Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and right-handed pitcher Dillon Tate have been added to the team’s major league roster and will be active for the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, the team announced Monday.
Every team in MLB is granted two additional roster spots for September, giving the clubs the chance to add one position player and one pitcher for the final post-season push.
Kiner-Falefa was claimed by the Blue Jays on Sunday before the deadline for post-season-eligible players came to pass on Sept. 1.
Kiner-Falefa started the year with the Pittsburgh Pirates, suiting up for 119 games with the club while putting up a .264 batting average with one home run, 15 stolen bases and a .632 OPS.
He spent the first half of last season with the Blue Jays before being dealt to the Pirates at the trade deadline. A career utility man, Kiner-Falefa provides the Jays with versatility across the infield.
The 30-year-old will be coming off the bench in his first game back with the Jays. However, everyday centrefielder Daulton Varsho will make his return to the lineup, batting fifth.
Varsho wasn’t included in the team’s starting lineups on Saturday and Sunday after crashing into the outfield wall to make a catch on Friday against the Brewers. He was a defensive substitute in the ninth inning for Toronto on Sunday, however.
Tate, meanwhile, has spent most of the season pitching in triple-A. He last made an appearance with the MLB club on May 6.
In five appearances with the Blue Jays this season, he has a 5.06 ERA and a 2.438 WHIP with seven strikeouts. However, he’s been steady for Buffalo, making 31 appearances while serving up a 2.06 ERA and 1.314 WHIP.
By selecting Tate and Kiner-Falefa to the roster, the Blue Jays removed the possibility of adding top pitching prospect Trey Yesavage to the post-season roster.
In addition to the above moves, reliever Nick Sandlin was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Tate on the team’s 40-man roster.
Sandlin has been dealing with right elbow inflammation since early July and was originally placed on the 15-day IL.
The Blue Jays get set to open an inter-divisional series against the Reds, with coverage beginning on Sportsnet at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT.
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