Blue Jays notebook: Romano sprains ankle while walking dog, Berríos gets opening day start

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This article was published 31/03/2022 (1353 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DUNEDIN, Fla.—Jordan Romano, the Blue Jays’ presumptive closer, is nursing a mild left ankle sprain suffered while walking his dog earlier this week.

“He was walking the dog and he hit a hole,” manager Charlie Montoyo said Thursday before the Jays hosted the Detroit Tigers. “It’s not that bad.”

The right-hander suffered the injury Tuesday, Montoyo said. The manager admitted some concern when he heard the news, given what a big piece of Toronto’s bullpen Romano is. But after testing his planting leg, the Jays deemed the 28-year-old Markham native day to day. He is expected to throw a light bullpen session Friday, and Montoyo said the hope is Romano will be ready for opening day.

The Romano news was tempered by a strong performance from Yimi Garcia on Wednesday night against the Yankees in Tampa. Garcia’s arrival in Florida was delayed by visa issues, but he threw a strong inning in his Jays debut, striking out Kyle Higashioka and Aaron Judge swinging while averaging 95.3 miles per hour on his fastball.

Montoyo, who is looking for an option to set up Romano, said Garcia could close with his stuff if need be. Garcia signed a two-year, $11 million (U.S.) deal with the Jays in the off-season and said he is happy to fit in where needed.

“I’m ready. I want to do my job,” Garcia said. “It doesn’t matter which inning — seventh, eight, ninth. If they want me to start, I’ll start for this team. I’m ready to go.”

Opening nod

Right-hander José Berríos, 27, will start on opening day for the third time in his career, Montoyo said.

“We told him today, so it’s out,” the manager said. “And you know, it’s a big compliment to him because of the pitching staff that we have.”

Berríos likened pitching on opening day to the excitement he felt ahead of the first day of school as a kid. His other opening-day starts came in 2019 and 2020 with Minnesota.

“I still have that feeling,” Berríos said. “I hope I can have that feeling for my next seven to 10 years playing.”

Montoyo plans to have Kevin Gausman and Hyun-Jin Ryu follow Berrios in Toronto’s opening home series against the Texas Rangers, followed by Alek Manoah and Yusei Kikuchi against the Yankees.

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Pearson scratched

Nate Pearson was scratched from his planned outing Thursday after he was feeling ill, but the right-hander tested negative for COVID-19. Montoyo said the plan for Pearson is to continue in a starter’s rhythm, pitching every five days. Pearson, Ross Stripling, Anthony Kay, Thomas Hatch will be among the first arms to be considered if something happens to Toronto’s top five starters.

More cuts

The Jays reassigned pitchers Joe Biagini, Nick Allgeyer, Jeremy Beasley, Jose De Leon, Kyle Johnston and Graham Spraker, catcher Kellin Deglan, and infielder and No. 3 prospect Jordan Groshans to minor-league camp Thursday.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy