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Jose Berrios

The Toronto Blue Jays have received concerning news regarding a potential return to the mound for starting pitcher Jose Berrios.

The longtime Jays starter has not pitched in the big leagues this season after opening the year on the IL with a stress fracture in his elbow. He has been rehabbing for Triple-A Buffalo, and a return to the major leagues was set to come soon. Unfortunately, it looks like Berrios will take a little longer to get back to the big-league club, as he has suffered a setback in his rehab.

Jose Berrios to Undergo MRI on Elbow

On Tuesday, the Blue Jays provided a health update on Berrios. He is set to have an MRI on his elbow after he experienced discomfort in it during his last Triple-A rehab start.

According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, swingman Eric Lauer will stay in the Blue Jays’ rotation in the meantime while Berrios is being looked at.

“Jose Berrios going for an MRI tonight after feeling a little more sore than expected after his last start. Eric Lauer to stay in rotation for now while Jays assess next steps on Berrios,” the scribe wrote.

Berrios had a below-average season for the Blue Jays last year, throwing up a 4.17 ERA in 30 starts, but he is someone who has been known for his durability during his entire career, so to see him hurting this year has been a big blow for the team’s pitching depth.

Blue Jays Dealing With Several Injuries to Starters

Berrios was one of several Blue Jays’ pitchers to open up the season on the IL, as the team has been bit by the injury bug hard early in the season.

Rookie wonder Trey Yesavage, who starred for the team in last year’s World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, opened up the season on the IL due to a right shoulder impingement. Thankfully, he was recently able to rejoin the team and is now pitching every fifth day for the big-league ballclub.

Shane Bieber, whom the Blue Jays acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at last year’s MLB trade deadline, surprisingly picked up a below-market player option for one year and $16 million during the offseason. It was then revealed during Spring Training that Bieber was dealing with right elbow inflammation, and he has yet to make his debut this season. The hope is that he can return around midseason, which would give the Blue Jays a major bump to their rotation.

Max Scherzer, the 41-year-old legend of the game, opened the season in the Blue Jays’ rotation, but he recently went on the IL with right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. Thankfully, though, it appears Scherzer has escaped serious injuries, as he is reportedly progressing well in his recovery.

Another injured Blue Jays’ pitcher is Bowden Francis, who is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery during the offseason. He won’t pitch at all this year for the team. Cody Ponce, who was signed during the offseason, got injured during his first start of the year and will be out for the season after tearing his right ACL in a freak accident.

Thankfully, the Blue Jays have been kept afloat in their rotation by the strong performances of ace Kevin Gausman, blockbuster offseason signing Dylan Cease, and a surprisingly good start to the season from late addition signing Patrick Corbin.