Injury Updates: Jordan Romano to join Blue Jays Tuesday, still no timeline for Bo Bichette, and more

We’ve got a handful of Toronto Blue Jays injury updates.

Closer Jordan Romano is with the team and will reportedly be activated ahead of the team’s series opener with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. He tossed a scoreless inning in a rehab outing for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Friday.

Romano injured his back while pitching for the American League in the All-Star Game in Seattle last month. He made five appearances for the Blue Jays after the break and was placed on the 15-day Injured List after being pulled from an appearance against the L.A. Angels on July 28.

The Blue Jays have been using a closer-by-committee approach with Romano on the shelf, as both Erik Swanson and Jordan Hicks have picked up saves over the past couple of weeks. Romano has recorded 28 saves this season, which ranks in a tie with Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers for fifth most in Major League Baseball.

Toronto’s bullpen could also get another reinforcement this week as Trevor Richards is eligible to come off of the 15-day Injured List on Friday. Richards is on the shelf with neck inflammation. He threw a bullpen session on Saturday and will face hitters on Tuesday.

Also, Kevin Kiermaier is set to be activated from the 10-day Injured List when he’s eligible. Kiermaier was put on the IL on August 7 because of a laceration suffered when catching a ball against the outfield wall at Fenway Park.  He’s eligible to be activated on Wednesday.

Bo Bichette was on the field on Sunday running the bases and taking ground balls. Though there’s still no specific timetable for when Bichette is going to return, he said during the game’s broadcast that he’s “day-to-day now” and that “everything’s pointing in the right direction.”

Bichette injured his knee while rounding first base in a game against the Baltimore Orioles earlier this month and was placed on the 10-day Injured List right knee patellar tendonitis. The Blue Jays said that there was “no significant structural damage” and that Bichette wouldn’t miss a significant amount of time.

The Blue Jays have managed to stay above water without Bichette but they badly miss his bat at the top of the lineup. They’ve gone 7-6 in his absence but have been held to four or fewer runs in nine of those 13 games.