Tuesday Bantering: J.A. Happ to return tonight

The Blue Jays confirmed J.A. Happ as today’s stater yesterday, ending more than a month on the disabled list. Happ, in extended spring training and rehab starts, did “treatment, we did exercises, I focused a lot on my shoulder - tried to strengthen that while I was down,” he tells Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. “I’m ready to go with everything.”

When Happ returns to the rotation today, the Blue Jays will have 60% of their starters back, save Francisco Liriano and Aaron Sanchez. Liriano, who “felt great” in his rehab start, is likely to re-join the team this weekend, perhaps starting as early as Friday.

Happ is expected to have a pitch limit of 75 in tonight’s start.

David Price made his return to the mound yesterday, pitching five innings in Boston’s 5-4 loss to the White Sox. Price, despite giving up a three-run home run to Melky Cabrera in the third, struck out four and only walked two in his outing, which was generally positive.

Dustin Pedroia left yesterday’s Red Sox game injured after trying to beat out an infield groundout. Pedroia stumbled over Jose Abreu at the bag and left the game with a sprained wrist.

"It's hard to say right now,” Farrell told Sportsnet. “I think until we get the information, we'll know more then. But I think anytime you're dealing with a position player's wrist, a hitter's wrist, that's always cause for concern."

Old friend Brandon Morrow is back in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers after Alex Wood was placed on the 10-day disabled list yesterday. Morrow was a Blue Jay from 2010 to 2014, and has not made a major-league appearance so far this season. With Los Angeles’ triple-A team, Morrow has had a 5.71 ERA in 17 appearances out of the bullpen.

The Blue Jays clubbed the Cincinnati Reds last night, beating Joey Votto’s club by a score of 17-2. Toronto collected 23 hits, the third most in franchise history, while both Devon Travis (13-game hitting streak) and Ezequiel Carerra had four hits. Marcus Stroman went six innings in the win, giving up two earned runs. Troy Tulowitzki had a grand slam.

Today, the Blue Jays will play their second of three against the Reds at 7:07 ET. J.A. Happ will start against Asher Wojciechowski, one of the players that the Blue Jays traded for Happ in 2012.

Even while the Blue Jays are winning, the injuries keep coming — Chris Coghlan was scratched from Toronto’s lineup last night when his back locked up after batting practice. John Gibbons says that the injury is day-to-day, per Scott Mitchell.

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