Toronto Blue Jays’ Brandon Morrow Likely Heading for the DL

Brandon Morrow has been one of the biggest success stories for the Blue Jays this year.  He is 7-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 13 starts for the Blue Jays.  Unfortunately, Toronto may have lost Morrow to the disabled list yesterday.  After throwing just nine pitches, Morrow had to exit yesterday’s game against the Washington Nationals.

The team later confirmed Morrow had strained his side.  While the severity of the injury was not immediately know, John Lott of Post Media News in Canada says Morrow is facing a DL stint.  Lott reports Morrow is expected to go on the disabled list today with a strained left oblique.  Oblique strains are tricky injuries in that the person experiencing can’t do anything while it heals and the time frame for healing varies widely.

Manager John Farrell said after the game the injury is “probably substantial.” Morrow, he said, was “in considerable pain” and will undergo more tests Tuesday.

The Blue Jays recalled Aaron Laffey and Evan Crawford after the game.  They also sent Chad Beck back to Triple-A.  The roster moves indicate an impending trip to the DL for Morrow.

Morrow made his Major League debut with the Mariners in 2007.  He was later traded to the Blue Jays and has pitched for Toronto since 2010.  In his career, Morrow is 36-34 with a 4.19 ERA.  However, this season he has been having his best year as a big leaguer.  He’s reduced his home run rate, been stranding more runners on base when they get on base, and is walking fewer batters.

The Blue Jays will miss his arm.  Toronto has gone just 4-6 in their last ten games after starting the season out strong.  The Blue Jays are now just one game above .500 at 31-30 and 4.5 games back of first in the American League East.  They continue their series with the Nationals today.

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