Rowdy Tellez added to Blue Jays' opening-round playoff roster after injury recovery
Pitchers Roark, Yamaguchi, Zeuch fail to make 28-player cut for series against Rays
The Toronto Blue Jays included slugger Rowdy Tellez on the team's 28-man roster for their best-of-three wild-card series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The first baseman hasn't played since suffering a right knee strain three weeks ago. Tellez was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Matt Shoemaker was scheduled to start for the visiting Blue Jays in Tuesday's series opener at Tropicana Field at 5 p.m. ET. Game 2 was set for Wednesday and Game 3, if necessary, would be played Thursday.
Tellez had eight homers and 23 runs batted in over 35 games in the regular season.
Right-handed reliever Jordan Romano of Markham, Ont., who has been on the IL for a month with a finger strain, was not on the list.
Pitchers T.J. Zeuch, Shun Yamaguchi and Tanner Roark also did not make the cut for this round.
Let's do this! Presenting your AL Wild Card Series Roster! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreBlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreBlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MN2ImMhIa">pic.twitter.com/0MN2ImMhIa</a>
—@BlueJays
Meanwhile, rookie left-hander Shane McClanahan was a surprise addition to the 28-man roster Tampa Bay announced Tuesday.
🚨 OUR GAME 1 LINEUP 🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreBlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreBlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/wCCH9LjXek">pic.twitter.com/wCCH9LjXek</a>
—@BlueJays
McClanahan was a first-round pick in the amateur draft two years ago who pitched at Class A and double-A in 2019. He joined first baseman Ji-Man Choi and infielder Yandy Diaz, who have been on the injured list, in being added to the active roster before Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
Three players who were on the regular season-ending roster — catcher Kevan Smith, left-handed starter Josh Fleming and lefty reliever Ryan Sherriff — were not included on the roster against Toronto. They remain in the 60-man post-season eligible player pool and can be added in future rounds.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rays</a> lineup for Game 1 vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a>, with Choi and Diaz on the bench to pinch-hit: <a href="https://t.co/MHadZUYEei">pic.twitter.com/MHadZUYEei</a>
—@TBTimes_Rays