ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Toronto Blue Jays confirmed that Mat Latos and Casey Lawrence will again start in the place of the injured J.A. Happ and Aaron Sanchez this week, while shortstop Troy Tulowitzki returned to Toronto for an MRI on his strained right hamstring.
Josh Donaldson also continues to make progress with his right calf strain, beginning jumping activities on his leg, but a timeline for his return will be difficult to gauge until he resumes running.
The results of Tulowitzki’s MRI weren’t immediately known but manager John Gibbons on Monday reiterated that “we don’t think it’s going to be a long-term deal,” and added that “if it wasn’t for that 10-day DL he might never have been on there.”
Tulowitzki left Friday night’s 8-7 victory in 13 innings during the eighth after his hamstring tightened up as he advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays had hoped to have one of, if not both, of Happ and Sanchez ready to make starts in St. Louis versus the Cardinals on Wednesday and Thursday.
But Happ’s first throwing session since leaving an April 16 start with elbow inflammation last Thursday didn’t go as well as hoped and he’s been resting since. He’s said and is said to be feeling better and could resume throwing in the next couple of days.
Sanchez, meanwhile, threw for the third straight day and continues to progress after having a quarter of the fingernail on his right middle finger removed, and a side session is possible in the next day or two.