Spencer Turnbull and Eric Lauer both figure to throw pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.
What order and for how long is still to be determined.
Turnbull is joining the Blue Jays in a multi-inning role, manager John Schneider told reporters Monday.
Turnbull, recalled from triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, and Lauer both are part of Toronto's pitching plans for Wednesday's series finale in St. Louis against the Cardinals.
Turnbull, 32, signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays in early May.
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Signed to reinforce Toronto's starting pitching depth, Turnbull has been working his way back to a major-league workload after finishing 2024 on the injured list with a lat strain and failing to latch with a team as spring training opened.
Over five minor league starts with the Blue Jays organization, Turnbull posted a 7.13 ERA.
Turnbull posted a 2.65 ERA over 54.1 innings for the Philadelphia Phillies last season, posting career bests in strikeout rate, batting average against and WHIP.
Lauer has been strong for the Blue Jays, primarily pitching on bullpen days with the rotation still short one starter. He has a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings.
Meanwhile, Schneider reported veteran starter Max Scherzer was feeling good after throwing 50 pitches in a simulated game Sunday in Dunedin, Fla.
A bullpen session is slated for Tuesday or Wednesday followed by a potential rehab start Friday with Buffalo. Scherzer likely would need at least two rehab starts before joining the Jays.
Scherzer went on the injured list after his first start with right thumb inflammation.
As for Bowden Francis, the Blue Jays' plan for now is for the struggling starter to make his next start Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Francis hasn't made it out of the fourth inning in either of his past two starts, giving up a combined 10 earned runs.
On the hitting front, centre fielder Daulton Varsho (hamstring) is continuing his rehab in Dunedin, where the Blue Jays plan to monitor him the rest of the week. Schneider said the Blue Jays want to get Varsho back "as quick as we can."
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