Aaron Sanchez is expected to rejoin the Toronto Blue Jays in a relief role during the club’s current road trip.

The 23-year-old right-hander started 11 games with the Blue Jays in the first half of the season. He appeared dominant at times, but struggled with his command of the strike zone in several outings.

Sanchez spoke with Jeff Blair and Paul Jones during Prime Time Sports on Sportsnet 590 The FAN Tuesday about his move to the bullpen.

“For me, I don’t think it’s going to be a big transition,” Sanchez said of moving to a relief role. “I was in that role last year for a good amount of time and I don’t think that I lost much feel for that role. I got into a good groove there so it’s just about going back out there and doing the same thing I did a year ago.

“I’m up for the challenge and excited to get back.”

The discussion shifted to Sanchez’s experience working as a closer and whether he sees himself settling into that role or moving back to the rotation.

“I’ve made it be known that I would like to start,” Sanchez said. “This is one of the situations where you see what I did last year and that’s what the team needs now.

“I’m not looking that far ahead. I’m going to take the task at hand and go do what I need to do. If that comes up we’ll talk about it then.”

While Sanchez views himself as a starter in the long-term picture, the club hopes he helps alleviate some bullpen woes in the immediate.

“We want to strengthen that area,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said last week. “We get into positions, these close games where we get a good start—we’ve got to be able to win those games. And [Sanchez] brings some pretty good firepower.”

Sanchez holds a 5-4 record with a 3.55 earned-run average and 1.44 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 37 walks in 66 innings as a starter in 2015. His seven wild pitches are the most among Blue Jays pitchers.

Sanchez appeared in 24 games as a reliever with the Blue Jays in 2014. He finished with a 2-2 record and three saves to go along with a tidy 1.09 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts to just nine walks in 33 innings of work.