Rowdy Tellez added to Blue Jays' opening-round playoff roster after injury recovery
The Canadian Press | Posted: September 29, 2020 3:54 PM | Last Updated: September 29, 2020
Pitchers Roark, Yamaguchi, Zeuch fail to make 28-player cut for series against Rays
The Toronto Blue Jays included slugger Rowdy Tellez on the team's 28-man roster for their best-of-three wild-card series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The first baseman hasn't played since suffering a right knee strain three weeks ago. Tellez was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Matt Shoemaker was scheduled to start for the visiting Blue Jays in Tuesday's series opener at Tropicana Field at 5 p.m. ET. Game 2 was set for Wednesday and Game 3, if necessary, would be played Thursday.
Tellez had eight homers and 23 runs batted in over 35 games in the regular season.
Right-handed reliever Jordan Romano of Markham, Ont., who has been on the IL for a month with a finger strain, was not on the list.
Pitchers T.J. Zeuch, Shun Yamaguchi and Tanner Roark also did not make the cut for this round.
Meanwhile, rookie left-hander Shane McClanahan was a surprise addition to the 28-man roster Tampa Bay announced Tuesday.
McClanahan was a first-round pick in the amateur draft two years ago who pitched at Class A and double-A in 2019. He joined first baseman Ji-Man Choi and infielder Yandy Diaz, who have been on the injured list, in being added to the active roster before Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
Three players who were on the regular season-ending roster — catcher Kevan Smith, left-handed starter Josh Fleming and lefty reliever Ryan Sherriff — were not included on the roster against Toronto. They remain in the 60-man post-season eligible player pool and can be added in future rounds.