Blue Jays’ Bowden Francis in likely return to bullpen

Possible MLB debut for RH Yariel Rodriguez vs. Rockies

Don’t be surprised, after reading between the lines of what manager John Schneider had to say, pre-game on Friday, if the Jays could announce a change to the weekend’s starting rotation vs. the Rockies. The change could be on Saturday vs. the Rockies, if they choose to send newcomer RHP Yariel Rodriguez as the starter for Game 2 of the series, making his MLB debut, replacing RHP Bowden Francis.

Francis, 27, who emerged from. camp as the fifth starter, worked two games on the opening road trip, both losses. It’s a role change. If Rodriguez pitches, Francis would then return to the bullpen, to be used in high-leverage long relief, a role with which he seemed comfortable and was effective a year ago with the Jays.

Francis started the opening game of the Houston series, Game 5 of the season, on April 1, in which the Jays were no-hit, then took to the hill again at Yankee Stadium this past Sunday, struggling through the third inning vs. the heart of the Bombers order, allowing five runs, capped by a Giancarlo Stanton grand slam.

“Asking any pitcher to transform into a major-league starter is tough,” Schneider opined, speaking to media Friday in his office. “Not that we think that Bowden can’t do it, but when you have other avenues to work around that, I think it’s beneficial.

“I think Bowden in that (long relief) role, yeah, if you’re looking for a good sixth or seventh inning, or something like that, I think he’s more than capable of doing that. He was really good at it last year. His stuff in his two starts has been pretty consistent. Maybe not as crisp as it was out of the pen in shorter spurts. He can definitely cover multiple innings in tight games.”

Francis was obtained by the Jays from the Brewers, mid-season 2021, along with RHP Trevor Richards for 1B Rowdy Tellez. He had truly emerged as a prospect off of a stint in the Puerto Rican Winter League, following the ’22 campaign. Used exclusively out of the Jays pen in ’23, he posted a 1.73 ERA, holding opponents to a .175 batting average in 20 appearances, 36.1 innings.

But in the meantime, the 27-year-old rookie,Rodriguez was already in town and sitting out Friday’s game on the taxi squad. On an innings limit for 2024, he had made two starts at AAA-Buffalo, without allowing a run, both against the Worcester Red Sox. His second outing was April 7, meaning Saturday is in his wheelhouse. He threw 57 pitches on April 2 and 47 on Sunday, so if he does start, it will likely be on a pitch count of around 70-80, meaning Francis could still be called upon in relief.

“He’s here, obviously,” Schneider said, speaking of Rodriguez. “He’s going to be activated sometime over the weekend, whether that’s starting or bullpen, not quite sure. Gotta see how today goes. I think we really have to remember the big picture with him and the number of innings. He was really closer than we thought at the end of camp. We just wanted to make sure we were kind of staying regular with his buildup. He’s adjusted well. He’s ready to roll.”

It's been an odd odyssey to the majors for Rodriguez, who sat out and did not pitch in organized pro ball in 2023, after toiling in Cuba and then Japan for eight years, from 2015-22. Yariel this spring started two games for his home country in the World Baseball Classic and then joined the Jays as a free agent on a five-year, $32-million contract. He is not a kid, but he is on an innings limit?

“That was the plan initially with him,” Schneider said. “You don’t want to burn through all those innings in Buffalo, so it kind of came down to when and if he was ready and we’ll kind of just have to monitor him while he’s here.”

The thinking might be with Yariel to use his fifth starter innings while there is a void at the moment and then hope that later in the season, Alek Manoah earns his way back or LHP Ricky Tiedemann makes it tough to keep him down on the farm.

OTHER BLUE JAYS NOTES:

Saturday’s game for the Bisons, Game 1 of a doubleheader at Sahlen Field, has RHP Alek Manoah (shoulder inflammation) scheduled to start, with Danny Jansen (wrist) catching for the second day in a row. Also pitching in that game will be RHP Jordan Romano and RHP Erik Swanson, each making his second Bisons appearance.