Taillon (right elbow discomfort) exits first start off IL, to have MRI

KANSAS CITY -- Jameson Taillon left Friday night’s start with right elbow discomfort, another setback just two innings into his first start back from the 15-day IL.

Taillon had been down with right forearm tendinitis, but he and the Blue Jays felt they’d caught that early, and he felt comfortable through a Triple-A rehab start before coming back to the big leagues. After just 29 pitches Friday night, though, John Schneider came out of the dugout to speak to the umpiring crew between innings while the bullpen quickly began to stir.

Taillon is now headed for an MRI after the Blue Jays’ 9-2 win over the Royals, and the club should have more information on Taillon this weekend.

“He said it felt a bit more nerve-y, if that makes sense,” John Schneider said. “He’s been through this a little bit and he said this felt a little bit different than the previous injury, so we’ll just see what the MRI says.”

This is a troubling blow to Taillon, the well-liked right-hander who is now in his 10th MLB season. After Taillon was designated for assignment by the Cubs just over a month ago, he was traded to the Blue Jays and immediately profiled as a rotation fill-in following the trade of Kevin Gausman. That hasn’t happened, though, and with so many injuries elsewhere in this rotation, the Blue Jays are back to scrambling.

Where does the rotation stand?

Dylan Cease is going to pitch every fifth day down the stretch, and with off-days each of the next three Thursdays, the Blue Jays can pull that off to maximize their ace’s value. The same could go for José Soriano, too, and if Max Scherzer feels strong, keep the trio rolling.

Beyond that, it’s messy. The Blue Jays have long been without José Berríos (Tommy John) and Cody Ponce (ACL). Even Bowden Francis (Tommy John) would have seen plenty of starts by now, but he was lost for the season. Shane Bieber is on the IL with right teres major inflammation, and Trey Yesavage underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee, but is chasing a comeback by the end of the regular season.

The result? Sunday’s finale against the Royals is already lined up as a bullpen day with Spencer Arrighetti as the “bulk guy”, either starting or following an opener. That was a fine enough plan for one spot in the rotation, but if the Blue Jays have two up in the air, this bullpen -- which is already running on fumes -- will be asked to carry the team.

The latest on Trey Yesavage

The Taillon news makes Yesavage’s timeline even more important.

The 23-year-old threw 23 pitches in a bullpen session Friday at the club’s complex in Dunedin, Fla., and felt fine. He was up to 92 mph in that session and is scheduled to throw another on Monday.

If all goes well, the Blue Jays would then get Yesavage on the mound facing some hitters at the complex on Thursday, simulating roughly two innings. It’s possible he pitches in a Minor League rehab game after that or continues to face hitters in a more controlled environment at the complex, but either way, it’s beginning to feel like Yesavage has a real shot to come back and help, even if he’d be pitching in shorter bursts.