Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman misses start, day-to-day with shoulder cramp
Scheduled to be Toronto's lone representative at all-star game on July 9
Marcus Stroman isn't going to pitch again until his non-throwing shoulder is ready.
Stroman was scheduled to start for the Blue Jays against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Thursday night but Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo announced before the game that the ace of his pitching staff was day to day. Boston won the game 8-7.
"If he's not 100 per cent we're not going to pitch him," said Montoyo. "There's a chance he might not pitch until after the all-star break. But if he's fine, he'll pitch."
Stroman is the Blue Jays' lone player in Tuesday's all-star game. The all-star break begins on Monday and the Blue Jays don't play again until July 12 in New York against the Yankees.
The right-hander has a 5-9 record with a 3.18 earned-run average and 81 strikeouts over 104 2/3 innings pitched.
"He needs to throw a bullpen session, lets it go, and then if he's fine, he can start," said Montoyo of Stroman, who left Toronto's 7-5 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday in the fifth inning when a cramp prevented him from continuing his start.
Stroman, who was not available to speak with media on Thursday, has been undergoing treatment on the injury. Although it's his non-throwing shoulder, the concern is that he'll develop an injury on the other side of his body as he tries to compensate for the pain.
Montoyo went with an "opener," against Boston on Thursday, with reliever Derek Law pitching the first inning followed by Thomas Pannone.
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Regardless of Stroman's condition, Aaron Sanchez will still make his scheduled start against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
If Stroman can assure Montoyo and Toronto's medical staff that his shoulder is fine he could start over the weekend against Baltimore. If he is not good to go, Clayton Richard will take the mound for Toronto on Saturday and Trent Thornton will go for the Blue Jays on Sunday.
Red Sox stormed back
On Thursday, Marco Hernandez hit a solo home run in the ninth inning and the Red Sox stormed back for a 8-7 win.
Hernandez, pinch hitting for Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon, sent a line drive just over the outstretched glove of Toronto left-fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with one out in the ninth.
Cavan Biggio and Justin Smoak walked in Toronto's half of the ninth, but Rowdy Tellez popped out and pinch hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end the game.
Michael Chavis's three-run blast capped off a six-run sixth-inning for Boston (46-41), and Rafael Devers had a solo shot of his own in the first inning.
Danny Jansen had two home runs for the Blue Jays (33-55) and Freddy Galvis also had a homer.
Starting pitcher Hector Velazquez gave up three runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings for the Red Sox. Colten Brewer came on in relief, allowing three runs in a 1 2/3 innings. Josh Taylor, Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes all pitched scoreless innings before Brandon Workman (8-1) allowed a run.