Next Blue Jays up step up again with Andres Gimenez back on the injured list
Author of the article:
Article content
The next-man-up approach aptly describes a Blue Jays team now riding an eight-game win streak after sweeping the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.
When someone is felled by an injury, the next man up has often stepped up for the Jays this season, at times in big moments with a game on the line.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Next Blue Jays up step up again with Andres Gimenez back on the injured list Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“We believe in absolutely everybody on this roster,’’ said Max Scherzer after his four-inning outing on Saturday. “Everybody on this roster is getting a chance to shine at some point in time.”
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The latest stalwart to be shelved is Gold Glove infielder Andres Gimenez, who had just started to rake again at the plate in recent games.
For the second time this season, Gimenez was placed on the 10-day injured list, this time with a left ankle sprain he sustained when the New York Yankees were in town last week. Earlier in the season, Gimenez missed 24 games because of a quad strain.
Gimenez, acquired in an off-season trade with Cleveland, began his tenure in Toronto by going 6-for-18 and slugging three homers in his first five games, which no one — probably not even the player himself — believed was sustainable. But once the calendar turned to April, Gimenez batted just .132 that month and had been struggling to keep his batting average above the .200 Mendoza line ever since.
He’s moved all around the lineup, batting cleanup, and leadoff and even dropping all the way down to the No. 9 hole. Still, in his past 10 games, Gimenez had been heating up again, hitting .353 with one home run and nine RBIs.
On Saturday, right-hander reliever Yimi Garcia, one of the team’s high-leverage arms, was also placed on the injured list for the second time this season after tweaking his ankle.
With the all-star break right around the corner, both Gimenez and Garcia are likely to be available when the Blue Jays resume their schedule on July 18.
To fill Gimenez’s spot on the 26-man roster, the Jays recalled outfielder Joey Loperfido from triple-A Buffalo. Loperfido, one of three players the Jays acquired from Houston during last year’s trade deadline when Yusei Kikuchi was dealt to the Astros, made an immediate impact in his return to the Jays, his two-out RBI single in the fourth inning putting Toronto up 2-1.
In addition, RHP Ryan Burr (shoulder) was reinstated from the 60-day IL to provide a fresh bullpen arm while Lazaro Estrada — who gave the Blue Jays four excellent innings in relief on Saturday — was optioned back to Buffalo.
Burr got four key outs in relief of starter Kevin Gausman, including strikeouts of Mike Trout, Jo Adell and Logan O’Hoppe all in the seventh.
Ability was not the reason why the Cuban was sent back down to the minors. It was availability. His pitch count Saturday meant Estrada would not be an option any time soon out of a bullpen that has been pushed to the limit.
To free up a spot on the 40-man roster, outfielder Will Robertson was designated for assignment.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.