Oakland Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray has been scratched from his start against the Toronto Blue Jays because of back spasms.
Right-hander Jesse Chavez will start against his former team in place of Gray on Thursday afternoon. Chavez pitched in nine games for Toronto in 2012. He is 6-11 with a 3.73 ERA.
"That was a late surprise," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.
Gray is the AL ERA leader at 2.06 and will miss his start against the highest scoring offence in baseball. Toronto, which has won 10 straight, leads the major leagues with 611 runs this season. The New York Yankees are second with 534.
Gray is 12-4 in 23 starts and has lost just once in his past 10 outings.
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