ANAHEIM, Calif. – Just as Marcus Stroman returned to the Toronto Blue Jays rotation they lost two other starters Saturday as Aaron Sanchez and Jamie Garcia were each placed on the 10-day disabled list.
Tim Mayza was also recalled from triple-A Buffalo while Sam Gaviglio was announced as the TBA starter Sunday. The Blue Jays are now TBA for Tuesday in Houston and recalling prospect Ryan Borucki from the Bisons to make his big-league debut will be under consideration.
The 24-year-old is the probable starter for Sunday’s game against Lehigh Valley and whether he makes it will tip the club’s plans.
“We’re worried about Saturday night, Marcus Stroman,” manager John Gibbons said in deflecting the question. “I can’t get that far ahead but I can guarantee you one thing, someone will be out there.”
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Given the recent roster tumult that’s no certainty.
Sanchez jammed his right index finger prior to his outing Thursday in Anaheim and while X-rays were negative, swelling around the middle knuckle lingered.
He said after his one inning of work that he couldn’t grip the ball properly and felt pain upon release during his inning of work against the Angels. Since pitchers apply lots of pressure to the ball with their fingers on release to generate movement, that was going to be a problem.
“It’s a little too tender still to think about making a start on Tuesday,” said Gibbons. “So it makes perfect sense.”
Garcia joined him on the disabled list after pitchers did their early afternoon throwing, sidelined once again by inflammation in his left shoulder. He was also on the DL May 16-25 and after his last start – he allowed five runs on five hits, two of them homers, in three innings versus Atlanta – he said that he “can’t feel my pitches.”
“It’s frustrating,” Garcia said that night. “The biggest thing is I’m not able to get the job done for what this team expects me to do. I take a lot of pride in that. It’s disappointing on my part. I’m not making excuses about anything. I take full responsibility and in a game like today it’s completely on me.”
