Blue Jays demote pitcher with 2.15 ERA to minors

The Toronto Blue Jays welcomed Dylan Cease back to the starting rotation Tuesday. The right-handed pitcher, who signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with Toronto last winter, was activated from the 15-day injured list following a hamstring injury.

Cease’s return cost a thriving reliever his roster spot.

Left-hander Adam Macko has a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen this season. The 25-year-old rookie has allowed only a run in one game since making his major league debut on May 18.

But with the Blue Jays finishing off a series against the Philadelphia Phillies the next two days, it was Macko who drew the short straw. Cease will get the ball in Game 2 of the series at the Rogers Centre against the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler, while Macko was optioned to Triple-A.

Macko’s breakthrough season began with the World Baseball Classic, where he did not allow a run in three appearances out of Team Canada’s bullpen.

Macko began the regular season at Triple-A Buffalo, but was promoted after 13 appearances. He went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings for the Blue Jays’ top farm team. Although three home runs inflated his ERA, Macko limited opposing hitters to a .203 batting average and struck out more than a batter per inning for the Bisons.

His success continued in Toronto. Macko did not allow a run in his first eight MLB appearances, mostly in low-leverage situations. No Blue Jays reliever has made more appearances since his debut than Macko. Closer Louis Varland has made more than seven relief appearances with a lower ERA.

The Blue Jays now have only one left-handed reliever, Mason Fluharty, on their active roster. Fluharty has two minor league option years remaining, but only one of their six right-handed middle relievers (Braydon Fisher) does. That lack of bullpen roster flexibility helps explain the reason behind Macko’s demotion.

But against a Phillies team with a couple potent left-handed hitting sluggers (Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper), Fluharty now becomes the go-to option to face the top of the Philadelphia lineup in a high-leverage situation late in the game.