After throwing five pitches out of the bullpen on Sunday, Bowden Francis will return to the Toronto Blue Jays rotation and start Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Francis got one out in the Blue Jays’ extra-inning loss to the New York Yankees before allowing a walk-off single to DJ LeMahieu but didn’t throw enough pitches to enter Wednesday’s outing on a pitch restriction.
In 44.2 innings this season, Francis has a 5.64 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 10 home runs allowed. His last start came on July 29 against the Orioles, where he worked 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs and two home runs.
After trading Yusei Kikuchi, the Blue Jays will need Francis to fill the fifth spot in their rotation for the rest of 2025.
Meanwhile, Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling reported Tuesday that Bo Bichette and Jordan Romano, both currently on the injured list, will be in Toronto on Thursday to check in with the club’s training staff.
Zwelling added that the Blue Jays aren’t ruling out a return for either player this season.
Bichette has been on the injured list since July 20 with a strained calf, while Romano underwent surgery on July 3 to repair an impingement in his throwing elbow.
Both Bichette and Romano have been rehabbing their injuries in Florida.