Scherzer, Gimenez among Blue Jays nearing return from injury
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Pitchers Max Scherzer and Nick Sandlin both threw bullpen sessions Tuesday afternoon as the Toronto Blue Jays' battered lineup is starting to heal.
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Global News
8 hours ago
- Global News
Blue Jays bullpen trying to stay ready
TORONTO – Every five games the Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen has had to step up. Sometimes it works, and sometimes, like Toronto's 7-1 loss to the lowly Chicago White Sox on Friday, it does not. Spencer Turnbull, who served as the so-called opener in the bullpen day, said it's been a team-first mentality for his fellow relievers. 'It's a stay ready, next man up kind of thing,' said Turnbull (1-1) after giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over two innings. 'Everybody's pulling their own weight. We all want to win. We want to do whatever we can to contribute. 'Just being able to stay flexible and be able to do whatever is needed. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do my job tonight, and I'll flush that one but hopefully, I'm sure moving forward, it'll be better.' Story continues below advertisement It was a double bullpen game, with both teams trotting out a handful of relief pitchers with no starters available. Mason Fluharty followed Turnbull to the mound for the Blue Jays (40-35). He gave up three runs on two hits and two walks, before Braydon Fisher, Nick Sandlin, Chad Green, Brendon Little and Jeff Hoffman combined for six scoreless innings. Toronto's bullpen entered the game with a 3.61 earned-run average, 11th-best in Major League Baseball and seventh in the American League. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I thought they did a good job from the fourth inning on,' said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. '(Fisher) was great, giving us two innings there and I think everyone did their part in a game like that. 'But you want to try to avoid that, for sure. It's a fine line between planning for the next day and trying to keep the game that you're competing in at bay.' Story continues below advertisement Grant Taylor pitched one scoreless inning for the White Sox (23-53) before giving way to long reliever Tyler Alexander (4-7), who worked four without giving up a run. Dan Altavilla, Wikelman Gonzalez and Tyler Gilbert also came out of the visitors bullpen at Rogers Centre, with Gonzalez allowing a run. The Blue Jays have had to rely on relievers with veteran pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) on the injured list since his first start of the season. Eric Lauer (3-1) began to get starts instead of Schneider doing bullpen days, but then Bowden Francis (shoulder) was put on the IL on June 15. Relievers have started 13 games for Toronto so far this season. Scherzer had a bullpen session scheduled for Saturday after two promising rehab starts with triple-A Buffalo. It appears that the surefire Hall of Famer will likely start against the Cleveland Guardians at some point next week. Turnbull said he's not sure what his role will be when Scherzer comes back. 'We haven't really had a ton of discussions about that,' he said. 'I'm just trying to stay flexible and just do whatever they ask. I just want to do whatever I can to help the team. 'If Scherzer's ready to come back, that's awesome. He's one of the best ever to do it, so he'll help the team a lot when he gets up here.' Story continues below advertisement Francis (2-8) had a cortisone injection on Tuesday and will continue to rest. Jose Berrios (2-3) gets the start on Saturday afternoon as Toronto continues its three-game series against the White Sox. Chicago will counter with Aaron Civale (1-3). Schneider said that Fisher and Sandlin likely won't be available in Saturday's game, but the rest of Toronto's bullpen should be good to go. 'I think you can be aggressive in games like today when you have Jose and (Sunday starter Chris Bassitt) going before an off day,' said Schneider. 'We're going to rely on those guys to do their part.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- CTV News
Nathan Lukes taken off seven-day injured list and inserted into Blue Jays lineup
Toronto Blue Jays right-fielder Nathan Lukes (38), middle right, is looked at by a trainer after a collision with teammate second baseman Ernie Clement (22) during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) TORONTO — Nathan Lukes was reinstated from Toronto's seven-day injured list on Friday and was immediately inserted into the Blue Jays lineup against the Chicago White Sox. The outfielder was out with a concussion and his addition to Toronto's batting order delayed the announcement of the Blue Jays' lineup by about 30 minutes. Lukes was pencilled in to hit seventh and play left field. Right-handed pitcher Nick Sandlin (right lat strain) was reinstated from Toronto's 15-day injured list and was also available to pitch against Chicago. Lefty Justin Bruihl and outfielder Will Robertson were optioned to triple-A Buffalo in corresponding moves. Right-handed starting pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) had a bullpen session scheduled for Saturday. It appears that the surefire Hall of Famer will likely start against the Cleveland Guardians at some point next week. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
National Post
12 hours ago
- National Post
Blue Jays make pair of minor moves fully aware bigger decisions await
Article content The Blue Jays added depth to their outfield, while bolstering their bullpen in what must be viewed as the beginning for some kind of major move to be engineered down the road. Article content So much of what will be done to cement the Jays as playoff contenders is all dependent on health. Article content Article content Health was the reason why Nathan Lukes and reliever Nick Sandlin were unavailable, but each is back after being reinstated from the injured list Friday. Article content Both were active for Friday night's series opener against the visiting Chicago White Sox. Article content The bigger picture involves the July 31 trade deadline and how the Blue Jays are positioned in the weeks leading up to a time when a deal of consequence might be enough to push the team over the line. Article content With Lukes back, the team's outfield becomes a bit crowded. Article content With Sandlin's return, it could spell the end for Chad Green, who has not acquitted himself when called upon. Article content Veteran reliever Erik Swanson was DFA'd by the club, a move many had expected given his struggles. Article content It's an interesting time for the Blue Jays, who have played well, with the interest surrounding the ball club only to intensify as they remain in the hunt for a wild-card spot with hopes of catching the AL-leading New York Yankees, who have slipped a bit atop their perch. Article content The Bronx Bombers will be in town later in the month with a return visit to Rogers Centre on tap next month. Article content Article content Of all the moves GM Ross Atkins made this past off-season, Sandlin's acquisition from Cleveland flew under the radar. Article content Article content When he was healthy and able to pitch, Sandlin did well. Article content One can quibble with the signing of Anthony Santander (shoulder), but no one was complaining when the Jays acquired a power bat to address the team's glaring need for a thumper. Article content Lukes has been a pleasant surprise. Article content To make room for Lukes and Sandlin, the Jays optioned outfielder Will Robertson and LHP Justin Bruihl. Article content Once Daulton Varsho returns from his hamstring injury, making room for him will not be an issue. Article content Another injured player expected to back sooner than later is reliever Yimi Garcia. Article content As for Bowden Francis, the struggling starter had a cortisone injection and isn't expected to throw for a few days. Article content Perhaps the biggest domino is veteran starter Max Scherzer, who hurt his thumb in his Blue Jays debut way back in the season-series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. Article content In terms of progress, it's been going well for the right-hander, but until he's on the mound in a big-league game no one is sure what the future holds. Article content Scherzer is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday. Article content Article content Article content
