Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect David Purcey was recalled from triple-A Syracuse on Thursday and shouldn't have to wait long to make his big-league debut.

Purcey, a six-foot-five left-hander, will take the roster spot of right-handed reliever Brian Wolfe, who is hampered by a triceps strain and is on the 15-day disabled list.

Lefty David Purcey, seen in a Toronto preseason game in March, has been called up from Triple-A Syracuse.
(Kathy Willens/Associated Press)

If the 25-year-old Purcey doesn't pitch in Thursday's series finale against the Texas Rangers, he would start against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Friday in place of A.J. Burnett, who is being pushed back to Sunday after making his first relief appearance since Oct. 3, 2004, on Wednesday.

Toronto's first-round pick in the 2004 amateur draft, Purcey was 2-0 with a 1.89 earned-run average in three starts at Syracuse this season.

"He's one of our guys," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He was a big pick for us a few years ago, and he was off to a good start down there."

Thursday's move came a day after the Blue Jays tied a team record by using nine pitchers in a 7-5, 14-inning loss to Texas, which evened the three-game series at one game each.

Aside from starter Jesse Litsch, they used all seven relievers plus Burnett out of the bullpen.

Dustin McGowan will remain on his regular schedule and pitch Saturday, while Shaun Marcum will get an extra day of rest and will face Detroit in Monday's series finale.

Wolfe is 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA in eight games with Toronto this season.

Ace Roy Halladay seeks his third win of the season Thursday against Texas righty Vicente Padilla (1-1).

The Blue Jays entered Thursday's action with an 8-7 record and tied with Baltimore for third place in the American League East division, a half game behind Boston (9-7).