KANSAS CITY -- In an effort to get left-hander Thomas Pannone ready for possible duty as a starter, the Blue Jays optioned Pannone to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday and recalled well-traveled left-hander Tim Mayza.
Pannone left the Jays on a high note. Summoned from the bullpen to face lefty-hitting Alex Gordon in the seventh inning Tuesday, Pannone recorded a strikeout. The Jays trailed the Royals 5-4 at that point, but rallied for a 6-5 win.
"We just wanted [Pannone] to go back down and start again," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "Build him up a little bit. He may get a couple of starts in September."
Mayza has been in a shuttle pattern this year between Buffalo and Toronto. The latest callup marked the seventh time this year he has joined the Blue Jays.