As expected, the Blue Jays reinstated left-hander Steven Matz from the COVID-related injured list today. Matz is scheduled to start tonight’s game against the Mariners. The Jays also officially added newly-acquired right-hander Adam Cimber to the active roster, with righties Joel Payamps and Anthony Castro optioned to Triple-A. To create room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Jeremy Beasley was designated for assignment.
Matz tested positive for the coronavirus on June 15, and had to wait out a mandatory 10-day isolation period even though he was an asymptomatic COVID case. It was an unwelcome interruption to a season that has seen Matz go through a few swings of inconsistency, though he has been generally solid in posting a 4.26 ERA/3.78 SIERA over 69 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays. Matz’s seven percent walk rate and 24.8% strikeout rate are both better than average, as are his hard-contact numbers, as per Statcast.
Beasley was acquired from the Diamondbacks for cash considerations in April, and the righty posted a 7.71 ERA over 9 1/3 innings out of Toronto’s bullpen. That brief stint saw Beasley allow nine walks and three home runs. A 30th-round pick for the Angels in the 2017 draft, Beasley made his MLB debut in cup-of-coffee fashion with Arizona last season, tossing one-third of an inning in a single appearance.
Any pitching back from the IL is a good thing. As Jeff Passan said today about the Jays and the trade deadline:
The BlueJays need: “Starting pitching, high-leverage reliever pitching, middle-inning relief pitching, mop-up relief pitching, relief for relief pitching. Did I say they need pitching?”
Another one off the list. Hopefully a couple more bullpen names on the roster have numbered days remaining. Don’t know how Payamps is one of the guys to lose his spot though. He’s the only guy other than Romano who aha been consistent this year.
likely just cycling arms
No. Should have been Murphy. In reality the Jays should release Chatwood. You don’t drop your 2nd or 3rd best bullpen arm.
Chatwood is their second best healthy arm right now behind Romano. Chatwood has 3 bad outings and otherwise has been great.
Incorrect Yankee Steve. You have not watched the games to have an accurate opinion. Even if you did you’d be wrong anyway.
Also incorrect that he’s the second best healthy arm next to Romano. So much wrong with what you said but consistently bad takes as usual.
I don’t think Chatwood should be released however he should eased out of high leverage situations.
Let’s just look at the facts.
April – 6.1 IP, 1.72 FIP, 0.00 ERA, 2.84 BB/9
May – 14.0 IP, 3.57 FIP, 4.50 ERA, 7.71 BB/9
June – 7.0 I, 5.86 FIP, 10.29 ERA, 5.14 BB/9
So after a very nice start, he’s lost control of the strike zone which is leading to some pretty lofty numbers. What concerns the most is his inability to throw strikes even after walks, seems like the pressure gets to him.
TLDR, don’t release him, use him less and in lower leverage situations.
Dusty I’ll tell you, Yankee Steve and everyone else relying on websites for data rather than watching the games; Tyler Chatwood is done. Not physically (that we know of), but mentally. Fangraphs won’t tell you that.
How was his outing today? The second best healthy arm? Steve Nebraska should be embarrassed for responding with no facts, and you defending a guy who’s clearly not right psychologically is only right if you can’t assess talent watching a baseball game. It’s almost Rick Ankiel bad. Sad and unfortunate. It’s time to face reality.
Beasley back to ARI?
Mets surely miss Matz now!
Eh.
eh squared
Weird that a team in need of bullpen help decides to option down two of its actually decent relievers.