Mike Ohlman, Chris Rowley selected, Russell Martin placed on disabled list

The Blue Jays made a flurry of transactions Saturday morning to deal with their need for a starting pitcher and their sudden need for a backup catcher.

Russell Martin’s oblique injury from Friday night’s game has landed him on the 10-day disabled list so Mike Ohlman was selected from Buffalo to be the stopgap backup backstop to Raffy Lopez. Ohlman played five games for the Blue Jays earlier this season before he was outrighted off the 40-man roster. He will likely be in Toronto only until Miguel Montero is able to return to the fold, which he will eligible to do for Monday’s game.

Chris Rowley, as expected, was selected from Buffalo to make the start today wearing Francisco Liriano’s old #45. Rowley will be the Blue Jays' 12th starter of 2017 (after using just seven in 2016) which is one fewer than 2013. He will also be the club's 43rd pitcher to make his major league debut as a starter, with the last being Matt Boyd in 2015.

To make room on the 40-man roster, reliever Chris Smith and the rehabbing Chris Coghlan were designated for assignment. Coghlan only played 36 games for the Blue Jays and was fairly ineffective at the plate and on the field but he did give all of us fans one unforgettable moment.

In other news, John Gibbons announced that if Aaron Sanchez is able to return this season, it will be in a relief role as there isn’t enough time to get him ready to start again.

Finally, here is your Saturday Blue Jays lineup against the Pirates, which features a lot of junior Jays. (And Raffy Lopez batting fifth!) Kendrys Morales and Nori Aoki are still out with an undisclosed illness.