THE CANADIAN PRESS

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum will make a rehabilitation start for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Thursday, the next step in his recovery from elbow surgery last September.

The right-hander has already made two rehab starts for single-A Dunedin, allowing two runs and seven hits in six innings, with five strikeouts.

There are hopes Marcum, who will pitch against the Connecticut Defenders (San Francisco), could rejoin the Blue Jays sometime next month.

The 27-year-old was 9-7 with a 3.39 ERA in 25 starts last year before his injury.