Brian

Wolfe

Wolfe, 26, had a 5.83 ERA while spending most of last season at Double-A New Hampshire, but he allowed just two earned runs in 20 1/3 innings for Syracuse this season, providing him with an opportunity. He’s unlikely to amount to much.

Wolfe allowed three runs -- two earned -- in 5 1/3 innings over four appearances before being sent down two weeks ago. He’ll resume working in middle relief.

Wolfe allowed three runs -- two earned -- in 5 1/3 innings over four appearances for the Jays.

Lane and Emaus were the Jays’ home run and RBI leaders this spring, with Lane hitting .358 with five homers and Emaus batting .3333 with four homers and 13 RBI. Still, Emaus was never a candidate to make the team and the Jays decided against going with Lane over Kevin Millar. Maybe someone else will step up and grab Lane before the season starts.

Wolfe spent exactly one month in the majors, and surrendered seven earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. He still showed fine control, but was simply far too hittable.

Wolfe, 28, is a control artist who has excelled in his trials with Toronto, pitching to a 2.81 ERA in 67 1/3 innings. Only his relatively low K-rates make him a less-than-ideal candidate for big league success.

Jesse Carlson was actually the biggest culprit. He relieved Roy Halladay in an 8-3 game to begin the bottom of the eighth and retired one of the six hitters he faced. Downs came into an 8-5 game with the bases loaded and allowed a sac fly, a single and a double to surrender the lead, with the inning only ending when Adam Jones was thrown out at home trying to score. Jason Frasor then pitched scoreless ninth and 10th innings, but the Jays weren’t willing to keep him in after an Aaron Hill homer gave them a two-run lead in the 11th. B.J. Ryan came in and gave up a single to Nick Markakis before getting Aubrey Huff to pop out. Cito Gaston went to Wolfe at that point. Wolfe gave up three straight hits, including Nolan Reimold’s homer to end it.

Wolfe had a brief stint with the big club earlier this season, allowing seven runs, including three homers, in 8 1/3 innings of work. While he thrives on his control, the 28-year-old right-hander will likely never strike out enough batters to stick on the major league level.

Tallet has been very sore for a couple days thanks to the bruise. As for who might take his place? “We could start Dirk Hayhurst,” mentioned manager Cito Gaston. “He has been out there a while without pitching and then go to Brian Wolfe.” The Jays do not plan on calling up any pitchers, as their minor leaguers have been shut down for over a week already.