Toronto Blue Jays Roster Moves 6/4

The Toronto Blue Jays will face the Baltimore Orioles tonight in the second game of their four-game series. The Orioles will have Corbin Burnes on the mound while the Blue Jays will have Trevor Richards who is likely making a spot start the bulk of the work will be done by Bowden Francis as he has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list today and will be active tonight. With Francis active, the Blue Jays have optioned RHP Ryan Burr to Triple-A Buffalo. Tonight’s game was supposed to be Alek Manoah’s start but he is dealing with elbow discomfort that caused him to leave his last start.

-RHP Bowden Francis was reinstated from the 15-day injured list.

-RHP Ryan Burr optioned to Triple-A Buffalo

Blue Jays Roster Moves By The Numbers
RHP – Bowden Francis

Francis was acquired by the Blue Jays along with Trevor Richards from the Brewers in exchange for Rowdy Tellez back in July of 2021. He finished that 2021 season with Triple-A Buffalo going 6-4 in 14 appearances 13 of those coming as starts, he had a 4.19 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts in 73 innings. In 2022 he was back at Buffalo and made 37 appearances with 23 of those coming as starts going 5-10 with a 6.59 ERA, a 1.53 WHIP, and 110 strikeouts in 98.1 innings, he also pitched for the Blue Jays that season making one appearance and he went 0.2 innings, he didn’t allow a run on one hit; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out one. In 2023 he spent time with Single-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo as well as ten appearances with eight of those as starts going 0-2 with a 2.40 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 30 innings. He also pitched for the Blue Jays last season going 1-0 in 20 appearances with a 1.73 ERA, a 0.82 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.

This season he was announced to have won the number five spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation making two starts before losing his spot to Yariel Rodriguez with Francis being the first reliever after Rodriguez almost used both pitchers as one, he’s made five appearances going 2-2 with an 8.59 ERA, a 1.70 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 14.2 innings. He’s also pitched at Buffalo this season making four appearances with two of those also coming as starts going 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA, a 0.77 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts in 10.1 innings.

RHP – Ryan Burr

Burr was purchased by the Blue Jays on May 30th. He appeared in two games and didn’t record a decision posting a 2.70 ERA, a 6.14 FIP, a 0.90 WHIP, and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings.