NEW YORK – Colby Rasmus returns from the disabled list tonight at Yankee Stadium and the Toronto Blue Jays certainly can use a boost from their centre-fielder.
The AL East leaders have scored just 21 runs over their past 10 games, losing seven of them, including 3-1 in Tuesday night’s opener of a three game set with second place New York. Anthony Gose, optioned to triple-A Buffalo to clear a roster spot, and Kevin Pillar while he was up, filled in admirably, but Rasmus’s thump should help give the team a boost.
“Colby’s coming back and that’s just the way the team is set up,” said manager John Gibbons. “I will say, Anthony through our hot stretch that we had, he was in the middle of everything. Whether it was getting the big hit, getting on base, the bunt, defence, we wouldn’t be where we’re at right now without him I can guarantee you that. He’ll go back down, keep playing, he’ll be back.”
Rasmus played in six games on rehab assignment with the Bisons, going 3-for-23 with one walk and nine strikeouts.
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Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports noted that the Blue Jays were keeping a close watching on Jeff Samardzija last night and don’t be surprised when you continually here similar things about other players too over the next month.
#BlueJays have more scouts than most, often double up. Have two scouts at Samardzija’s start tonight for #Cubs. Had two at last one, too.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 18, 2014
The groundwork on potential deals is underway, as I wrote last night, and the Blue Jays out of due diligence will be making their assessments on everyone available.
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Sergio Santos pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Blue Jays in his first action since his activation from the disabled list and looked strong.
He needed only seven pitches, four of them strikes, to retire Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Ichiro Suzuki.
“I was happy,” said Santos. “I know it had been four or five days since I’d pitched in a game but I felt good, it felt good just to get back out there in a big-league city, facing big-league hitters. The results were good, I was pleased with my pitch location for the most part.”
Santos threw six fastballs, all 93-94 m.p.h., and one slider, getting Suzuki on a weak liner to left with on the offering.
“In my bullpen warming up I threw all my pitches and was really happy with the way they were coming out,” said Santos. “Hopefully I can keep this up and maintain my health and pitch well.”
With Steve Delabar optioned to triple-A, an effective Santos is even more important to the Blue Jays bullpen than before.