The Toronto Blue Jays (7-6) placed Dustin McGowan on the 60-day disabled list last Thursday for his right-shoulder injury. Originally, the pitcher from Ludowici had been on the 15-day DL. The Jays offered no additional information on McGowan, but the move does mean the club isn’t ready to take a chance on moving the right-hander back into action.

The decision also could mean the team is saving McGowan for the future. The Blue Jays have a long season ahead of them, and the need for a pitcher will come up down the road.

The team already has dealt with injuries in its starting-five rotation. No. 5 pitcher Marc Rzepcznski was placed on the DL with a broken finger, and No. 2 pitcher Brian Tallet has complained recently about soreness in his forearm.

When Rzepcznski was hurt, the Jays moved former Oakland Athletic hurler Dana Eveland into the rotation’s fifth spot. Trainers are monitoring Tallet’s condition.

Since he was put on the DL, McGowan and his family have been in Dunedin, Fla., where the hurler has been rehabbing in hopes of getting back on the active roster. Despite the personal setback for McGowan, his team has done well early in the season and is in second place in the American League Eastern Division behind New York (9-3) and Tampa Bay (9-3), who are tied at the top. On Sunday, the Jays lost a tough game to the Los Angeles Angels, 3-1.