Blue Jays acquire Woods Richardson amid banged-up rotation's rough patch

ATLANTA -- With a starting rotation that has been decimated by injuries (five rotation pitchers on Toronto’s depth chart are currently on the injured list), the reigning American League champion Blue Jays are going through a rough stretch.

When Toronto earned a win over the Orioles on Friday, the Blue Jays returned to .500 (29-29) for the first time since April 4.

Toronto has dropped four games in a row since.

The latest disappointing result for the Blue Jays was a 7-3 loss to the Braves on Wednesday at Truist Park as MLB’s best club swatted two three-run home runs en route to yet another series win.

Blue Jays starting pitcher Patrick Corbin was the latest victim of Atlanta’s potent offense as he allowed four earned runs on six hits with one strikeout over five innings in the loss. Corbin (2-2) is now 0-12 in his last 13 turns against Atlanta. Corbin’s big blemish was a three-run home run hit by Mauricio Dubón in the bottom of the third inning.

“It’s just a good lineup over there,” Corbin said. “The one pitch, looking back on it, was kind of the difference maker there. You just try to battle and make quality pitches to these guys. They’ve been one of the best teams in baseball for a reason.”

Toronto’s starting pitchers have given up 15 of the 26 runs allowed during the four-game losing streak.

“It’s tough,” Corbin said. “We had that tough loss in Baltimore and we’re just kind of still searching after that. The guys come to the field every day ready to go and battle. Nothing has really changed. We’re playing a hot team right now and we need to try to get [a win on Thursday].”

For Thursday’s series finale, Toronto faces yet another challenge in the starting pitching department as the Jays have not announced their starter.

The Blue Jays did make a move on Wednesday. Toronto acquired right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson from the Twins for cash considerations. Manager John Schneider, though, said Woods Richardson will most likely not make it to Atlanta in time to make an appearance in the series finale.

“We’re still working through [the pitching plan],” Schneider said. “We have a lot of moving parts right now, obviously. I don’t think [Woods Richardson] will be part of tomorrow. We’re still kind of sorting out his travel so I think that would be a tough ask. But I’m excited to have him back in the organization."

Woods Richardson, who was selected 48th overall by the Mets in the second round of the 2018 Draft, was designated for assignment by the Twins on May 30. Woods Richardson was a former Blue Jays top prospect as he was traded from the Mets to Toronto in the Marcus Stroman deal in 2019.

Woods Richardson was then traded to Minnesota for José Berríos in 2021. Woods Richardson made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2022.

This season, Woods Richardson is 0-7 with a 7.74 ERA in 12 games (10 starts).

“We’ll see [how we use him],” Schneider said. “We’ll see if [he’ll make] bulk starts, or relief. Whatever it is. He’s been good for a couple of years and kind of got off track this year. Whenever you’re acquiring a player, you’re kind of doing homework before. Especially with a player you’re fairly familiar with too. I think there’s some tweaks to the arsenal that we can make. You can never have enough pitching.”’

In his 65 career appearances, Woods Richardson is 12-17 with a 4.76 ERA (302 1/3 innings).

“He’s got some big league experience,” Schneider said. “He’s definitely a competitor and definitely has confidence on the mound. He was a pretty good staple guy in Minnesota’s rotation for a couple of years.”

The Blue Jays added right-handed pitcher Chad Dallas to their taxi squad, and Dallas could be Thursday’s starting pitcher but, it would be 25-year-old’s MLB debut.

“[We added him to the] taxi squad and we’ll see if we need him [Thursday],” Schneider said prior to Wednesday’s game. “We’ll see how [Wednesday] shakes out and if we have to make a move, we’ll make a move. He’s definitely here.”

Schneider said Dallas could give the Blue Jays “normal starter length” of up to 80 to 90 pitches.