Downs Throws from a Mound

    Jays' injured closer Scott Downs threw for 10 minutes in the bullpen on Tuesday afternoon before batting practice, but he will not be ready to return to the active roster likely before the Jays play in Baltimore on July 10.

    "It's looking like it could be three days, it still could be a week, it sould be two weeks, I don't know," Downs said. "It depends on when I can actually run on it. Bullpen went good today. I'll take tomorrow off, long-toss tomorrow, another side on Friday and then we'll go from there."

    There is a certain amount of discomfort when Downs throws, but he insisted that he's pitched with discomfort before and as long as it doesn't affect his mechanics, then it's all about conditioning.

    "It's going to depend on how my body feels," Downs said. "My arm feels good. It's the most time I've had off in a while. It might take me a couple of times even when I'm healthy to get back into the groove."

    Downs is eligible to return from the disabled list on Friday in New York, but with the following Rays series on artificial turf, the Jays would be prudent to have him return 10 days from now in Baltimore. He will not have to go to the minors on an injury rehab assignment.