MLB Player News

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Thursday that Merryweather (oblique) will be shut down for "a couple of weeks" before resuming a throwing program, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Atkins is optimistic that Merryweather will be able to build up quickly once he's cleared to start throwing again, but the right-hander will first need to make more progress in his recovery from a left oblique strain. Before being shut down, Merryweather had converted on both of his save chances and struck out seven over 4.1 scoreless innings. He looked like the leading candidate to close games for Toronto this season, but the time he's missed due to injury could be enough to put him behind others in the pecking order for saves once he's eventually healthy.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Romano (elbow) has a "strong chance" of being activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Just as Toronto anticipated, Romano looks to be trending toward a minimum-length stay on the IL due to right elbow neuritis. Once activated, Romano should reenter the closer picture for Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, who hasn't settled on a clear ninth-inning man before or since Romano was placed on the IL. Anthony Castro recorded Toronto's lone save since Romano was deactivated, and it was of the one-out variety.

Pearson (groin) will throw 2-to-3 innings in an intrasquad game Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pearson has thrown at 100 percent intensity without pain recently, and he's now working on building back up ahead of his season debut. However, the team hopes to build the right-hander up to around five innings before he returns to game action. As a result, he should require at least one more throwing session after Friday's intrasquad game before he's considered to return.

Mayers (1-1) took the loss against Texas on Wednesday, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out.

Mayers entered the contest with a pristine 0.93 ERA over eight appearances, but that number is now a less extraordinary 3.72 following Wednesday's blowup. The right-hander was burned by a pair of home runs, and all four runs he has allowed this season have come by way of the long ball. Despite the tough outing, Mayers should still factor prominently into the Angels' bullpen mix.

Hatch (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Hatch has been dealing with a right elbow impingement since mid-March but has been throwing bullpen sessions recently. However, the right-hander will now be sidelined until at least June while he continues to recover. Hatch's removal from the 40-man roster will make room for right-hander Jeremy Beasley, who was acquired by Toronto via trade Thursday.

Borucki (2-1) picked up the win in Wednesday's victory over the Red Sox, allowing one hit and one walk over two scoreless innings. He struck out two.

On a bullpen day for the Jays, Borucki was judged by the official scorer to be the most effective of the team's relievers even though he entered the game in the sixth inning with Toronto already ahead 4-2. The lefty has two holds through seven appearances (6.2 innings) in addition to his two wins, and Borucki's 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB are sharp as well. The 27-year-old is the top southpaw in the bullpen, although Tim Mayza has also worked his way into the high-leverage mix.

Mayza gave up a hit and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning to record his first hold of the season in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.

The southpaw started the ninth inning in position for a save with the Jays up by three, but after facing the minimum three batters and getting two of them out, Mayza gave way to Anthony Castro with J.D. Martinez coming to the plate. Mayza has looked sharp to begin the season, giving up no runs in five innings over seven appearances with a 6:0 K:BB, which has earned him a spot in manager Charlie Montoyo's high-leverage crew.

Rogers pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out three and earning the hold in Wednesday's 13-12, extra-innings loss to Oakland.

The lefty has yet to allow an earned run through six appearances in 2021, having struck out nine and walked only one. Rogers has been a reliable option in Minnesota's bullpen since 2016, and he figures to pitch in even more high-leverage situations going forward with top closer candidates Alex Colome and Hansel Robles both struggling. At an average velocity of 95.2 mph, the sidearmer is throwing his sinker harder than ever and appears well on his way to a dominant 2021 campaign.

Junis allowed five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings during Wednesday's 9-8 win over the Rays. He didn't factor into the decision.

Most of Junis' troubles came in the opening frame, as the Rays piled on four runs behind a two-run homer, two doubles and two walks. He settled down for a bit afterward, allowing just one hit and no runs over the next three innings, but Junis faced more struggles in the fifth, as the Rays opened the frame with three consecutive singles and tacked on another run. Junis has a 4.20 ERA and a 15:6 K:BB in three starts since entering the rotation April 7 and will look to rebound in a road matchup against the Pirates on Tuesday.

Barlow (1-0) allowed one run on three hits while striking out a batter over 1.2 innings. He was charged with a blown save but got the victory after the Royals picked up a ninth-inning walkoff win.

Barlow was called upon in the eighth with the Royals clinging to a 7-6 lead but couldn't keep the Rays from scoring. He allowed a game-tying RBI double to Randy Arozarena in the eighth, then gave the Rays their lead back after surrendering a second RBI double to Joey Wendle in the ninth. Fortunately, the Royals were able to rally for two runs in the bottom half of the inning, handing Barlow a win. Overall, the 28-year-old has been fairly solid with a 2.92 ERA and 14:4 K:BB over 12.1 innings so far.