The Blue Jays reunited with an old pal Sunday, and they may not be done yet.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates and will join the Jays as a September call-up when they open a three-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati on Labour Day afternoon.
“Happy to have Izzy back,”聽 manager John Schneider said after the Jays’ 8-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at the Rogers Centre on Sunday. “He’s a gamer, he’s a winner.”
Kiner-Falefa, 30, signed a two-year contract with the Jays before the 2024 season and was having his best offensive season聽鈥 batting .292 with a .758 OPS, both career highs聽鈥 when he was traded to Pittsburgh for minor-league third baseman Charles McAdoo as part of a deadline purge.
The waiver claim means the Jays assume the remaining 15 per cent (or so) of his $7.5-million (U.S.) salary.
This season, the Hawaii native has reverted to career norms offensively, hitting .264 with a .632 OPS and only one home run. He has 15 stolen bases, now tied with George Springer for the Jays lead, in 19 attempts.
Kiner-Falefa broke into the majors as a catcher with Texas in 2018, but has since transitioned into a Swiss army knife role. He played second, short, third and centre field in his half-season as a Jay and has spent most of this season at shortstop, while also playing 25 games at the hot corner.
He’s here as insurance against injury to middle infielders Andr茅s Gim茅nez and Bo Bichette, and in case Ernie Clement’s fractured hand starts to bother him to the point where he can no longer play or produce, but he’ll do more than that. Clement started for the first time in five days on Sunday and had an RBI bloop single in his first at-bat.
“You’re looking at how we unfold our roster every single day,” said Schneider. “We’re mixing and matching a lot more, so ... you can be more aggressive with some pinch-hits early and have a right-handed bat that can make contact, can run and can play anywhere in the field.”
In order to make room on what was a full 40-man roster, the Jays transferred reliever Yimi Garc铆a to the 60-day injured list. Garc铆a needs season-ending surgery on his right elbow to clean up scar tissue, but is expected to be ready for spring training.
Rosters expand from聽26 to 28 active players on Monday, with teams adding one pitcher and one position player. The 15-day option rule still applies, though, so neither right-hander Braydon Fisher nor left-hander Mason Fluharty is eligible until later in the week.
The Jays could call up right-hander Lazaro Estrada, who is on the 40-man roster, for short-term length in the bullpen, or one of right-hander Dillon Tate or lefty Ryan Borucki, who spent parts of five seasons with the Jays from 2018 to 2022. Borucki was signed to a minor-league deal this past week.
Should the Jays need another roster roster, they can call up right-hander Jake Bloss, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and place him on the 60-day injured list.
Scherzer struggles
Max Scherzer聽gave up four runs, tying a season high, in just four innings Sunday while fighting tightness in his upper back.
“I snap my head down pretty hard to get through pitches,” said Scherzer, who failed to get through five innings for the first time in nine starts as a Jay. “It was affecting how I could get through the ball and then my ball was flattening out. Pitches just weren’t as sharp.”
The Brewers hit nine balls 97 miles per hour or harder in Scherzer’s innings.
“It’s muscular, so (I was) just with the doctors right now, going to take all the drugs I can take,” said the 41-year-old Scherzer. “Hopefully this is out of here in 48 hours.”
His next scheduled start would be Sept. 6 or 7 at Yankee Stadium.
Nance steps up
Right-hander Tommy Nance was the winning pitcher Sunday. With the bases loaded, one out and the Jays leading 5-4 in the fifth inning, he recording two huge outs to escape Brendon Little’s jam.
“I had a blast out there,” said聽the 34-year-old Nance, who lowered his ERA to 0.82. “It was awesome. I love being put in those situations.”
The right-hander has pitched with the Jays either trailing or ahead by at least six runs in 14 of 19 appearances, but he may be getting chances in big spots more often.
“He’s throwing the ball extremely well ... He’s been awesome,” said Schneider. “So going forward, he’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing, and if it’s in a different (bigger) spot some nights, he’s earned that trust.”
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