Pitching depth to be tested with Rodríguez sidelined

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays are down another key arm.

Right-hander Yariel Rodríguez, one of the club’s most interesting stories in 2024, was placed on the 15-day injured list with thoracic spine inflammation ahead of Toronto’s game against the Royals on Tuesday. In a corresponding move, reliever Zach Pop was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

Rodríguez felt some soreness on his back in the first inning of his start against the Royals on Monday, when he twisted and dropped on the mound trying to field a ground ball from Michael Massey. Rodríguez pitched through it, posting 3 2/3 innings with three runs (two earned), one strikeout, six hits and three walks on 82 pitches.

The issue got worse the next day, so the Blue Jays placed him on the IL following examinations.

Manager John Schneider says this is “kind of a little bit similar” to what Rodríguez dealt with in Spring Training, as he was kept off the mound until March 17 due to back spasms. The club hopes this isn’t as serious, though, and that Rodríguez won’t be sidelined for that long.

A native of Cuba who made a name for himself as a reliever in Japan, Rodríguez didn’t pitch professionally in 2023 and he didn’t have experience with North American baseball before signing a five-year deal with the Blue Jays in February, so the club exercised caution early on. The 27-year-old began the season with Triple-A to continue to build up after an abbreviated spring. He was called up on April 13 and quickly solidified himself as Toronto’s fifth starter.

Rodríguez has posted a 4.11 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings in the Majors.

The Blue Jays are still thinking through next steps for the rotation, but this stretch will surely test their pitching depth.

Alek Manoah looks like the next candidate in line, especially because Bowden Francis was placed on the IL with right forearm extensor tendinitis on Thursday.

Manoah started the season on the IL with right shoulder soreness, and his return to the Majors is contingent on good results during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo. He took a big step forward on Tuesday, striking out 12 batters in six innings of one-run ball on two hits and two walks agaisnt the Indianapolis Indians in his fifth rehab outing with Buffalo.

That’s a vast improvement from the right-hander’s previous start on April 24, when he allowed six earned runs and two homers in three innings. Consistency is still the key variable with Manoah, but necessity may dictate an earlier-than-expected return to a big league mound.

Paolo Espino is on the 40-man roster and could be another option for Toronto.