Bowden Francis on the shelf longer than expected

Toronto Blue Jays fans will have to wait a little longer to see Bowden Francis back on the mound. The right-hander last pitched for the Blue Jays on June 14th before being placed on the IL on June 17th due to a right shoulder impingement. Francis started throwing again on June 27th, but has apparently suffered a setback in his recovery. On Friday, it was announced that Francis would be out for the next ten days due to shoulder discomfort.

It had been a tough season for Francis prior to being added to the IL. He had a 2-8 record in 14 starts during the 2025 season. In 64 innings, he gave up 46 runs, including 19 home runs. His 6.05 ERA was the highest among Blue Jays' starting pitchers.

Francis was a revelation for the Blue Jays late in the 2024 season. In his final ten starts, he had a 1.80 ERA and twice held no-hitters into the ninth inning, while earning the American League Pitcher of the Month award last August.

Perhaps it's important to remember that while Francis' 2025 campaign has been disappointing, he had a similarly rough start to the 2024 season. By the end of April, he held an 8.59 ERA through five starts. He was then placed on the IL with a right forearm injury. He returned in June, working out of the bullpen initially, before returning to the starting rotation in July. After going six innings in an 8-4 win over Baltimore Orioles on July 29th, Francis held a 5.68 ERA. By the end of the season, his ERA had dropped to a 3.30, the lowest among Blue Jays starting pitchers.

While not much has gone right for Francis in 2025, 2024 showed just how well he can rebound from injury and disappointment. A healthy Francis back in the rotation could be a huge help to the Blue Jays as they try to maintain their lead in the AL East, but he'll have to get healthy first.