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Blue Jays recall Bowden Francis, option Yariel Rodríguez, among other moves
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Photo credit: © Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Jul 29, 2024, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 29, 2024, 19:20 EDT
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Prior to game two of Monday’s doubleheader, the Toronto Blue Jays made some roster moves.
The Blue Jays optioned Yariel Rodríguez and Yerry Rodríguez, both right-handed pitchers pitched in game one of the doubleheader. In their place, Bowden Francis and José Cuas were recalled.
It’s been known for a while that Bowden Francis would start the second game of the doubleheader, but this transaction makes it official. This season, Francis has a 5.82 ERA and a 5.32 FIP in 38.2 innings pitched, with the majority of the earned runs he gave up coming in his three outings.
Francis started the season as a starter, and gave up 14 earned runs in 10.2 innings pitched over his first three starts, giving him an early-season ERA of 11.81. Since moving to the bullpen, Francis has a 3.54 ERA and a 4.61 FIP in 28 innings pitched in a bulk relief role.
The 28-year-old started two games with the Buffalo Bisons since his demotion, pitching nine innings with no earned runs given up in two starts. It’s believed that if (likely when) the Blue Jays trade starter Yusei Kikuchi, Francis will slide into the rotation.
After the Blue Jays claimed Cuas on waivers from the Chicago Cubs, he pitched two innings with the Blue Jays and gave up three earned runs. He made history, the bad kind, in his first outing with the Blue Jays, intentionally walking Yordan Álvarez, allowing a base hit on the first pitch, and then hitting the next two batters. After just three pitches, he was pulled from the game.
Cuas has better numbers with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, posting a 5.40 ERA and a 4.26 FIP in 6.2 innings pitched, along with a 25 K% and a 7.1 BB%. This is the exact type of pitcher you expect in a selling team’s bullpen.
Yariel Rodríguez started the first game of the doubleheader, giving up three earned runs, four walks, and a hit by pitch in two thirds of an inning pitched. In his five starts prior to this outing, Rodríguez had a 1.93 ERA and a 2.72 FIP in 23.1 innings pitched.
Yerry Rodríguez, acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for pitching prospect Josh Mollerus was called up this past Friday. Like Yariel, he had a rough outing, giving up three earned runs in an inning and two thirds pitched. Overall, the 26-year-old has a 7.71 ERA and a 7.86 FIP in 18.2 innings pitched between Toronto and Texas.
It’s also worth noting that with the Justin Turner trade earlier in the day, the Blue Jays will have a three-player bench, as no player was called up prior to the game. In fact, there are only two position players on the 40-man roster, Jonatan Clase and Nathan Lukes, who aren’t on the active 26-man roster or the 10-day Injured List.
Zach Worden
Zach Worden
@Worden_Zach
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The only position players currently on the 40-man roster who aren't also on the active MLB roster (or MLB IL) are Jonatan Clase and Nathan Lukes (on the MiLB IL). So Clase would have been the only option to replace Turner unless they selected someone's contract.

Ben Nicholson-Smith
Ben Nicholson-Smith
@bnicholsonsmith

#BlueJays will end up playing one position player short tonight as Justin Turner leaves for Boston, where he'll join the Mariners at Fenway Park. Yesterday John Schneider they'd have a couple contingencies in place, but not the case in the end. Three-player bench tonight.

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Of course, this game may not even be played. As I write this, the game is in a rain delay, with the latest update from the Baltimore Orioles’ Twitter account being that there is no start time as of yet.
Not a great sign, but hopefully this game is played on Monday.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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