Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Blue Jays select Boyd, option Rasmussen

Lefty will make Major League debut Saturday vs. Rangers

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays selected the contract of left-hander Matt Boyd from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned reliever Rob Rasmussen to the Minor Leagues following a 12-2 victory over the Rangers on Friday night.

Boyd will make his Major League debut when he starts against Texas on Saturday afternoon. His promotion comes after a brief two-start appearance with Buffalo with most the hype surrounding a 1.10 ERA he posted over 12 starts in Double-A New Hampshire.

The 24-year-old is ranked the No. 19 prospect in the Blue Jays' system, according to MLBPipeline.com, but his stock has risen recently following a strong run in the Minors. He throws in the low 90s with good command, a plus changeup and a pair of breaking pitches.

"Good pitcher, he has a bright future with the organization," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He has been pitching well, he was dominating down in Double-A, couple starts in Triple-A and looked really good. So why not? Give him a shot and see where he goes."

The Blue Jays chose Boyd over promoting a more seasoned pitcher from the Minor Leagues like lefty Felix Doubront. The club went with the upside, and if Boyd responds well, then there's a possibility he could stick around for an extended period of time.

This spot in the rotation originally belonged to right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 6. Right-hander Scott Copeland got the first shot at taking his spot, but after a strong season debut, he struggled in the next two outings and lost his spot.

Sanchez likely won't return until after the All-Star break, so there could be four starts up for grabs before he returns. Whether or not all of them go to Boyd remains to be seen, but it's a scenario that has been discussed internally.

"Yeah, why not?" Gibbons asked late Friday night. "If he pitches well, it's his time. Sanchy is back throwing, but I don't know how long he is going to be."

Gregor Chisholm is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, North of the Border, follow him on Twitter @gregorMLB and Facebook, and listen to his podcast.
Read More: Toronto Blue Jays