Despite the fact that Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly, the No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers on the staff are both on the disabled list, pitching coach Brad Arnsberg lists the overall health of his boys as one of the top developments of the Jays up and down season.
Second on his list of high points is the job his bullpen has done.
"The incredible health that we've had all year has got to be one of the high points but the highest point is the relievers who have continued to step up," Arnsberg said. "There have been times that my arm has hurt for them with the amount of innings they've taken and the amount of innings they've had to feature themselves in.
"But overall, the health of the team has been extraordinary good besides Lilly's injury (biceps tendinitis). Doc's injury was just a freak accident (hit in the left shin by a line drive) and not an arm injury."
To date, Lilly is the lone pitcher on the staff who has missed time because of an arm-related injury.
ON THE MEND
It was a day of moving forward for Jays injured starter Lilly.
The veteran left-hander, who has been on the disabled list since July 25 with biceps tendinitis, played catch for about 10 minutes yesterday and today will take the next step forward as he'll throw off the mound for the first time since he took himself out of a game July 24 against the Kansas City Royals.
"I expect to throw between 35 to 40 pitches, all fastballs," Lilly said. "Today it felt good. There was no pain."
HIGH FIVE
Jays manager John Gibbons is hoping that Alex Rios' five-hit game Monday -- the first of his career -- is a sign the right fielder will get on a hot streak.
"At this stage of his career, he's streaky," Gibbons said. "He'll be hot and then he'll be cold, it's part of being inexperienced. Hopefully that game starts it.
"He's so talented, he has got so much more in him than a lot of guys have."
