Blue Jays bolster bullpen by buying RHP Jordan Hicks from St. Louis

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays strengthened their depleted bullpen Sunday by buying right-hander Jordan Hicks in a commerce with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Toronto despatched minor league right-handers Adam Kloffenstein and Sem Robberse to St. Louis for the 26-year-old Hicks. The Blue Jays (59-47) are tied with Houston within the wild-card race, 4 video games behind Tampa Bay. Toronto trails Baltimore by 5 video games within the AL East.

A five-year veteran who had spent his total profession with the Cardinals, Hicks is 1-6 with a 3.67 ERA and eight saves in 11 possibilities. The hard-throwing Hicks has struck out 59 batters in 41 2/3 innings whereas strolling 24.

Toronto put nearer Jordan Romano on the 15-day injured listing Saturday due to a sore again. Romano left the July 11 All-Star Game in Seattle due to again ache and didn’t pitch for the Blue Jays once more till July 20. He left with two outs within the ninth inning of Friday’s 4-1 win over the Angels and was changed by Yimi García.

Toronto misplaced Sunday’s sequence finale when García, who was pitching for the third straight day, gave up Hunter Renfroe’s two-run homer within the tenth. It was the primary time this season García had pitched on three consecutive days.

The Blue Jays may get extra reduction assist when right-hander Chad Green returns from Tommy John surgical procedure. Green, who had elbow surgical procedure final May, signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with Toronto in January. The former Yankee made his third rehab look with Class-A Dunedin on Saturday and is anticipated to maneuver as much as Triple-A Buffalo subsequent.

Kloffenstein was 5-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 17 begins at Double-A New Hampshire. Robberse, who’s from the Netherlands, was 3-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 18 begins for the Fisher Cats.