Tepera placed on DL with elbow inflammation
Sanchez missing scheduled start on July 2, cleared to play catch
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays placed reliever Dennis Tepera on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation prior to Toronto's game against the Tigers on Saturday.
Manager John Gibbons opted for Tyler Clippard in the ninth inning of Friday's series opener instead of Tepera, and said after the game that his arm was "hanging" a bit after the Houston series. Tepera allowed a walk-off home run in his most recent appearance on June 27.
"As a bullpen guy we always experience soreness," Tepera said prior to Saturday's game. "This is in a different area, so I'm taking a bit more caution. It's gotten better, just within the last two days."
He noted that it wasn't an issue of pain in his elbow, but recovery. Tepera noticed that his arm was not bouncing back as quickly after outings, so the Blue Jays will take an approach of rest and treatment.
With Tepera on the DL, the Blue Jays will continue to rotate through closers. Clippard is expected to get some opportunities, and Gibbons said on Saturday that Seunghwan Oh will also be in the mix.
"When the starter's in there, or another reliever and they get into a jam, when he comes in, you know he's going to throw strikes," Gibbons said.
In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays recalled right-hander Jake Petricka from Triple-A Buffalo. Petricka made nine appearances with the Blue Jays earlier this season and posted a 5.40 ERA, but has a 0.90 ERA over 20 innings with the Buffalo Bisons.
Rotation updates
Aaron Sanchez's finger is improving, but he won't be back in time to make his next start on July 2. Swelling has gone down in the area of his finger contusion, and he'll begin playing catch over the next several days.
This means that rookie left-hander Ryan Borucki will keep his rotation spot for now, and could even keep it beyond Sanchez's return. Gibbons believes that Sam Gaviglio could also succeed in a bullpen role, but that Borucki is strictly a starter.
Gaviglio is currently starting in place of Jaime Garcia, who saw Dr. Robert Thompson in St. Louis on Thursday and received an injection. Garcia has been dealing with continual cramping in his left shoulder, and has reported to Class A Advanced Dunedin to continue his rehab.