Adam Lind, Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie remain sidelined, but all three injured Toronto Blue Jays are making progress.
Lind (foot) is out of his walking boot, Lawrie (finger) is no longer wearing a splint and Encarnacion (quadriceps) is feeling better. GM Alex Anthopoulos said Sunday that he’s hopeful some or all of those players could be playing in rehabilitation games by the upcoming weekend. Nolan Reimold (calf) isn’t expected to require an extended stint on the disabled list, either.
While there’s no clear timetable for those players, the Blue Jays are definitely missing their bats.
Ben Nicholson-Smith talks Blue Jays on Sportsnet 590 The Fan
BULLPEN TALK: The Blue Jays want Aaron Sanchez to get a few relief appearances in before joining the big league team, but they’re confident that his stuff will play against MLB hitters right away.
“I think he’s ready right now,” Anthopoulos said Sunday. “He’s really made tremendous strides. He’s probably up there in ground ball rate (and) his stuff is outstanding.”
Anthopoulos and manager John Gibbons agree that Brandon Morrow (torn tendon sheath in right index finger) could return as a starter or a reliever, depending on how he looks and feels.
“If all five starters are doing a great job winning games, he could be in the bullpen,” Anthopoulos said “If he’s throwing the ball great and he’s better than one of the guys we have starting, one of those guys could move to the ‘pen.”
BUEHRLE’S MIS-STEP: Mark Buehrle balked in a run Sunday, and he described the faux-pas with some unintentionally colourful language Sunday.
“My cleat caught and I ate (dirt),” Buehrle said. “It’s embarrassing but it’s all part of it.”
On a serious note, the left-hander was relieved to see the Blue Jays win back-to-back games.
“It seems like it’s been a while since we’ve done that,” he said.
As a result, the mood around the team was a little lighter than usual.
“I felt a little more energy in the dugout, too. The guys seemed a little more relaxed,” Gibbons said. “They’ve been grinding.”
JAYS DEFEAT RANGERS: I wrote Sunday about the Blue Jays’ options at the trade deadline and about Melky Cabrera, who’s really having a big year for the Blue Jays. While the Blue Jays have lots of time before deciding whether to extend Cabrera a qualifying offer, he’s playing well enough to merit consideration in my view.
