Cuban pitcher, Yariel Rodríguez, was officially activated today by the Toronto Blue Jays and will make his return to the majors after a stint on the injured list and pitching in six games in Triple A with the Buffalo Bisons.
His return is scheduled for a return to the mound tonight (07:10 PM) when he faces the Cleveland at Progressive Field. He will be looking for his first win in the “Big Show” and will face Guardians’ right-hander Carlos Carrasco (2-6; 5.80 ERA).
His recovery process has been similar to the one he went through after incurring the same injury to his spine coming out of spring training. In eight starts with Buffalo he has an 0-1 record, 1.33 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 20⅓ innings pitched.
After four starts in MLB, Rodríguez has worked 15.1 innings and has an earned run average of 4.11. So far he has also walked eight and opponents are hitting .302 against the righty. The hurler was a key free agent acquisition for the team this offseason after defecting from the Cuban National Team during the World Baseball Classic.
This season Rodríguez topped out at 97.6 MPH with his fastball and averaged 93.9 MPH on the season with the pitch. His curve has hit an average of 79.2 MPH on the gun, while his slider tops out at 86.4 MPH, he has hit 95 MPH with his sinker and 89.5 MPH with the splitter.