Nate Pearson was on track to make his second start for Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, but a case of “perfect timing” has him packed up and headed back to the Majors.

Pearson, the No. 10 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is expected to start Sunday against the Astros, which would be his first appearance with the Blue Jays since pitching two shutout innings against the Rays in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series in September. Aside from his 80-grade fastball and overall makeup, the reason for his return is simple: The Blue Jays need more healthy pitchers at the highest level.

“We need innings in the bigs right now,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “It was perfect timing for him for tomorrow, to start, so that was one of the main reasons we’re doing it. So, we’ll feel good about him coming here and starting the game.”

Pearson’s five-strikeout performance against the eventual AL-champion Rays last season surely left a satisfying memory in the minds of Blue Jays fans entering 2021. A right adductor strain prevented Pearson from making the team out of Spring Training, but perhaps now he’ll be given an opportunity to stay for good.

The righty started on Tuesday with Triple-A Buffalo, allowing four hits, one walk and one run while striking out eight in 3 2/3 innings. He threw 78 pitches in that outing.

On Saturday, when asked if Pearson could achieve the 90-100-pitch range if need be, Montoyo simply replied, “He’s built up, yes, he is.”

The tentative plan for Sunday is to use Pearson, followed by Anthony Kay, who is also built up after throwing 71 pitches in a loss against Oakland on Tuesday.

Kirk moved to 60-day IL, making room for Cole

A few days ago, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins estimated that Alejandro Kirk would miss at least four weeks with a left flexor strain. It turns out the catcher will actually miss at least eight.

Kirk was moved from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day on Saturday, though Montoyo assured reporters that nothing about Kirk’s prognosis changed recently.

“No, our medical team thinks it’s going take him for sure that long,” Montoyo said. “So, that’s the main reason that we did that, to put him on the 60.”

Montoyo added that he doesn’t think the injury will linger beyond the 60-day mark, which ends July 2.

By moving Kirk to the 60-day IL -- one of five players on that list now -- the Blue Jays freed a spot on their 40-man roster for reliever A.J. Cole, whose contract was selected Saturday. Cole has not pitched in the Majors or Minors this season, but he had a 3.09 ERA in 23 1/3 innings with the Blue Jays in 2020.

Additional moves

• The Blue Jays optioned reliever Ty Tice to Triple-A on Saturday. Tice, who has allowed nine hits, four walks and four runs in seven innings, threw 36 pitches on Friday and would presumably have been unavailable for at least a day.

• Late-inning reliever Rafael Dolis, who exited Friday’s game with right calf tightness, has a Grade 1 calf strain, Montoyo said. The team is treating the issue as a day-to-day thing, and he won’t be available until Sunday at the earliest.