(St. Petersburg) The Toronto Blue Jays will be without the services of gunner Ross Stripling, whose name has been placed on the disabled list for 15 days.
Posted at 11:50 a.m.
The registration was made retroactively to July 31. Stripling is suffering from a right leg injury.
In 23 games this season, including 15 starts, Stripling went 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA. He struck out 67 batters and walked 16 in 82 2/3 innings.
To replace him, the Jays recalled Matt Peacock from the Buffalo Bisons, their AAA farm club. The right-hander was claimed off waivers for the Kansas City Royals on July 6 and was immediately assigned to the Bisons. With the Royals, Peacock pitched just seven and a third innings, all in relief, compiling a 4.91 ERA.
The Jays also traded right-hander Mitch White to the Bisons.
In addition, the Jays’ new acquisition, infielder Whit Merrifield, has once again caused a stir in the Queen City because of his vaccination status. Merrifield was among several Royals players unavailable for the Missouri club’s recent visit to Toronto as he is unvaccinated.
Called to comment on the case Wednesday, before the meeting scheduled for the start of the afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager John Schneider said that Merrifield must have had discussions with his relatives about it, but that the team left him free to choose.
Athletes playing in the United States cannot cross the Canadian border without having been adequately vaccinated against COVID-19. The opposite is also true: Jays players traveling to the United States must have received the vaccines accepted south of the border.
The Jays-Rays encounter will offer spectators a left-handed duel at Tropicana Field, as Yusei Kikuchi (4-5, 4.89) will face Jalen Beeks (1-1, 2.36).