Injuries & Moves: Kiermaier (hip) being evaluated
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April 23: CF Kevin Kiermaier (left hip flexor discomfort) day to day, being evaluated
Kiermaier felt something in his hip while sprinting and was eventually removed from Tuesday's game in Kansas City in the sixth inning. The Blue Jays were still evaluating Kiermaier after the game, but he is considered day to day.
If Kiermaier needs an IL stint, it opens up an interesting decision for the Blue Jays. They have outfielder Nathan Lukes on the 40-man roster, who is playing well down in Triple-A Buffalo, but they also have prospects Addison Barger, Orelvis Martinez and Spencer Horwitz on hot streaks. The Blue Jays should have a clearer picture in the next day or two regarding Kiermaier.
April 20: RHP Chad Green placed on IL; RHP Nate Pearson recalled from Triple-A Buffalo
The Blue Jays placed Green on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 17, with a right teres major strain prior to the second game of their road series against the Padres. The team initially said Green was not expected to go on the IL, but he came out of a throwing session on Friday not feeling great and had an MRI, leading the team to make the move. He will be shut down from throwing for “a few days” according to manager John Schneider and reassessed afterward to determine how long he’ll be out.
The Blue Jays held Pearson out of Friday’s game between Buffalo and Columbus as a precaution in case he needed to be recalled. The 27-year-old right-hander opened the year in the Blue Jays’ bullpen and made six scoreless appearances before being optioned to Buffalo. He did not appear for the Bisons.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Chad Green (right teres major strain)
Expected return: TBD
The Blue Jays placed Green on the IL on April 20 (retroactive to April 17) after he reported not feeling great following a throwing session and underwent an MRI. The team originally said he was battling shoulder soreness after he wasn’t available to pitch on April 17 against the Yankees. The Blue Jays officially classified his injury as a right teres major strain following the MRI. He will be shut down from throwing and reassessed at a later date to determine his timeline to return. Green was off to a strong start, with a 2.35 ERA over seven appearances as the Blue Jays’ setup man. (Updated: April 20)
RHP Alek Manoah (right shoulder soreness)
Expected return: Potentially late April
Manoah pitched well in his most recent rehab outing April 19, tossing 5 2/3 innings with six hits and two runs allowed, no walks and five strikeouts for Triple-A Buffalo against Columbus. He threw 92 pitches as he continues to build up his pitch count.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider watched a replay of the start and expressed satisfaction with Manoah’s stuff while calling the outing “another step in the right direction for him.” Schneider said Manoah likely will make at least one more rehab start for Buffalo and that the Blue Jays will determine when to activate him based on how recovers from that start. (Updated: April 20)