Left-hander Brett Cecil will open the season as the closer; and, with right-hander Marcus Stroman out for the season with a knee injury, Sanchez was moved into the rotation.
Right-handers Miguel Castro and Roberto Osuna also have impressed. Castro could open the season in the bullpen.
He introduced a different changeup against the Orioles — one that moves away from right-handed hitters. He induced a swinging third strike from center fielder Adam Jones.
He still retains his cut changeup that moves in on right-handed hitters, but he used the new “sink-changeup,” as he calls it, more often on Wednesday.
“It’s a looser grip,” he said of the pitch, which was introduced to him by pitching coach Pete Walker and which he has been working on for a week.
An ankle injury to right-hander Marco Estrada will not hurt the chances of Norris making the rotation. Estrada is also a candidate for the rotation but could be used in the bullpen.
