Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Blows save, gets fourth win
Rotowire
Swanson (4-2) blew the save but was credited with the win in Sunday's victory over the Red Sox, giving up a solo home run to Rafael Devers and striking out two in the ninth inning.
With Jordan Romano having pitched the prior two days, Swanson got a chance to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth but instead watched Devers slash a two-out, two-strike fastball over the fence in the left-field corner. An RBI triple by Matt Chapman in the bottom of the ninth then bailed Swanson out and gave him the win. It's the first run the right-hander had allowed since Aug. 5, snapping a 12-appearance scoreless streak, and the first homer he'd served up since July 1. On the season, Swanson has a 3.06 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 70:19 K:BB through 61.2 innings while adding a career-high 28 holds, four wins and four saves.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Returns from IL
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The Blue Jays activated Swanson (back) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
As anticipated, Swanson will rejoin the Toronto bullpen after a minimum-length stay on the shelf while he recovered from thoracic spine inflammation. Swanson delivered a perfect inning of relief in his lone rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo over the weekend and should be ready to step back into a key setup role in front of closer Jordan Romano.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Set for IL return Monday
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Swanson (back) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Monday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Swanson spun a scoreless frame in his lone rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo and looks ready to return following a minimum-length stay on the IL with thoracic spine inflammation. He'll likely return to a setup role once Toronto activates him ahead of its four-game set with the Rangers that begins Monday.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Making rehab appearance Saturday
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Swanson (back) will pitch in a game for Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Saturday's will likely be the only rehab appearance Swanson makes, and he remains on track to return from the injured list when eligible Monday. The 30-year-old righty allowed just one run over 9.1 frames in August before landing on the IL.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Slated for mound work
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Swanson (back) will throw off a mound Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
It will be his first time throwing from the bump since he went down with thoracic spine inflammation in late August. Swanson is eligible for activation on Sept. 11 and should be able to return then, barring any setbacks.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Could be in line for brief IL stint
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The Blue Jays are optimistic that Swanson (spine) will be in store for an abbreviated stay on the 15-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Swanson landed on the IL on Sunday with thoracic spine inflammation, an injury that cropped up a day earlier in his relief appearance against the Guardians. While Swanson may still face an uphill battle to be ready to return from the IL when first eligible Sept. 11, the Blue Jays expect that he'll be cleared to start throwing again following a 10-day shutdown period. A precise target date for his return would then be established based on how his spine responds after he gradually ramps up the intensity of his throwing.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Hits IL with spine inflammation
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Swanson was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with thoracic spine inflammation.
Swanson left early in his relief appearance in Saturday's game against Cleveland with what the Blue Jays initially labeled as right mid-back discomfort, but the right-hander later underwent an MRI that revealed a more precise diagnosis, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca. The Blue Jays called up right-hander Jay Jackson from Triple-A Buffalo to take over the active roster spot of Swanson, who has picked up three wins, four saves and 28 holds to go with a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 67:19 K:BB across 58 innings this season.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Exits with back discomfort
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Swanson exited Saturday's game against Cleveland with right mid-back discomfort.
Swanson faced just two batters before suffering the injury, recording one out and allowing one hit. He's been a key part of the bridge to Jordan Romano this season, recording a 3.10 ERA in 58 innings, so the Blue Jays won't want to be without him for an extended period.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Shaky in fourth save
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Swanson gave up a run on three hits in two-thirds of an inning Saturday to record his fourth save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Red Sox.
Tim Mayza worked the eighth inning without much trouble and retired the first batter in the ninth, but Swanson proceeded to give up three straight singles after he entered the game and escaped blowing the save only when Connor Wong's high fly to left-center field came up inches short of being a walkoff hit off the Green Monster, and instead led to Reese McGuire getting doubled off second base. Swanson has gone 2-for-2 in converting save chances since Jordan Romano (back) landed on the IL, but Jordan Hicks -- who had pitched three of the prior four days -- appears to be first in line to handle closing duties until Romano returns.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Notches one-out save
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Swanson picked up his second save of the season Sunday, giving up a hit before recording the final out of a 7-5 win over Arizona.
The Blue Jays took a 7-2 lead into the ninth inning, but Mitch White made a mess of things by walking the bases loaded with two outs, forcing Swanson into the game as Jordan Romano (back) was unavailable. The right-hander did serve up a bases-clearing double to Ketel Marte before closing out the win, but all the runs were charged to White. Swanson has seen his numbers erode over the last month or so, and he carries a 4.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB in his last 12.1 innings. He remains in Toronto's high-leverage mix and has six holds over that stretch in addition to Sunday's save, but Yimi Garcia may be the more trusted arm from the right side at the moment.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Corrals first save
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Swanson picked up the save Saturday against the Mets. He allowed one hit while striking out one over a scoreless inning.
Swanson received his first save opportunity of 2023 and came through with a scoreless inning to earn his seventh career save. Though Swanson is typically used as a setup man and has excelled in that role, he was handed the ball in the ninth with Jordan Romano resting after pitching back-to-back days. Through 27 appearances (27.2 innings), Swanson owns a 2.93 ERA with 34 strikeouts but will likely only enter the fantasy conversation if Romano misses significant time.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Stuck with loss Tuesday
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Swanson (1-1) took the loss against the Red Sox on Tuesday, striking out one and allowing a solo home run in the eighth inning.
Connor Wong lofted the fourth pitch Swanson threw over the Green Monster for what proved to be the game-winning run. The long ball snapped an eight-appearance scoreless streak for the right-hander, and overall the former Mariner has been exactly as advertised in a setup role for the Blue Jays, posting a 1.84 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 14.2 innings with eight holds. Should Jordan Romano be unavailable at some point, Swanson seems the most likely candidate to step in and handle ninth-inning duties.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Extends scoreless streak
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Swanson (1-0) issued one walk and struck out three over a scoreless inning of relief en route to claiming his first win of the season in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Mariners.
Though the Blue Jays forked over outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to bring back Swanson and lefty pitching prospect Adam Macko from Seattle over the offseason, the veteran reliever has been well worth the acquisition price thus far. He hasn't allowed a run over his last eight appearances, collecting a win and five holds to go with a 0.60 WHIP and 14 strikeouts across 8.1 innings during that stretch.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Notches second hold
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Swanson struck out one in a perfect eighth inning to record his second hold of the season in Wednesday's win over the Royals.
The former Mariner is showing his 2022 breakout was no fluke, posting a 4:1 K:BB through his first 3.1 innings with the Blue Jays. Swanson joins Yimi Garcia and Tim Mayza as the main late-inning options ahead of closer Jordan Romano, and in that role he should easily top last year's career high of 14 holds.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Sent to Toronto
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The Blue Jays acquired Swanson and left-hander Adam Macko from the Mariners on Wednesday in exchange for outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Swanson quietly emerged as one of the majors' top setup men in 2022, finishing with a 1.68 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 70:10 K:BB across 53.2 innings for Seattle while nabbing three wins, three saves and 14 holds. In Toronto, Swanson will face a more blocked path to the ninth-inning role with incumbent closer Jordan Romano coming off his first All-Star campaign. Swanson should at least remain a solid late-round target in deeper mixed and AL-only leagues for fantasy managers looking for stability in the ratio categories.
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Mariners' Erik Swanson: Takes second loss Sunday
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Swanson (2-2) took the loss against the Royals on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits over one-third of an inning.
Swanson was also charged with his second blown save of the season in what was his second straight loss, blowing an 11-8 lead by allowing a pair of RBI singles and a two-run double. Swanson's stumbles are exceedingly rare during a season in which he's been one of manager Scott Servais' most reliable bullpen options -- he's still carrying a 1.85 ERA and 0.95 WHIP alongside an 11.7 K/9 despite the recent struggles.
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Mariners' Erik Swanson: Continues dominance Saturday
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Swanson, who notched his 13th hold with a perfect eighth inning in a win over Atlanta on Saturday, has pitched to a 2-0 record, 0.95 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with two saves and seven holds in the 19 innings he's logged since the All-Star break.
The right-hander has consistently flummoxed opposing bats all season, as he's carrying a 1.00 ERA and 0.82 WHIP overall in 47 appearances (one start). Swanson is therefore an excellent setup option for manager Scott Servais while frequently working as part of a 1-2 punch with closer Paul Sewald, who's been a revelation in his own right with 19 saves.
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Mariners' Erik Swanson: Grabs first win
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Swanson (1-0) recorded the win over the Rangers on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on two hits over one inning.
Asked to preserve a 3-3 tie when he entered in the ninth, Swanson actually failed to do so by giving up a go-ahead RBI single to Ezequiel Duran. However, he ultimately walked away with his first win courtesy of Seattle's two-run rally in the home half of the frame. Swanson's stumble was an exceedingly rare one, as Tuesday marked only the fourth time he'd allowed a run across 29 appearances this season.
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Mariners' Erik Swanson: Snags second save
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Swanson retired both batters he faced to earn the save in Monday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.
Regular closer Paul Sewald was deployed in the eighth inning, and Diego Castillo put together a shaky start of the ninth. Swanson entered with a one-run lead and two runners aboard, but he escaped by retiring Josh Smith and Marcus Semien. In July, Swanson has allowed one run over 7.1 innings, which included one outing as an opener. The 28-year-old right-hander continues to step up when called upon -- he has a 0.98 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 36:5 K:BB through 27.2 innings while adding two saves, six holds and a blown save this year.
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Mariners' Erik Swanson: Serving as opener
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Swanson will serve as the opener for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Nationals, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Swanson hasn't pitched since being activated from the paternity list Monday, but he'll begin Wednesday's nightcap on the mound ahead of primary pitcher Tommy Milone. Over his last 10 appearances, Swanson has posted an 11:4 K:BB and 1.04 WHIP in 8.2 scoreless innings.
