Bowden Francis activated from 15-day IL, expected to provide length behind Trevor Richards

Guess who’s back, it’s Bowden Francis.

The 28-year-old righty returned from the 15-day IL ahead of Tuesday’s contest versus the Baltimore Orioles. He had been recovering from a right forearm injury since his last big-league outing on April 24, when he pitched two scoreless innings in Kansas City against the Royals.

Ryan Burr, who pitched an inning and two-thirds a night ago, was optioned to triple-A Buffalo to make room on the active roster. He allowed one run — via a solo shot on Monday — on two hits and a walk while striking out three in two relief appearances during his brief major-league stint.

Francis is expected to provide multiple innings of length out of the bullpen behind Trevor Richards, who the club announced as Tuesday’s starting pitcher earlier in the day. The two will attempt to eat as many innings as possible in a game previously slotted for the now-injured Alek Manoah.

The 2022 All-Star is sidelined and expected to miss extended time due to a UCL sprain in his right elbow.

Richards made three starts for the Blue Jays out of necessity last season following Manoah’s first of two minor-league demotions. They piggybacked him with Francis while rolling with only four traditional starters during that stretch, a recipe they’ll now look to repeat.

Toronto acquired Francis and Richards in a savvy, under-the-radar deal that sent Rowdy Tellez to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021.

While rehabbing with Buffalo, the former starter, now bulk-innings reliever, logged 10.1 innings over four outings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits, two walks and one hit-by-pitch while punching out 11. He threw 60 pitches in his final appearance last week.