Blue Jays recall Ryan Tepera, option Pat Venditte

The Toronto Blue Jays have shuffled their bullpen ahead of Wednesday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox, optioning switch-pitcher Pat Venditte and recalling right-hander Ryan Tepera from the triple-A Buffalo Bisons. 


Tepera had originally made the Blue Jays opening day 25-man roster, but was quickly replaced by the signing of Franklin Morales (now on the disabled list). The Blue Jays viewed Tepera as their “second lefty” at the time, believing that some offseason adjustments would leave him more successful against left-handed bats.

Over eight and two-thirds innings with the Bisons, Tepera holds a 7.27 ERA. This is largely due to one poor outing recently against the Rochester Red Wings in which he allowed six hits and five earned runs in just one and a third.

Venditte has appeared in five games for the Blue Jays thus far, allowing five hits and four walks (7.36 ERA) over three and two-thirds innings.

With Brett Cecil now the lone left-hander on the Blue Jays roster, and him not performing up to his full ability thus far, this is evidently not the longterm fix at the position. Given Venditte and Tepera’s roster options, however, Toronto does have the ability to move them freely on and off the roster to maximize that seventh spot in the bullpen.

Along with Morales, the injured Aaron Loup, and Chad Girodo, who recently made his Major League debut with two string innings, could factor in to the discussion for Toronto’s second lefty.