With Alek Manoah hitting the injured list on Friday, Yariel Rodriguez's return to the big leagues will be important as the Toronto Blue Jays' pitching depth is tested once again.
On Friday, Rodriguez made his third rehab appearance with triple-A Buffalo as he works back from thoracic spine inflammation.
The 27-year-old Cuban threw 43 pitches over two innings, allowing two hits, one run, two walks and striking out one batter.
Rodriguez worked a scoreless first inning before running into some trouble in the second. He issued back-to-back walks to load the bases before forcing an RBI fielder's choice and a pop-out to escape the one-out jam.
In total, Rodriguez threw 21 fastballs, 17 sliders, four sinkers and 1 splitter in the game, with his slider generating two whiffs on six swings. He topped out at 96.4 m.p.h. with his fastball, averaging 94.3 with the offering.
Signed to a five-year, $32-million contract by the Blue Jays in the off-season, Rodriguez had made four starts with the MLB club this season, posting a 4.11 ERA over 15.1 innings with 16 strikeouts.
Toronto manager John Schneider told reporters before the Blue Jays' game that next steps for Rodriguez would be determined following Friday's outing.
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