Blue Jays activate reliever Paul Sewald, option Lazaro Estrada to triple-A

Recent waiver claim Paul Sewald reported to the Blue Jays and will be active for their game against the New York Yankees on Friday, the team announced.

Lazaro Estrada was optioned to the triple-A Buffalo Bisons in a corresponding move.

Sewald, 36, previously served as the closer for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, registering 24 saves, but has struggled since the start of July, allowing six home runs and logging a 12.00 ERA over nine innings.

He was eventually removed from the Diamondbacks' closer role before being designated for assignment on Monday.

Sewald initially started the season well, pitching to a 3.18 ERA with 32 strikeouts and eight walks over his first 28.1 innings. He has 110 career saves, serving as a closer for the Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners over parts of the last six seasons.

Toronto is nearing the end of a stretch of 17 straight games, and its bullpen has thrown the most innings in MLB since the start of August. The Blue Jays played four extra-inning games across three different cities over five days from Aug. 5-9.

Meanwhile, Estrada was optioned to triple-A for the fifth time this year after posting a 5.54 ERA with nine strikeouts and 10 walks over 13 innings with the Blue Jays.

Estrada, 27, has now maxed out his minor-league options and will need to pass through waivers if he is recalled and sent down again.