Aaron Sanchez (41) has been sent to the minors. Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
The Toronto Blue Jays optioned right-hander Aaron Sanchez to Class A Dunedin on Sunday despite the All-Star pitcher having the fifth-lowest ERA in the American League this season.
The Blue Jays are trying to limit Sanchez’s innings and it is unlikely he will pitch at Dunedin. Sanchez is expected to be recalled to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 31 after he spends the required 10 days in the minors.
The 24-year-old Sanchez is 12-2 with a 2.99 ERA in 24 starts and a career-high 156 1/3 innings, with 132 strikeouts and 46 walks.
Sanchez started Saturday against the Cleveland Indians but he gave up a five runs in the fourth. He pitched four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) and four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons had hinted that Sanchez would get a break after Saturday’s outing.
Left-hander Aaron Loup was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take Sanchez’s spot on the roster.
–Miami Marlins All-Star closer A.J. Ramos was activated from the 15-day disabled prior to Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The right-hander had been sidelined since Aug. 5. He suffered a fractured finger on his pitching hand while fielding a bunt and went on the disabled list four days later, retroactive to Aug. 6. The 29-year-old Ramos ranks fifth in the National League with 32 saves. He has a 3.05 ERA in 47 appearances.
The Marlins optioned right-hander Brian Ellington to Triple-A New Orleans to clear a roster spot. Ellington is 2-1 with a 0.92 ERA in 19 major league appearances this season.
–Los Angeles Angels closer Huston Street might require season-ending knee surgery, according to manager Mike Scioscia.
The right-hander has been on the disabled list since Aug. 2, and his right knee hasn’t responded to treatment. Scioscia said Street is consulting with a doctor in Texas about whether surgery might solve the issue. The club has only termed the injury as inflammation.
Street, 33, has struggled this season with a 6.45 ERA in 21 outings. He has only nine saves and opponents are batting .337 against him. The two-time All-Star has 324 career saves in 12 big-league seasons.
–Detroit Tigers center fielder Cameron Maybin was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Sunday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.
Maybin hasn’t played since Aug. 3 due to a sprained left thumb. He suffered the injury while trying to make a diving catch.
Maybin was placed on the DL on Aug. 11, retroactive to Aug. 4. He is batting .322 with two homers and 29 RBIs in 233 at-bats this season.
The Tigers optioned shortstop Dixon Machado to Triple-A Toledo to open up a roster spot for Maybin. Machado went 1-for-9 in four games for Detroit.
–The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled outfielder Andrew Toles from Oklahoma City and optioned infielder Chris Taylor to the Triple-A club.
Toles, 24, is hitting .316 (12-for-38) with an RBI in 16 games with the Dodgers this season. He made his major league debut on July 8. He is hitting .331 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs in 82 minor league games with Oklahoma City, Double-A Tulsa and Class A Rancho Cucamonga.
Taylor, 25, is batting .218 with a homer and seven RBIs in 29 games with the Dodgers after being acquired on June 19 from the Seattle Mariners.
