BALTIMORE -- Blue Jays right-hander Jesse Chavez remained unavailable on Thursday night for the third consecutive game as he continues to recover from a sore back.Chavez experienced tightness in his lower back earlier this week and has yet to pitch since the discomfort surfaced. He is not expected to require

BALTIMORE -- Blue Jays right-hander Jesse Chavez remained unavailable on Thursday night for the third consecutive game as he continues to recover from a sore back.

Chavez experienced tightness in his lower back earlier this week and has yet to pitch since the discomfort surfaced. He is not expected to require a stint on the 15-day disabled list and should return to action this weekend vs. Oakland.

Toronto will have to hope that's the case, because it can't afford to wait too much longer. The club was forced to play a three-game series in Baltimore with six relievers, and that trend can't continue, but the progress Chavez has made over the past two days should help Toronto avoid a roster move.

"He's feeling better," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's moving around, doing some exercising. I don't think you'll see him tonight, but it shouldn't be too much longer."

In the unlikely event that Chavez suffers a setback, right-hander Ryan Tepera would become the obvious candidate to replace him on the 25-man roster. Tepera entered play on Thursday with a 2.84 ERA in six appearances for Triple-A Buffalo.

Right-hander Gavin Floyd also wasn't available to pitch in the series finale in Baltimore. Floyd tossed two scoreless innings against the Orioles on Wednesday night and will need at least another day to recover from the prolonged outing.