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Toronto Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowanSTEVE NESIUS/Reuters

Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan has had another injury setback.

"He came up a little lame and his shoulder was barking a little bit," manager John Gibbons said Wednesday.

"So he's kind of on the back-burner again. He's going to do everything but he's not going to be on the mound. Another little setback."

"Nothing major, but with all he's been through, his history," he added, explaining the decision to back down on his workouts.

The 30-year-old pitcher missed all of last season with plantar fasciitis in his right foot and shoulder surgery. He has only appeared in five major league games since the 2008 season, sidelined by shoulder and knee surgeries.

McGowan is 20-24 with a 4.80 ERA in 80 career games.

He was a top prospect when Gibbons was in his first stint at the Jays' helm, from 2004 to 2008.

"He did a nice job for us, then he got injured and battled diabetes," said Gibbons.

"He's had a tough road," he added. "You would love to see him bounce back and have a nice, solid, long, productive career ... He keeps plugging away.

"Right now we really don't need him the way we're set up (with pitching). But as the season goes on, you never know. He's got plenty of time (to recover)."

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