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Blue Jays' Bichette, Swanson, and Garcia make their return against the Tigers

Blue Jays’ Bichette, Swanson, and Garcia make their return against the Tigers

July 19, 2024

The Toronto Blue Jays will have a new look to kick off the second half of the season.

The team announced shortstop Bo Bichette and reliever Yimi Garcia will return from injuries and be active Friday night against the Detroit Tigers, while reliever Erik Swanson has been recalled from triple-A Buffalo,

Reliever Zach Pop, a native of Brampton, Ont., has been optioned to Buffalo.

Bichette will start and bat fifth Friday. He missed the four games before the All-Star break with right calf soreness.

The two-time All-Star is slashing .222/.275/.321 with four homers and 30 RBIs this season.

Garcia, Toronto’s best reliever this season, rejoins the team after making a couple of rehab appearances with Buffalo. He has been out since mid-June with right elbow ulnar neuritis.

Garcia is 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA, 37 strikeouts and seven walks this year.

Swanson has struggled this year after being one of Toronto’s most trusted bullpen arms last season. He was optioned to Buffalo on May 28 after opening the year with a 9.22 ERA in 13.2 innings.

With Buffalo, Swanson has an 11.34 ERA in 16.2 innings. He has 17 strikeouts and 13 walks in triple-A.

The Blue Jays (44-52) are 9.5 games back of a wild-card spot.

After a brief stint on the injured list, the Toronto Blue Jays are welcoming back three key players for their upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers. Shortstop Bo Bichette, outfielder George Springer, and pitcher Anthony Kay have all been activated and are ready to make their return to the lineup.

Bichette, who has been dealing with a hand injury, has been sorely missed in the Blue Jays’ lineup. The young shortstop was off to a hot start this season, hitting .275 with 5 home runs and 22 RBIs in just 23 games before landing on the IL. His return should provide a much-needed boost to the team’s offense.

Springer, who signed a massive six-year, $150 million contract with the Blue Jays in the offseason, has also been plagued by injuries this season. The former Houston Astros star has played in just four games so far this year, hitting .200 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. His presence in the lineup should provide some much-needed power and veteran leadership.

On the pitching side, Kay is returning from a shoulder injury that has kept him out of action since mid-May. The left-hander has made four starts for the Blue Jays this season, posting a 6.62 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 17.2 innings. With the team’s starting rotation struggling with injuries and inconsistency, Kay’s return could provide some stability.

The Blue Jays are currently sitting in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 30-27. They are looking to make a push for a playoff spot in the second half of the season, and getting these key players back healthy is a big step in the right direction.

The Tigers, on the other hand, are in last place in the AL Central with a record of 24-35. They have struggled to find consistency on both offense and defense this season, and will have their work cut out for them against a talented Blue Jays team.

Overall, the return of Bichette, Springer, and Kay should provide a much-needed boost for the Blue Jays as they look to make a push for the playoffs. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how these key players perform in their return against the Tigers.