Injury bug bites Blue Jays during 17-in-17 stretch
Global News
The Toronto Blue Jays finally got some rest and, hopefully, did some healing on Monday.
TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays finally got some rest and, hopefully, did some healing on Monday.
Injuries have piled up over a 17-day stretch where the Blue Jays played every day. All-star shortstop Bo Bichette is the most prominent name on Toronto’s injured list, but he’s far from alone with closer Jordan Romano of Markham, Ont., Platinum Glove centre-fielder Kevin Kiermaier and reliable reliever Trevor Richards joining him.
The Blue Jays had Monday off and, after hosting the Philadelphia Phillies for a two-game interleague series, will have Thursday off as well.
“Seventeen in a row is tough, you know? We’re battling the injury bug a little bit,” said manager John Schneider after Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Chicago Cubs. “It’s a very welcome day off tomorrow for a lot of guys for a lot of different reasons.
“Hopefully they enjoy it.”
Schneider may have been underselling it when he said his team has been battling the injury bug “a little bit.”
Toronto earned nine wins between July 28 and Sunday to stay in the American League’s third and final wild-card spot despite losing five players to injury in that stretch, including some of the team’s most productive players.
Romano was the first of the Blue Jays’ cornerstones to go down, being put on the 15-day injured list on July 29 with lower back inflammation. Despite missing all of August so far, the all-star reliever’s 28 saves are still third in the American League and tied for fifth in Major League Baseball. He was in Toronto’s clubhouse on Sunday and is expected to return from the 15-day IL on Tuesday.
