Blue Jays: Ryan Tepera shelved again and it may be serious

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Ryan Tepera has hit the injured list for the second time this season, however, this time it may be more serious.

Ryan Tepera is the most recent Blue Jays hurler to go by the wayside sidelined with what is being deemed a right elbow impingement. Tepera will be seeking the opinion of a specialist to determine the exact prognosis for the injury. There is no definitive timeline for Tepera but it appears this latest setback could cost him an extended visit on the IL.

In a corresponding move, the Jays promoted recent waiver wire addition Jimmy Cordero to replace Tepera on the active roster and provide some bullpen depth with the big club. The 27-year old has pitched one scoreless inning for the Bisons since rejoining the team that initially signed him as an International free agent. Cordero has 22 games of big league experience under his belt in 2018 with the Washington Nationals.

The 2019 campaign could not go any worse for the 31-year old Tepera who missed the first three weeks of the season with elbow soreness. The Blue Jays had hoped Tepera would be the bullpen conduit to closer Ken Giles after an impressive 68 appearance season a year ago where he posted a 3.62 earned run average with seven saves.

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Tepera has struggled this season in 12 appearances posting an inflated 6.55 earned run average while surrendering eight runs including four round-trippers on only 11 innings of work. The injury is magnified further after the Jays were forced to expose Javy Guerra to waivers earlier this week. Guerra was claimed by the Nationals after recording a three-inning save in his final appearance with the Jays.

The Blue Jays now have a laundry list of pitchers sidelined with various ailments including Matt Shoemaker, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Richard, David Phelps, and Ryan Borucki.