The Toronto Blue Jays are navigating through a tough stretch as they announced significant changes to their pitching roster. Starting pitcher Bowden Francis has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement, retroactive to his last start on Sunday. Despite a promising second half of the 2024 season, Francis has struggled this year with a disappointing 2-8 record and a 6.05 ERA over 14 starts. Manager John Schneider noted that while there's no structural damage, there is inflammation that needs to be addressed.

Meanwhile, Erik Swanson has been designated for assignment after a rough start to the season where he recorded a 15.19 ERA across six appearances. Schneider expressed the difficulty of the decision given Swanson's past reliability as a high-leverage reliever, especially considering his injury struggles earlier in the season. To bolster their roster, the Blue Jays have added Justin Bruihl to the major league team and called up Paxton Schultz from Triple-A Buffalo. There's potential good news on the horizon with Max Scherzer set to throw in a minor league rehab appearance soon, alongside fellow injured reliever Yimi Garcia, indicating some relief for a depleted pitching staff.

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed starter Bowden Francis on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement, a move retroactive to Sunday. After a promising second half in 2024, Francis has struggled this season, recording a 2-8 record and a 6.05 ERA over 14 starts.

In related moves, the Blue Jays designated reliever Erik Swanson for assignment and promoted left-hander Justin Bruihl to their major-league roster. Swanson, who missed the first two months of the season with a nerve issue, has been ineffective upon his return, posting a 15.19 ERA over six appearances.

Bowden Francis faced a disastrous outing against the Philadelphia Phillies that saw his Toronto Blue Jays lose 3-2. After starting strong with three scoreless innings, Francis succumbed to a series of walks and hit batters, allowing the Phillies to capitalize on his meltdown. Manager John Schneider defended him, citing his potential and hard work with pitching coach Pete Walker.

Despite a shaky season, with a 2-8 record and a 6.05 ERA, Francis has been kept in the major leagues this year after previously splitting time with Triple-A Buffalo. This decision hasn't pleased many Toronto fans who feel his performance is detrimental to the team’s success.

The Toronto Blue Jays are facing a critical juncture with pitcher Bowden Francis struggling significantly this season, raising concerns about their playoff aspirations. Francis's recent performance has seen him surrender 19 home runs over 13 appearances, leading to a 6.12 ERA, the highest among American League starters with at least 10 games pitched. Despite initial support from the team, his ongoing decline has put his starting role in jeopardy, particularly as the bullpen is overworked without a reliable fifth starter.

The team's attempts to stabilize their rotation have been complicated by injuries and ineffective replacements. With Max Scherzer still recovering and other potential candidates like Spencer Turnbull underperforming, the Jays are left scrambling for solutions. Manager John Schneider may need to consider demoting Francis or shifting him to the bullpen to recover, as the Blue Jays aim to remain competitive in the wild-card race.