Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said on Monday that his hands were tied in terms of his bullpen against the visiting New York Yankees.
The last two games against the Boston Red Sox, Gibbons has had to go to his bullpen 10 times. Closer Roberto Osuna has been called upon in four out of the last five games. That was one of the reasons the club designated infielder Jimmy Paredes for assignment while recalling RHP Ryan Tepera from triple-A Buffalo on Monday.
“We needed a pitcher,” said Gibbons. “Desperately.”
Gibbons was essentially without the services of four of his relief pitchers against the Yanks, including Osuna, Joe Biagini, Gavin Floyd and possibly Jesse Chavez, adding that if starter Marco Estrada was unable to go deep in the game, they’d need Tepera and LHP Chad Girodo to give them some innings.