Jays Watch: Litsch on DL
By MIKE RUTSEY, QMI Agency
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TORONTO - About 20 minutes before the start of Friday’s game, the Blue Jays announced right-hander Jesse Litsch had been placed on the disabled list retroactive to May 19 with a right shoulder impingement. It’s the latest setback for Litsch who has had a series of injuries since blowing out his elbow in April of 2009, an injury that required Tommy John ligament transfer surgery.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Litsch has tried to pitch through the pain for a while but it has reached the point where rest is needed to get the inflammation down. If all goes well, Litsch should miss just two starts.
To take his spot on the roster, the Jays recalled utility infielder Mike McCoy from triple-A Las Vegas. He’ll arrive on Saturday. Filling Litsch’s shoes for the Monday start in New York against the Yankees will be reliever Carlos Villanueva, who has been aces in the bullpen. In 13 appearances, Villanueva has allowed but 10 hits and four earned runs in 24 1/3 innings for a 1.48 ERA. It will be the right-hander’s first start since pitching for Milwaukee against St. Louis on Oct. 3 of 2009.
Back at first
In Thursday’s victory, Juan Rivera made his first start of the season at first, was error free, hit a solo homer and scored two runs. For that he got an encore as he was back in the lineup, again at first.
Manager John Farrell’s other option, with Adam Lind on the disabled list, is to employ Edwin Encarnacion at the position and Encarnacion has been shaky defensively.
So, for the time being, Rivera will get the starts at first.
“I thought he looked very good there last night,” Farrell said of Rivera at first. “Not only there but in the box. He’s earning opportunities and he’ll keep getting opportunities.”
QUOTE/UNQUOTE: “If I could give you the exact answer, we ought to go out and look for wallets in the parking lot too.” — Manager John Farrell when asked if he thought Jo-Jo Reyes was due for a win this night.
