Blue Jays place Nick Sandlin on 15-day Injured List, recall Justin Bruihl

Sandlin was placed on the IL because of elbow inflammation, which is never a great sign. The sidearm pitcher was just activated from the IL after missing nearly two months due to a lat strain.

When healthy, Sandlin is an effective reliever, posting a 2.20 ERA and 4.55 FIP in 16.1 innings pitched, with a 23.2 K% and an 11.6 BB%. In his short stint back, Sandlin pitched eight and one-third innings with two earned runs allowed for a 2.16 ERA and 6.20 FIP. Hopefully, it’s not a long-term injury.

As for Bruihl, the left-handed pitcher has appeared in four games this season, posting a 2.70 ERA and 2.78 FIP in 3.1 innings pitched. In low leverage, the 28-year-old has struck out five of the 14 batters he’s faced for a 35.7 K%, but has a 14.3 BB%.

This isn’t the only injury sustained by a Blue Jays reliever. On July 5, the Blue Jays placed Yimi García on the 15-day Injured List due to a left ankle sprain. He had only pitched one inning, throwing 30 pitches and giving up a game-tying home run to Aaron Judge. At least Sandlin appeared in nine games.

Thankfully, they were able to activate Ryan Burr recently, and he pitched an inning and a third with three strikeouts. Burr will be a big help to the bullpen that has been overwork in recent times, as well as injured.

It seems like one area of need the Blue Jays need to address at the coming deadline is relief pitching. When fully healthy, it’s a good bullpen that strikes out a lot of batters, but the bullpen has just failed to stay healthy through the season.

Other pitchers on the Injured List are Paxton Schultz (15-day), Bowden Francis (15-day), Angel Bastardo (60-day), and Alek Manoah (60-day).