The Toronto Blue Jays welcomed their closer back Sunday, activating Casey Janssen from the disabled list.
Janssen’s return from a left abdominal lower back strain comes at a time that Toronto’s bullpen needs the support. Three different relievers have collected saves in Janssen’s absence and the Toronto bullpen has combined to post a 4.77 ERA that ranks 27th among the 30 MLB teams. Janssen is excited to be back after three successful rehabilitation outings at double-A New Hampshire.
“I want to contribute. It eats you up when you’re not contributing,” Janssen said. “The ups and downs, I’ve said it before. I truly believe in the guys here. They’re talented. They’re still talented. A rough stretch has nothing to do with how they really are as pitchers and players and I think some people just live a little bit more in the moment. I’m happy to join them. I’m ready to get to work. Hopefully we can get rolling down there.”
Janssen will be part of an eight-man bullpen, since the Blue Jays opted to designate infielder Chris Getz for assignment instead of removing a reliever from the roster. While Janssen and the Blue Jays hadn’t determined a specific plan of action for his return as of Sunday morning, he doesn’t anticipate having any restrictions.
“I’m sure I’m still able to go back-to-backs,” he said. “I don’t know right out of the chute if we’d go three in a row, but I guess it’d depend on how the outing went. I’m just ready to get to work.”
Janssen saved 34 games while posting a 2.56 ERA in 2013, his second season as Toronto’s primary closer. Though he doesn’t have overpowering stuff, he generated 50 strikeouts in 52.2 innings while allowing just 13 walks.
The 32-year-old initially expected to return in April, but he experienced a setback that slowed his return. His three scoreless rehab outings at double-A assured him and the Blue Jays that he’s ready to pitch at the big-league level for the first time in 2014.
“I felt good,” Janssen said. “I didn’t think about anything. I didn’t think about the injury. The arm bounced back well and the outings there were around 17 pitches, so it challenged the arm a little bit. I was able to throw all my pitches and felt comfortable enough to get back up here.”
The decision to designate Getz leaves the Blue Jays with a short bench. Third baseman Brett Lawrie and catchers Erik Kratz and Josh Thole are Toronto’s only bench players for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.
LAWRIE RESTS: As expected, Brett Lawrie wasn’t in Toronto’s starting lineup Sunday. Lawrie could return from hamstring tightness as soon as Monday, when he’s expected to split his time between third base and second.
In the meantime, he took batting practice Sunday morning and tested his hamstring by running along the edge of the infield at Rogers Centre.
