Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman threw a two-inning simulated game Wednesday morning as he continues to build up after being set back by shoulder fatigue this spring.
According to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling, the 33-year-old righty threw 28 strikes on 36 pitches, facing seven batters, striking out two and allowing two hits.
Zwelling reported that Gausman said everything "felt sound physically" and that the next step is to target 60 to 65 pitches over three innings in a game, likely on Monday.
After that outing, Gausman and the team will decide on his status for the start of the season.
"(The soreness) is pretty much gone," he told reporters after the simulated game. "That's what we needed to make sure went away completely before we started building up."
The Blue Jays play the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday in Bradenton, Fla., in their final spring training game before the regular season.
Gausman, who finished third in AL Cy Young voting last season, was likely to get Toronto's Opening Day start before dealing with his shoulder issues to open camp.
The Blue Jays announced Tuesday that Jose Berrios will get the ball in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 28.
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