ANAHEIM, Calif. – J.A. Happ is likely to miss a second start after his first throwing session didn’t go as well as hoped, while the Toronto Blue Jays remain hopeful Aaron Sanchez will be ready to start next week in St. Louis.
Happ made 20 throws during a catch session Thursday in the hopes he could return after missing just one start, but he still experienced some discomfort in the inflamed left elbow that forced him to the disabled list this week.
While pitching coach Pete Walker said the 20-game winner reported for duty Friday “feeling pretty good,” the team is going to give him more rest before he throws again.
When might that be?
“It depends on how it feels – we want to get it out of there, we want to get the inflammation out before he throws again,” said Walker. “We really thought it was out, he made his 20 throws, but he just didn’t feel quite where he needed to be. So we’re going to push it back a few days.”
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The scenario means Mat Latos, who had his contract purchased from triple-A Buffalo with utilityman Ty Kelly getting designated for assignment to make room, will make starts on Friday versus the Los Angeles Angels and next Wednesday in St. Louis. Rookie Casey Lawrence, who will be called up to start Saturday’s game in Anaheim, will start next Thursday unless Sanchez is ready.
The all-star right-hander, who underwent a procedure that removed lengthwise a quarter of the fingernail on his right middle finger as a measure to prevent his ongoing blister issues, is aiming to resume throwing Saturday.
The Blue Jays will use extra caution with Sanchez and will only let him throw if “the irritation is out of there and he’s feeling good,” said Walker. “We want him on the mound for the whole year, that’s the point of doing this. We want him feeling 100 per cent.”
Latos, who in February agreed to a minor-league deal that pays him $1.5 million in the big leagues, agreed to sign an advanced consent form that makes his salary non-guaranteed but gives him the option of becoming a free agent in 45 days.
Note: Reliever J.P. Howell (shoulder) threw a scoreless inning on rehab at single-A Dunedin on Thursday night, allowing a hit with two strikeouts. The Blue Jays’ current plan is for the lefty to make another rehab appearance Saturday with the aim of activating him next week in St. Louis.
