McGowan yet to begin throwing program

TORONTO -- It's been a week and a half since Dustin McGowan was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and the oft-injured pitcher has yet to begin a throwing program during his rehab schedule.

McGowan was placed on the DL on Aug. 1 with a strained oblique, an injury he suffered while pitching against the A's in Oakland on July 29.

The Blue Jays are more than familiar with oblique injuries, having had Brett Lawrie and Brandon Morrow deal with the issue in the past, so they know the nature of the injury.

McGowan has yet to throw, as manager John Gibbons reiterated the sensitive nature of the right-hander's ailment.

When Lawrie was dealing with a similar issue, it took more than a month before he played in a game at extended spring camp. Morrow missed a month and a half of action last season.

However, Gibbons did say McGowan was "close" to throwing, but with the sensitivity of the injury, the Blue Jays have decided to take a precautionary approach, something that will likely require a rehab stint to get him back into game form once he starts throwing.

McGowan, who has a 2.12 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and 17 strikeouts over 17 innings this season, will continue to rehab his injury in Dunedin, Fla., as he tries to work his way back to the Majors.