TORONTO -- The Blue Jays lost another starting pitcher on Friday after veteran Jaime Garcia was placed on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation prior to the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss to the A's at Rogers Centre.
Toronto recalled right-hander William McGuire to take Garcia's spot on the 25-man roster. The Blue Jays also announced that right-hander Sam Gaviglio will start Saturday's game against the A's, while Joe Biagini will get the call in Sunday's series finale.
Garcia experienced soreness during his last outing against the Mets. He was charged with six runs on six hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings. It marked the second time in three starts that Garcia could not complete four innings and his ERA now sits at 6.28.
"It flared up a couple of days ago -- that start. No big deal, but a little bit of inflammation," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Figured he'll miss a start and then he should be fine."
Garcia joins fellow starter Marcus Stroman on the disabled list as the Blue Jays now have to find a way to survive without two-fifths of their rotation. Biagini replaced Stroman earlier in the week, and now Gaviglio has been promoted from the bullpen to take Garcia's spot on the starting staff.
Gaviglio has made 18 appearances in his big league career, including 13 starts, and he owns a 4.23 ERA over 78 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old has tossed 4 1/3 innings for the Blue Jays this season with one earned run while he posted an impressive 1.86 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Buffalo.
The native of Oregon is set to return to the same Rogers Centre mound where he made his Major League debut in 2017. Gaviglio tossed two innings against the Blue Jays on May 11 while with the Mariners last year and allowed one run on a pair of hits and four strikeouts.
"Not much of an adjustment. I've got most of my innings as a starter, so that's what I'm most comfortable with," said Gaviglio. "I feel ready ... it's another baseball game. I'm going to take it like I did when I came out of the bullpen, and it's the same as when I was starting for Buffalo."
Hernandez on the mend
Right fielder Teoscar Hernandez was held out of the Blue Jays' lineup on Friday night for the second consecutive game because of lower back tightness. Hernandez felt some back soreness during Wednesday's 12-1 victory over the Mets and has not played since.
Gibbons said Hernandez was feeling much better on Friday and that he should be available to start against Oakland at some point this weekend. Reserve outfielder John Smith continues to fill in during his absence.
"He feels better today," Gibbons said Friday afternoon. "They'll go out there and test him today. Take a few swings, run around a little bit and throw, but he feels much better today. I would expect he should be able to go tomorrow, I would think. I'm hoping anyway."
Espinal suspended
Class A Advanced Dunedin right-hander Joel Espinal received an 80-game suspension from Major League Baseball on Friday afternoon after he tested positive for Stanozolol, which is a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The suspension is effective immediately. Espinal signed a Minor League contract with the Blue Jays in 2015. He had made just one appearance for Dunedin this season with three strikeouts over three innings. The 21-year-old is 7-8 with a 4.05 ERA in his Minor League career.