TORONTO -
Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay threw in the bullpen Tuesday afternoon at the Rogers Centre and is on schedule to return to the rotation next Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Halladay is on the disabled list with a slight groin strain which he picked up on his second pitch of the fourth inning on June 12 against the Florida Marlins.
However, before that Halladay, who is 10-1 with a 2.53 earned-run average in 14 starts, will have a side session in the bullpen on Friday to set him up for the start.
"He felt good," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said before Tuesday's interleague game against the Cincinnati Reds at Rogers Centre.
Halladay could come off the disabled list on Sunday and it was believed that he would start then but Gaston said he will start on Monday "just to give him another day's rest."
By starting Monday, and assuming he continues to pitch every fifth day, Halladay also would be in position to start the July 14 all-star Game in St. Louis on his regular four days' rest in if he is picked to do so.
Halladay was trying for his 11th victory of the season when he felt something in his right groin area while making the pitch against the Marlins. He didn't figure in the decision that night, a 7-3 Blue Jays' loss.
Halladay was leading the majors in games won at the time and his 10 victories are still good enough to have him tied for the lead with Kevin Slowey who has a 10-2 record from 14 starts with the Minnesota Twins.
Halladay has the American League's best winning percentage at .909 for pitchers who qualify.
Halladay is tied for third in ERA in the American League with Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim behind Edwin Jackson of the Detroit Tigers at 2.39 and Zach Greinke of the Kansas City Royals at 1.96.
Russ Adams, the Blue Jays first draft pick in 2002 which was J.P. Ricciardi's first season as general manager, started Tuesday's game in left field against the Reds.
It was the former starting shortstop's first start this season after he was recalled from triple-A Last Vegas where he batted .319 in 24 games.
He's replacing Joe Inglett who was returned to triple-A and Gaston will use Adams in a similar role, playing him when his left-handed bat is needed in the lineup.
At Las Vegas, Adams started 10 games at shortstop, seven in the outfield and two at second base.
"He can play in left field and can play right," Gaston said. "He was playing shortstop (in Las Vegas). Of course we don't need one (a shortstop) right now."
He could also fill in at second or third.
"He could turn out to very valuable," Gaston said. "He did everything to make this club in spring training as far as swinging the bat.
"Hopefully, he can help us out from the left side with that bat."
