The Toronto Blue Jays optioned pitcher Thomas Hatch to Triple-A Buffalo following Thursday’s doubleheader with the Chicago White Sox.
Hatch was called up last weekend to give the Blue Jays some length in their bullpen. His only appearance over this stint with the team came in the second leg of the doubleheader. Hatch came in to finish off the bottom of the 11th inning with the Blue Jays up 6-0 and was only able to record one out.
The 28-year-old right-hander has tossed four innings over five appearances with the Blue Jays this season with one earned run on five hits, four walks, and eight strikeouts.
The Blue Jays were allowed an extra player on their active roster for the doubleheader. They called up Jay Jackson from Buffalo and sending down Hatch puts them back at 26 heading into their three-game weekend series with the Detroit Tigers.
Alek Manoah is set to make his return to the Major Leagues following a month-and-a-half-long stint in the minors. The Blue Jays will need to demote one of the 13 pitchers on their active roster in order to make room for Manoah to be called up.
The most likely option would be Jackson because he pitched one-and-one-thirds innings on Thursday and the Blue Jays probably want to have Bowden Francis available in case Manoah has a short start.
UPDATE: 12:45 PM ET
And there it is! The Blue Jays have placed Jay Jackson on the Paternity list and Manoah has been recalled.
More must-reads: