Blue Jays’ Yusei Kikuchi goes on 15-day injured list with neck strain

Toronto Blue Jays’ starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) throws against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of American League baseball action. (Jon Blacker/CP)

Struggling Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain.

The Blue Jays recalled right-hander Max Castillo from triple-A Buffalo prior to Thursday’s game in Seattle to take Kikuchi’s place on the roster.

Kikuchi (3-5, 5.12 ERA this season) has had a string of bad starts recently. In his last outing in Oakland on Tuesday, he walked five batters and hit two in just 2.1 innings.

Kikuchi’s next scheduled start was for Sunday in Seattle.

Kevin Gausman, who took a comebacker off his ankle last Saturday and missed his scheduled start on Thursday, could make the start on Sunday after a second MRI on Thursday confirmed a bone bruise.

If Gausman can’t start Sunday, Castillo is the likeliest candidate to throw Toronto’s first pitch.

Kikuchi has struggled with his fastball control all season. He has walked 41 batters in 65 innings this year.

Kikuchi has not made it to the fifth inning in five of his past six starts.

The Blue Jays signed Kikuchi to a three-year, $36 million deal in the off-season.

Castillo has a 2.16 ERA, 10 strikeouts and two walks in 8.1 innings of relief for Toronto this season.

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