AROUNDTHE HORN
Blue Jays: The Blue Jays are returning to their home away from home, Buffalo, N.Y., starting in June. And this time, they’ll have a limited number of fans in attendance. Forced from Canada by that government’s coronavirus travel restrictions, the Jays posted a note on their Twitter account Wednesday saying: “Buffalo, we’re BACK! We’ll see you June 1st.” The words were over a picture of Buffalo’s downtown Sahlen Field, the regular home of the Jays’ Triple-A farm team. The Jays played their first two homestands at their spring training ballpark in Dunedin, Fla., and will play their third there from May 14-24. But the Jays didn’t want to remain in Florida for the hotter, more humid portion of the year. The Jays played home games during the shortened 2020 season in Buffalo and were 17-9 at Sahlen Field. While the entire 2020 regular-season schedule was played without fans, about 4,300 spectators will initially be allowed to attend games in Buffalo, with the possibility of that number increasing. Capacity is listed at 16,600. Fans will be required to show proof they’ve been vaccinated or have tested negative for COVID-19 to be allowed entry. Canadians could travel to attend games, but would have to face self-quarantine rules upon returning home.
Mets: Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom could return to the mound for the Mets against the Diamondbacks on Sunday at Citi Field. DeGrom first felt soreness in a back muscle after his last outing against the Red Sox on April 28 and was scratched from a scheduled start against Cardinals on Tuesday night. The game later was postponed due to weather. DeGrom said he intends to play catch Thursday and hopes to get a go-ahead for a bullpen session Friday. Mets manager Luis Rojas said an MRI on Tuesday showed inflammation of the latissimus dorsi muscle, a back muscle that connects the upper arm to the spine and the hip. “Feeling good now,” said deGrom who’s 2-2 with an MLB-best 0.51 ERA in five starts. Hehas 59 Ks in 35 innings with just four walks. Still, he’s just 2-2.
Reds: Six-time All-Star 1B Joey Votto suffered a broken left thumb in the Reds’ 1-0 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday. Manager David Bell said after the game that Votto likely will miss about a month. Votto, 37, is hitting .226 with 5 HRs and 17 RBIs this season.
Extra innings: The Yankees placed 2B Rougned Odor on the 10-day IL with a sprained left knee. Odor was hurt Tuesday night whenhis knee slammed into Astros C Martín Maldonado’s head as he reached the plate and scored in the sixth inning of a 7-3 win. The 27-yearold Odor, acquired from the Rangers on April 6, is hitting .164 with four HRs and 11 RBIs. ... The Indians placed two-time Gold Glover C Roberto Pérez on the IL with a fractured finger. Pérez has been playing with the injury since April 14 and has seen his batting average drop from .238 to .131 during that time. ... Longtime pitching coach Ray Miller, who served as manager of the Twins and Orioles during his career, died Tuesday. He was 76. The cause of death wasn’t announced. Miller served three stints as a coach with the Orioles, including two seasons as manager in 1998 and 1999. He also served as Twins manager during parts of the 1985 and ’86 seasons. Miller was pitching coach of the Pirates from 1987 to 1996.