Blue Jays’ Aaron Sanchez exits game with broken fingernail

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez throws against the Oakland Athletics. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

OAKLAND — Aaron Sanchez’s finger issues returned for the third consecutive year Sunday, leading to an early exit for the Blue Jays right-hander.

Sanchez left Sunday’s game after just four innings and 59 pitches because of a broken nail on the middle finger of his pitching hand.

Finger injuries are all too familiar for Sanchez, who had four separate stints on the injured list in 2017 only to battle related issues again last year. He initially damaged his finger handling a suitcase and he missed the final two weeks of the 2018 season after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL ligament in his index finger.

Complicating matters, the Blue Jays lost starter Matt Shoemaker to the injured list Saturday when he sprained his knee in a rundown. Off days on April 22, 25 and 29 give the Blue Jays a little breathing room, but their rotation depth could be tested soon.

Including Sunday, Sanchez has a 2.77 ERA over the course of five starts.

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