Blue Jays down 2 starters as Sanchez, Garcia head to DL
The Toronto Blue Jays are getting one star starter back Saturday, but they lost two more members of the rotation in the process.
Toronto placed right-hander Aaron Sanchez on the 10-day disabled list Saturday with a right index finger contusion. His DL stint is retroactive to Thursday, when he suffered the injury during a start in Anaheim.
Veteran left-hander Jaime Garcia was also sent to the DL Saturday with what's being called a tender shoulder, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.
At the same time, the team activated Marcus Stroman from the DL in time for his start Saturday against the Angels. Stroman has been sidelined with shoulder issues since May. Tim Mayza was recalled to take Garcia's spot.
Sanchez lasted just a single inning Thursday at Angel Stadium, allowing two runs on 25 pitches - only 12 of which went for strikes. He didn't throw a single curveball in that inning of work before being removed with what was later revealed to be the finger bruise. Finger and hand issues are nothing new for Sanchez, who was limited to just eight starts in 2017 thanks to a recurring blister problem.
Manager John Gibbons told the Toronto Sun's Rob Longley he's hopeful Sanchez will only miss one start.
The 25-year-old, who led the American League in ERA two years ago, owns a 4.52 ERA with 67 strikeouts, 45 walks, and a 1.506 WHIP across 15 starts for the Blue Jays this season.
As for Garcia, he hits the DL after some less-than-stellar work of late. The 31-year-old owns an 8.04 ERA in four June starts, with hitters teeing off on him at a .303/.390/.530 clip this month. In his most recent outing against Atlanta on Tuesday, Garcia was lit up for five runs in only three innings of work, while also allowing two homers.
With Sanchez and Garcia now sidelined, the Blue Jays are in need of some additional rotation help during the coming days. Sam Gaviglio will now start Sunday's series finale against the Angels, according to Sportsnet 590's Ben Wagner. No starting pitcher has been named for Tuesday night in Houston, a game that Sanchez was scheduled to start.