ARLINGTON -- threw a side session of around 30 pitches Friday at Globe Life Field that manager John Schneider said went well, potentially putting the Blue Jays right-hander in position to return as soon as Sunday.

“That kind of hopefully lines him up for Sunday or Monday,” Schneider said pregame. “Definitely based on how the weekend goes … likely Monday in a multi-inning role.”

A Sunday return would put Yesavage in position to pitch in the finale of Toronto’s crucial three-game series against the Rangers, with both clubs fighting for ground in a tight AL Wild Card race. If the Blue Jays hold him back until Monday, Yesavage would instead return for the series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore.

Yesavage landed on the injured list on Aug. 5 with left knee inflammation before undergoing surgery on Aug. 11 to repair the meniscus in his left knee. He made a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) while throwing 34 pitches without completing the first inning.

The results were secondary to how Yesavage responded physically. His four-seam fastball averaged 93.3 mph in the outing, roughly 1 mph below his Major League average.

Yesavage is 5-5 with a 3.65 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP and 91 strikeouts over 93 2/3 innings this season. His return would give Toronto another option for multiple innings as the Blue Jays navigate the final stretch of the regular season.

, meanwhile, is scheduled to throw off the mound on Saturday in Texas as he continues working his way back from right teres major inflammation. A return during the regular season is most likely off the table at this point, but Bieber is continuing to build up in case the Blue Jays reach the postseason.

“With the calendar [being] where it is, it’s going to be tough,” Schneider said. “Hopefully we can win some games and get to the point where he can be an option for us. He is going to keep plugging along as if this were the middle part of the season.”