Blue Jays Notebook: Revenge Series, Rotation Shuffle, and Rehab Updates

The second half is on.

After four days off for relaxation and All-Star festivities, the Blue Jays started the season's back half with an eventful series debut. The Jays kicked off a reunion set against Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno's Diamondbacks, provided updates for Hyun Jin Ryu and Chad Green's rehabs, and shuffled the rotation out of the break.

Here's the latest news and notes from Toronto's second-half debut:

Blue Jays Shuffle Rotation After Break

The Blue Jays re-ordered the starting rotation coming out of the break, lining up José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, and Yusei Kikuchi for the first series back. Chris Bassitt and Alek Manoah will follow, in that order.

If the Jays continued to roll five in order, picking up where they left off, Bassitt would have started the weekend series against Arizona. But, in an attempt to maximize rest and matchups, the Jays bumped Bassitt to San Diego next week.

"It was more matchups, rest, and kind of going from there," manager John Schneider said.

One factor for pushing back Bassitt could be the veteran's struggles against left-handed hitters this year, as he allows a .290 average and .954 OPS to LHB. Featuring dangerous lefty and switch hitters like Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo, the D-backs have the sixth-best team OPS against right-handed pitchers. The Padres, who Bassitt will face instead, rank 17th.

Arizona Reunions

"It's a revenge series," Schneider joked, leaning over the desk in his manager's office before Friday's contest.

The weekend set was the first between the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays since the teams swung a winter blockbuster trade that sent Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno to the desert and Daulton Varsho up north.

After pleasantries on the field with former teammates during batting practice, both Gurriel and Varsho met with the media to discuss the trade and their new homes.

"I love my teammates and I love this place a lot," Varsho said. "But obviously it was hard leaving Arizona, been there from draft day and met a lot of people I call family now."

While Moreno stole the spotlight in Friday's contest with a game-tying homer, Varsho also showcased why the Blue Jays traded for him. The left fielder tracked down a ripped liner by the foul line, snagged the ball as it ricocheted off the wall and gunned out a chugging Evan Longoria at second base. With +16 defensive runs saved, Varsho currently grades out as the best defensive outfielder in MLB.

Ryu and Green Near Return

Starting pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu was in Toronto on Friday as he prepares for the next step in his Tommy John recovery. After two rehab appearances in the lower minors, Ryu will head to Buffalo on Saturday for an outing at Triple-A.

The Blue Jays are hoping to push the 36-year-old up to 65 pitches this weekend and continue his progression with a few more minor-league outings to follow. If Alek Manoah continues his form rediscovery, Ryu's return to the big leagues could give Toronto a six-man rotation down the stretch.

"If you have six healthy guys that are performing well, you can use that to your advantage a time or two through the rotation," Schneider said. "Give guys a breather and work around off days."

The Jays also have reliever Chad Green working back from TJ. The righty has been pitching solely live bullpen sessions and simulated innings so far but his next appearance should come in the lower minors, Schneider said. Both Green and Ryu could be up to the big leagues in the next few weeks.