Injuries & Moves: Francis (forearm) sharp in rehab
LATEST NEWS
May 15: RHP Bowden Francis (right forearm extensor tendinitis) looks sharp in rehab outing
Francis threw two innings of scoreless, one-hit ball in Triple-A on Tuesday night, striking out four. The eye test backed up the good line, too, so this was a very encouraging step for Francis. It's possible he still needs another outing, but at this point, the right-hander feels very close to making his return to the bullpen as a versatile option.
May 13: RHP Yariel Rodríguez (thoracic spine inflammation) and RHP Chad Green (right teres major strain) both throw bullpens in Toronto
This is more good news for the Blue Jays on both pitching fronts. Green is working back to a straightforward role, where he'd pitch plenty in the seventh and move around to high-leverage spots, but Rodríguez is a more interesting case.
So much can change between now and when Rodríguez returns, but if Alek Manoah is looking solid as the fifth starter, Rodríguez could become another intriguing bulk relief option or even pitch in a shorter role. That said, Rodríguez also flashed some real upside as a starter, so the Blue Jays can file this under "a good problem to have."
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Bowden Francis (right forearm extensor tendinitis)
Expected return: Potentially late May
Francis threw two scoreless innings in a Triple-A rehab start on May 14, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts. This sets up Francis to return to the Blue Jays' bullpen soon, where he could fill an important role. As constructed right now, the Blue Jays don't have a true "long man" in the bullpen to eat through multiple innings, so Francis should immediately take that spot upon his return and could make a spot start if the Blue Jays are in a pinch. (Last updated: May 15)
RHP Chad Green (right teres major strain)
Expected return: Potentially late May
Green threw a bullpen session on May 13 and continues to progress well. The next step will be getting Green into official rehab games, which the Blue Jays are still mapping out. Manager John Schneider said things will remain "fluid" as Green returns to throwing. The right-hander was off to a strong start, with a 2.35 ERA over seven appearances as the Blue Jays’ setup man. (Last updated: May 13)
RHP Yariel Rodríguez (thoracic spine inflammation)
Expected return: Potentially late May
After having his Spring Training schedule delayed due to back spasms, Rodríguez landed on the 15-day injured list on April 30 with thoracic spine inflammation. The right-hander threw a bullpen session in Toronto on May 13, which is an encouraging step. The Blue Jays could build Rodríguez back up as a starter or keep him in a hybrid role, depending on their needs when the time comes, but the next step will eventually be a rehab start. (Last updated: May 13)