Blue Jays resting Sanchez, recall Copeland

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays will skip Aaron Sanchez's start this time through the rotation to give the rookie hurler extra rest. Sanchez was due to make the start in the series finale at Rogers Centre on Wednesday, but the club instead recalled right-hander Scott Copeland from Triple-A Buffalo late Tuesday to make the spot start.

"He's a little bit sore, overall soreness," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of the decision to rest Sanchez. "Backing off one turn through the rotation, it'll be fine. Just a precautionary thing."

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Munenori Kawasaki was optioned to the Bisons in a corresponding roster move.

If all goes according to plan, Sanchez would make his next start on Tuesday against the Mets in New York. The lanky right-hander is coming off his best start of his career, when he had a shutout going into the ninth inning against the Astros.

Sanchez, who's 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA, has thrown more than 100 pitches in six of his past eight outings. He threw 133 1/3 innings last season between the Minors and Majors.

"He's a hardworking guy when he's out there -- there's zero finesse to him," Gibbons said. "He's chopping up some innings, went the into the ninth the other day. He's got a little fatigue. Figured we can't afford to lose him, so back him off a start. He'll be good to go the next go-around."

Copeland will be the second spot starter the Blue Jays have used this season. They previously called up Todd Redmond to do the same against the Angels in mid-May.

Copeland is 4-1 with a 1,97 ERA in seven starts with the Bisons. He's thrown three scoreless innings of relief for the Blue Jays this season.