Blue Jays' Gausman likely out for Thursday start vs. Mariners

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman delivers during the fourth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Cleveland. (David Dermer/AP)

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman did not throw his bullpen session on his side day on Tuesday, meaning he's unlikely to make his next start Thursday in Seattle, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reports.

Right-hander Casey Lawrence did throw a bullpen on Tuesday, meaning he is the likely candidate to replace the injured Gausman for the series opener against the Mariners.

Lawrence replaced Gausman on Saturday after he was hit in the ankle by a comebacker from Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco, knocking him out of the game in the top of the third inning.

The Blue Jays diagnosed Gausman with a right-foot contusion and said X-rays came back negative.

Lawrence, who has spent most of the year with triple-A Buffalo, allowed six runs over 5.2 innings in relief on Saturday as the Blue Jays lost 6-2.

Gausman said Monday he would only pitch against the Mariners if he was confident doing so wouldn't make the injury worse, a message manager Charlie Montoyo echoed.

“If he’s not 100 per cent he’s not going to pitch,” Montoyo said of Gausman, who is 6-6 with a 2.86 ERA this season.

Lawrence is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in 13 innings of relief for Toronto this season.

The 34-year-old Lawrence has made 12 starts for Buffalo this year, going 8-2 with a 2.22 ERA.

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