GDB 97.0: Erik Swanson, Yimi Garcia and Bo Bichette return to Blue Jays out of All-Star Break
Toronto Blue Jays Yimi Garcia
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Zach Laing
Jul 19, 2024, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 19, 2024, 16:57 EDT
Here comes the Cavalry.
As the Toronto Blue Jays come out of the All-Star Break facing virtually no chance of making it to the postseason, with FanGraphs giving them a 1.8 percent chance and Baseball-Reference a 0.3 percent chance, it’s time to look ahead at the prospects who could come up, and who could get traded.
Two such players who could be on the move are bullpen arms Erik Swanson and Yimi Garcia, both of whom will return to the Blue Jays pen Friday as they open a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers. Swanson has dealt with significant struggles in the first half, having an abbreviated Spring Training due to his son being hit by a car in Florida.
He’s dealt with some injuries, too, and he wound up having a stint with the AAA Buffalo Bisons, where he pitched 16.2 innings in 18 games, allowing a 14.04 ERA. The Jays are hoping the struggles will be left in the dust, and that his 9.22 ERA in the big leagues across 13.2 innings will drop.
Garcia, meanwhile, has been electric for the Jays this year, but has been sidelined since mid-June with right elbow ulnar neuritis. He, too, had a stint in AAA — albeit much shorter — and now will be in the mix as a high-leverage arm, or a closer for the team.
Both players are guys the Jays could look to trade ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. Swanson’s deal is up at the end of the year and has one year left of arbitration eligibility, while Garcia is a free agent at seasons end.
But they’re not the only guys other teams could have their eye on. Numerous scouts around the league are descending on Toronto tonight, expected to be there to watch the matchup between starters Chris Bassitt and Jack Flaherty, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported, adding the Jays could be open to trading some players who still have term. Bassitt fits the bill, given that he has one year after this left on a deal paying him $20-million per year.
Bo Bichette is also set to return to the Jays lineup, having missed four games ahead of the break with a calf strain.

First pitch: 7:07 p.m. EST.
TV & Radio: Apple TV+, SN590.

Starting pitchers:

NameTeamGS
W
L
IP
ERA
xERA
ERA-
FIP
WHIP
K/9
BB/9
Chris Bassitt
TOR
19
8
7
107.1
3.52
4.24
89
3.72
1.43
8.39
3.77
Jack Flaherty
DET
16
6
5
95.0
3.13
2.91
78
3.17
0.98
11.27
1.52

Lineups:


BLUE JAYS:
  1. G Springer (R) RF
  2. S Horwitz (L) 2B
  3. V Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
  4. J Turner (R) DH
  5. B Bichette (R) SS
  6. D Varsho (L) LF
  7. A Kirk (R) C
  8. E Clement (R) 3B
  9. K Kiermaier (L) CF

TIGERS:
  1. W Pérez (S) RF
  2. C Keith (L) 2B
  3. M Vierling (R) 3B
  4. R Greene (L) CF
  5. M Canha (R) DH
  6. Z McKinstry (L) SS
  7. C Kelly (R) C
  8. G Urshela (R) 1B
  9. R Vilade (R) LF

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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

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