Blue Jays' Romano shut down after more elbow discomfort

The Toronto Blue Jays shut down closer Jordan Romano from throwing after he experienced elbow discomfort Friday, manager John Schneider announced, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

None of the imaging taken on Romano's elbow has shown any structural issues, according to Sportsnet's Blake Murphy. The team is hoping that a consultation with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas next week can determine the root cause of his issues and identify next steps.

Toronto placed Romano on the injured list in late May with what the team called right elbow inflammation. The same issue led to him starting 2024 on the IL and missing the first two weeks of the season.

The two-time All-Star has pitched in just 15 games for Toronto this year, putting up a 6.59 ERA with only eight saves during that span.

Without Romano, the Blue Jays' bullpen has lacked a true closer and struggled as a unit, posting a 4.78 ERA that ranks 28th out of 30 teams. They're also missing a second key reliever in Yimi García, one of Romano's ninth-inning replacements, who is on the IL with his own elbow issue.

Toronto shuffled its bullpen Saturday after designating veteran left-hander Tim Mayza, a staple of the team's relief corps since 2017, for assignment. Mayza's ERA ballooned from a career-best 1.52 in 2023 to 8.03, along with a 1.95 WHIP, in 35 appearances this year. The Blue Jays recalled right-hander Jose Cuas in a corresponding roster move.