Blue Jays place Francis on 15-day IL, DFA Swanson

The Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff is undergoing some significant changes.

Struggling right-handed reliever Erik Swanson has been designated for assignment, while slumping starter Bowden Francis has been placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder impingement, the team announced Tuesday.

Right-hander Paxton Schultz has been recalled from triple-A Buffalo and left-hander Justin Bruihl has been selected to the major-league roster.

Swanson started the season on the injured list with an arm injury, and hasn't found good form since returning June 1.

The 31-year-old has a 15.19 ERA in six games (5.1 innings) this season. The Blue Jays acquired Swanson and pitching prospect Adam Macko after the 2022 season in a deal sending outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners.

Swanson was strong in 2023 (2.97 ERA), but slipped to a 5.03 ERA last season.

Francis, who broke camp as the team's fifth starter after an excellent finish last season, has struggled badly recently. He has a 6.05 ERA and has given up 19 home runs and walked 27 in 14 starts.

With Francis struggling and the Blue Jays using a variety of bullpen arms for the fifth spot in the rotation in place of the injured Max Scherzer, extra pressure has been placed on veteran starters Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios and Kevin Gausman. Scherzer (thumb) is scheduled to make his second rehab start for Buffalo on Wednesday.

Francis' next scheduled start date was Friday, against the Chicago White Sox.

Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reported that Francis has dealt with the shoulder issue for his last two to three starts. The 29-year-old underwent recent imaging on the injury, which revealed no structural damage.

Schultz has pitched to a 3.06 ERA in eight games (two starts) and 17.2 innings for Toronto this season. He has a 3.13 ERA in 23 innings for Buffalo exclusively out of the bullpen.

Bruihl, 27, signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays in March. He has a career ERA of 4.62 in 76 major-league innings (two starts) with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates. He has a 3.81 ERA in 25 innings for Buffalo this season, again exclusively out of the bullpen.

Here is a list of additional injury updates provided on Tuesday:

• Nathan Lukes will begin a rehab assignment with Buffalo on Wednesday. Lukes has been out with a concussion since June 9.

• Reliever Yimi Garcia (shoulder impingement) threw a bullpen on Monday and is slated for a live batting practice session in Florida on Thursday.

• Alek Manoah (Tommy John surgery) threw his second live BP in Florida, working up to 21 pitches and touching 94 m.p.h.

• Nick Sandlin (lat strain) will make his third rehab outing with triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

• Daulton Varsho (left hamstring strain) returned to doing full baseball activity and is set to run the bases on Thursday or Friday.

• Anthony Santander (left shoulder inflammation) has resumed throwing but is not hitting yet.

The Blue Jays open a three-game home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Watch the game on Sportsnet ONE or Sportsnet+ at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.