It feels like the bad news hasn't stopped since the season began.

On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays were on the receiving end of some good news for once, as Aaron Sanchez successfully completed a 60-pitch session in extended spring training, putting him on track to start Sunday at the Rogers Centre against the Seattle Mariners if there are no hiccups with his troublesome fingernail over the next couple of days.

"I think he threw about 60 pitches," Jays manager John Gibbons said. "No pain at all, which is the key thing."

"If he shows up (Wednesday) and everything feels good, I'd assume he'd pitch Sunday."

Sanchez's return couldn't come at a better time, considering the Jays have been holding their head above water with a 6-4 record over the past 10 games, prior to Tuesday's date with the Cleveland Indians.

Getting their young ace back would obviously help keep that momentum going.

"We can't afford anymore tough streaks, I know that," Gibbons said. "Try to hold your own until we get a couple key guys back and then we'll see what happens."

Sanchez is clearly one of those key guys.

The last time we saw Sanchez on April 30, he was returning from a surgical procedure to shave down part of his fingernail in order to alleviate the blister issues he's been dealing with for the better part of a year.

Sanchez lasted just one inning that day against the Tampa Bay Rays, and was placed on the 10-day disabled list shortly thereafter.

The 24-year-old has thrown just 13.1 innings this season and has a 0-1 record with a 4.05 ERA.

A Sanchez return would likely mean Mike Bolsinger, who holds a 1.46 ERA in 12.1 innings at Triple-A Buffalo and pitched well enough Tuesday night against the Tribe to keep his team in the game, won't get another turn in the rotation.

SHORT STAY FOR RAMIREZ

In order to clear a spot for Bolsinger on the 40-man roster, right-handed reliever Neil Ramirez, claimed on waivers from the San Francisco Giants last Thursday, was designated for assignment.

He did not appear in a game with the Blue Jays, but the organization is hoping to sneak him through waivers to keep him around.

"We'd love to keep him, but he wants to be in the big leagues," Gibbons said. "From a selfish standpoint, we hope he gets through (waivers) and we'll see what we have."

OHLMAN MAKES MLB DEBUT

Doing the catching for Bolsinger on Tuesday was former Bisons battery-mate Mike Ohlman, who was making his major league debut thanks to veteran Russell Martin's DL stint due to nerve irritation in his left shoulder.

The 26-year-old Ohlman, who was inked to a minor league deal in the off-season, has bounced around the minors with the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals since being selected by the O's in the 11th round of the 2009 draft.

"Mike's done a nice job," Gibbons said. "He's been banging around the minor leagues and he's finally getting his opportunity."

It may not be short-lived, either, as the finicky nature of Martin's injury could mean his stay on the disabled list extends past the minimum 10 days.

Martin's presence, however, is still important, both for the pitching staff and the inexperienced catching duo of Ohlman and Luke Maile.

"He puts some thoughts in the (catcher's) heads and Russ has caught these guys for so long, he knows everything about them," Gibbons said. "I think that does wonders."

TULO GETTING CLOSE

For the second-straight day, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki tested his injured hamstring by taking some pre-game swings and ground balls at Rogers Centre.

The hope is Tulowitzki could be ready for a rehab assignment later this week.

"I don't know exactly when he's going to go out and do a little rehab, but hopefully this weekend," Gibbons said. "I think that's the tentative plan. Maybe send him to Florida where the weather's good.

"We've just gotta make sure he's ready. We don't want that to sneak up on him again."
Tulowitzki, who's slashing .263/.295/.386 in 16 games this season, was placed on the disabled list April 22.

Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, designated hitter Kendrys Morales left Tuesday's game with hamstring tightness of his own.