What It Means:

Sanchez has been limited to just 36 innings in the majors this season due to blister problems, and while he's holding out hope for a return, there is increasing doubt that the 25-year-old right-hander will be able to return to the hill for Toronto in 2017. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons suggested that Sanchez could be brought out of the bullpen by the time October rolls around, but the young hurler is cautious of taking things one step at a time. “I don’t know if that’s set in stone,” Sanchez said of a potential move to the bullpen. “It’s an idea. We’ve all kind of thrown it off each other in here but like I said, I just want to make sure that I’m out there and I can throw and I’m healthy first. That’s step one for me.”

When active this season, Sanchez has twirled a 4.25 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, and 14.4 strikeout percentage -- all of which are career worsts. He owns a 1-3 record in eight starts.