The Blue Jays entered Monday with their postseason math growing tighter and their pitching staff getting a reset.
Toronto opened a three-game set against Baltimore with a batch of roster changes, headlined by the return of rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage from the 15-day injured list. Yesavage is back after arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury he suffered on Aug. 4 during a warm up. He was slated to start the series opener against the Orioles’ Shane Baz.
With the Blue Jays trying to stabilize a rotation that has been worked hard, Yesavage’s return gives them a needed arm at exactly the right time. The club is also expected to keep his outing short, with Yesavage projected to go about three innings.
Toronto also recalled right-handed pitcher Chad Dallas from Triple-A Buffalo, giving the team another fresh option in the bullpen for Monday night.
To make room, the Blue Jays optioned right-hander Spencer Arrighetti to the Spring Training Complex and designated left-hander Joe Mantiply for assignment.
Arrighetti’s time with Toronto never really settled in. In 22.2 innings, he went 2-4 with a 6.35 ERA and gave up six home runs, struggles that became harder to absorb with the Blue Jays sitting three games back in the AL wild-card race and only six games left. In a race this tight, those rough outings carried real weight.
Mantiply, meanwhile, had a 3.33 ERA over 27 innings this season, but his recent stretch told a different story. Since returning from knee surgery on Sept. 1, he allowed six runs in 9 and 1/3 innings.
The roster shuffle leaves Toronto leaning on Yesavage’s return and Dallas’ fresh arm as it tries to keep its postseason hopes alive against Baltimore.
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