Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada Placed on IL with Shoulder Injury

Impingement issue discovered after initial option to Triple-A

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:52am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conceptually representing the Blue Jays' challenge in managing Estrada's shoulder injury.A cubist interpretation of a Blue Jays pitcher's injured throwing motion, reflecting the team's challenge in overcoming Estrada's shoulder issue.Buffalo Today

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed pitcher Lazaro Estrada on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement. Estrada was initially optioned to the team's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, but the shoulder issue was discovered after he had already been sent down, leading the Blue Jays to reverse the option and put him on the major league IL.

Why it matters

Estrada's injury is a setback for the Blue Jays' pitching depth, as he was expected to provide rotation or bullpen support at the MLB level this season. The team will now have to rely more heavily on their other pitching options while Estrada recovers from the shoulder issue.

The details

Estrada was placed on the IL on April 5th after the shoulder impingement was discovered. He will be eligible to return to action on Monday, at which point the Blue Jays plan to send him back down to their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo to continue his recovery and rehab.

  • Estrada was placed on the IL on April 5th.
  • He will be eligible to return to action on Monday, April 18th.

The players

Lazaro Estrada

A pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who was recently placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement.

Buffalo Bisons

The Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, based in Buffalo, New York.

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What’s next

Once Estrada is eligible to return from the IL on Monday, the Blue Jays plan to send him back down to their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo to continue his recovery and rehab.

The takeaway

Estrada's shoulder injury is a setback for the Blue Jays' pitching depth, but the team will look to get him healthy and back contributing at the major league level as soon as possible.