TORONTO – Marcus Stroman will throw a 40-pitch simulated game next Monday in Florida, the next major step back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered during a fielding drill in spring training.

It had originally been expected that the Toronto Blue Jays right-hander would make a rehabilitation start on Friday, but general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday that tentative plans now call for Stroman to pitch at triple-A Buffalo in the first week of September. At that point, a decision will be made as to his availability for the major league club.

Stroman will follow up Monday’s outing with a 55-pitch simulated game on Saturday, Aug. 29. Buffalo’s season ends Sept. 7.

“It’s easier to control the conditions in a sim game,” Anthopoulos said via text message. “With sim games we can roll over an inning, etc. We can control everything.

“Medical staff just felt this is the right way to go. I’ve seen videos of his bullpen sessions, and he looks great.”