The Toronto Blue Jays reinstated starting pitcher Trey Yesavage from the injured list on Monday, just before an incredibly important final week of the season. In corresponding moves, the Blue Jays recalled right-hander Chad Dallas while optioning right-hander Spencer Arrighetti and designating left-hander Joe Mantiply for assignment. The Blue Jays currently sit three games out of a spot in the Wild Card, trailing the Chicago White Sox.
Their next two series to close out the season come against the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds. While it's unlikely they'll steal the White Sox's spot in the postseason, they still have an outside chance to sneak into October. Yesavage's return is huge for the team, as he has been one of their better starters over the course of the season.
Through 18 appearances so far, Yesavage has a 3.65 ERA while striking out 91 batters over the course of 93.2 innings pitched. The right-hander has struggled with walks this season, issuing 46 free passes and ranking in the 12th percentile of MLB with an 11.9% walk rate, but his ability to induce weak contact and generate swing and miss makes him a huge threat on the mound. Yesavage made his debut for the Blue Jays last season, pitching three times during the regular season and posting a 3.21 ERA through 14 innings pitched.
He began making a name for himself after that, though, as the Blue Jays went on a miraculous run in the postseason. Yesavage struck out 11 batters against the New York Yankees in last year's NLDS, earning a win in a landmark performance. He wasn't as good in his subsequent start against the Mariners, earning a loss after allowing five runs through four innings, but bounced back with a win against the Mariners six days later.
He appeared three times in the World Series, earning a win and allowing just four earned runs through 12.2 innings pitched. Yesavage has the stuff to be a front line starter in MLB, and the Blue Jays hope he can show some of that potential as they try to squeak into the postseason this year. Yesavage will start Monday's game against the Orioles, which begins at 6:35 p.m.
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