Toronto Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage threw a 23-pitch side session on Friday and will throw another one on Monday as he continues to work his way back from a knee injury, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic.
He will then build up to a 30-pitch live session on Thursday, and if he can successfully complete all those steps, he should be able to return to the Jays this season, reports Bannon.
Yesavage had surgery in early August to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson reported in a story posted Thursday that the 23-year-old right-hander will need to appear in either a minor-league rehab game or a simulated game depending on when he progresses to that step before rejoining the Jays at the big-league level. The Triple-A Buffalo Bisons close out their season on Sept. 20.
Yesavage had a 3.65 ERA in 18 starts this season prior to going down.
Bannon also reports that righty starter Shane Bieber played catch Friday in Kansas City as he tries to work his way back from shoulder inflammation. He last pitched on Aug. 20.
Jays activate Taillon, send down Tiedemann
Prior to first pitch Friday night against the Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays activated Jameson Taillon from the 15-day injured list.
In a corresponding move, the club optioned lefty Ricky Tiedemann to Triple-A Buffalo.
The veteran Taillon was placed on the IL on Aug. 11 with right forearm tendinitis.
In two starts with the Blue Jays, the veteran righty posted a 3.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, striking out seven over 8.0 innings.
Taillon was acquired from the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 2 for a player to be named later.
In 17 starts this season between the Cubs and Blue Jays, Taillon has a 5.96 earned run average and a 1.39 WHIP with 72 strikeouts to 28 walks across 80 innings.
Tiedemann, 24, has made two appearances with the Blue Jays this season, posting a 3.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 2.2 innings of relief.
