Estrada feeling confident after latest start

DUNEDIN — Marco Estrada has been playing catch-up all spring, but he now sees himself pulling even with his four other rotation mates in terms of readiness to begin the season.

Estrada was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 25, and is scheduled to pitch in Toronto’s seventh game of the season, at home on April 10 against Boston at the Rogers Centre. He threw 74 pitches Wednesday in a simulated game against Triple A players and came out of it feeling good about his progress.

“(Management) thought going on the DL was the smarter thing to do, to take one (start) off, throw down here and get a little better,” said Estrada, who got a late start this spring because of a lower back injury. “It’s the right thing to do because I know I’m not 100 per cent yet. But it’s getting really close.”

Estrada is excited about being a part of this team.

“I think we’ve got a great, great rotation,” he said. “Especially with the offence we have and nobody really talks about it, but the defence is incredible. It’s one of the best defences out there.”