The Toronto Blue Jays put relief pitcher B.J. Ryan on the 15-day disabled list with an elbow sprain.

Ryan will be examined by specialist Dr. James Andrews in Alabama on Monday and the Blue Jays are waiting to hear from Andrews before confirming the extent of the injury.

Toronto Blue Jays reliever B.J. Ryan looks frustrated after giving up the fourth run in the ninth inning, giving the Detroit Tigers a 10-7 win on Saturday.
(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

"I always prepare for the worst," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said Sunday. "The preliminary is that's it's not. What are you going to do? Call the league up and say you don't want to play any more? You just have to battle through it."

With Ryan out, setup pitcher Jason Frasor will assume the role of the club's chief relief pitcher and Casey Janssen will take over as the primary setup man. The Blue Jays also called up Jamie Vermilyea from triple-A Syracuse.

"It's funny how things work out. I didn't foresee any of this, at the beginning I was just hoping to make the team and now they're really, really counting on you," said Frasor. "I just think I'm ready for it. It's an honour, man, to pitch the ninth inning. That's a big-time role."

It's been a tough season thus far for Ryan. The all-star left-hander has two blown saves in five opportunities this year — he blew only four saves in 42 chances last season.

On Saturday, the Detroit Tigers came into the ninth inning trailing 7-6 and facing Ryan, who proceeded to walk the bases full and then throw the lead away on a pinch-hit RBI double by Marcus Thames that put the visitors up by a run.

A run-scoring ground out and an error accounted for two more runs before Ryan was pulled. Detroit went on to win 10-7.

"He's one of the premiere closers in baseball," said Jays manager John Gibbons. "You look around baseball over the years and teams that struggle in that role have a tough time.

"But this is when you find out how good you are and when guys can make a name for themselves."

Ryan isn't the only ailing Blue Jay.

Left-fielder Reed Johnson travelled to Florida to visit a spine specialist on Saturday. Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list late Friday with a herniated disc in his lower back.

Third baseman Troy Glaus, who has been hampered by a bone spur in his left heel and a tender hamstring, will be rested until Tuesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox.

Glaus was forced to depart in the third inning of Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Tigers, the second time in six days he left early.

"Everybody out here is hurt, believe it or not, it's only April but everybody out there has something. It's just what's the pain tolerance," said Ricciardi. "I think in [Ryan's] situation, the same things he's felt in the past he could throw through and be OK. But this one doesn't seem to be going away …

"No one's going to feel sorry for you," he added. "One time you'd like to stay healthy and see what you look like, but this as an opportunity for someone."

After taking Monday off, Toronto opens a three-game homestand Tuesday against Boston.

With files from Canadian Press