The Toronto Blue Jays may have some rotation reinforcements on the way within the next week.
Right-hander starter Dylan Cease felt good after his triple-A rehab start on Thursday and is back in Toronto with the team. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters Friday that it's "very likely" that Cease won't need another rehab outing and could be activated for their series against the Philadelphia Phillies last week.
Cease threw 75 pitches over four innings of five-run ball on Thursday with Buffalo, striking out six and sitting 97 m.p.h. with his fastball. The 30-year-old was hurt by a pair of homers in the second and third innings of his start.
Before hitting the injured list, Cease was off to a hot start for the Blue Jays, posting a 3.05 ERA with 92 strikeouts over his first 11 starts and 62 innings for his new team.
He landed on the IL with a left hamstring strain on May 25. He initially suffered the injury during a start against the Pittsburgh Pirates a day prior, when he appeared to shake out his legs after delivering a pitch to Spencer Horwitz.
After a mound visit from team trainers and Schneider, Cease originally stayed in the game but was removed mid-at-bat against the next hitter, Brandon Lowe.
