Blue Jays Revamp Pitching Staff Amid Injury Struggles

On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays announced significant alterations to their pitching lineup, marking a challenging period for the team. Starting pitcher Bowden Francis was placed on the 15-day injured list because of a right shoulder impingement, while reliever Erik Swanson was designated for assignment. The Blue Jays have called up left-handed pitcher Justin Bruihl to their major league roster and recalled right-hander Paxton Schultz from Triple-A Buffalo to fill the gaps.

Francis, who had a remarkable second half in the previous season, has struggled this year, accumulating a 2-8 record and a 6.05 earned-run average over 14 games. The decision to place him on the injured list, which was backdated to the previous Sunday, came after he had been dealing with shoulder issues for several of his recent starts, although manager John Schneider confirmed there was no significant structural damage. The inflammation in Francis’s shoulder has raised concerns, but the team is optimistic about his recovery.

In contrast, Swanson’s performance has declined sharply this season, as he posted a 1-0 record with an alarming 15.19 ERA over just six appearances. After being a dependable pitcher during high-pressure situations last year, Swanson's ERA increased from 2.97 to 5.03, prompting this difficult decision. Schneider noted that the conversation about Swanson's designation was challenging, given his previous contributions to the team during the last couple of seasons.

Despite these setbacks, there may be reinforcements on the horizon for the Blue Jays. Star pitcher Max Scherzer, limited to just one outing due to a thumb injury, is expected to throw a significant number of pitches in a minor league game, which could indicate his return is nearing. Additionally, other pitchers dealing with injuries, such as Nick Sandlin and Yimi Garcia, are in the process of returning, which might provide relief to the pitching staff struggling at this moment.