The Blue Jays are tentatively expecting Jameson Taillon to start Friday against the Royals.
John Schneider confirmed the plan, though the word "tentatively" carries real weight given how this rehab has gone.
Taillon has been working back from a forearm injury, progressing through bullpen sessions in Tampa and Cleveland.
Every checkpoint along the way has gone well so far, which is exactly what's kept Friday on the calendar as a realistic target.
Toronto has patched together its rotation for weeks now, using bullpen games and reshuffled arms just to get through the schedule.
A healthy Taillon taking the ball every fifth day would ease that strain in a way few other single moves could.
He's made just two starts for the Blue Jays this season, posting a 3.38 ERA over eight innings in that small sample.
Why the word "tentatively" still matters here
Toronto sits 2.5 games back of Cleveland for the final wild-card spot, in the middle of a stretch where every rotation decision carries real weight.
Kansas City isn't a threat in the standings, making it a reasonable opponent for a starter working back from injury to shake off any rust.
Schneider's own pitching staff has dealt with setback after setback this season, so nothing gets treated as fully locked in until it actually happens.
If Friday holds, Taillon slots into a rotation that badly needs a starter capable of consistently eating innings.
If something changes between now and then, Toronto goes right back to the bullpen-day approach that's carried this team through much of the second half.
Either way, this is the most concrete update yet on his return, even with the built-in caution attached to it.
Do you think Jameson Taillon actually makes his Friday start against the Royals?
Also read on Blue Jays Insider :
Blue Jays might have finally found George Springer's replacement for next season
