Blue Jays Activate Steve Delabar and Dustin McGowan

May 18, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Steve Delabar (50) pitches against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Yankees win 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
May 18, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Steve Delabar (50) pitches against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Yankees win 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports /

Rosters are expanding across Major League Baseball, and the first two players to be added to the Toronto Blue Jays active roster are familiar faces; Steve Delabar and Dustin McGowan.

The Blue Jays have activated the pair of right-handers from the 15-day disabled list after the two of them completed their respective rehabilitation assignments with the Dunedin Blue Jays, as previously reported by Evan Peaslee at MLB.com.

The 30-year-old Delabar was an anchor in the Toronto bullpen before being placed on the DL on August 4th with right shoulder inflammation. In 46 appearances as Toronto’s primary set-up man, Delabar has put together an All-Star campaign by posting a 5-2 record with a 2.90 ERA and a 13.6 K/9 ratio. He threw two scoreless innings during his rehab assignment prior to being activated.

The 31-year-old McGowan has been a slightly different, yet still encouraging story. After years of struggling with arm troubles, the former starter made the move to the bullpen this year and was finally activated by the Blue Jays on June 8th. Toronto used him sparingly, with the right-hander appearing in just 16 games this season, but the results have been decent, with McGowan posting a 2.12 ERA and a 9.0 K/9 ratio in 17 innings of work.

McGowan had been on the disabled list since August 1st with an oblique strain.

The Blue Jays are also expected to make other call-ups this month. Pitchers Kyle Drabek, Drew Hutchison, Sean Nolin, Mickey Storey, and Thad Weber, along with catcher A.J. Jimenez and infielder Mauro Gomez are on the 40-man roster and can be added at any time without making additional transactions.