Drew Storen closed out Friday night’s game for the Jays. Roberto Osuna’s groin flared up, keeping him out of action.Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
With his team leading by three heading into the final at bats for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Rogers Centre, that is usually Roberto Osuna time for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Instead, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons summoned Drew Storen from the bullpen and stuck with him even though Storen loaded the bases in the top of the ninth inning.
Storen would eventually get Corey Seager to fly out to leftfield to end the game and preserve a 5-2 Toronto victory.
Afterwards, Gibbons said he was acting on doctor's advice to keep Osuna nailed to the bench.
"His groin flared up on him and the doc said if he can get through the night and…we'll see about the second day," Gibbons said. "If it gets more aggravated he's going to be down a while."
That is not something the Blue Jays need at this point as their closer, with a 1-0 record and six saves along with a 2.08 earned run average in 13 appearances, has been the best of an otherwise shaky bullpen this season.
Osuna's last appearance was Wednesday when he pitched in the ninth inning and earned the win in a Toronto walk-off victory over the Texas Rangers.
Osuna said he felt fine pitching in that game but the groin started to act up on him afterwards.
"Today I played catch, but I felt good enough to pitch today," he said Friday night speaking with the assistance of an interpreter.