CLEVELAND -- The Blue Jays need some heroes if they’re going to turn this forgettable season into one we remember, and Trey Yesavage is on the way. Early in August, Yesavage underwent left knee surgery to repair his meniscus, but he’s scheduled to throw off a mound for the first time Friday at the Blue Jays’ complex in Dunedin, Fla. The 23-year-old has just over three weeks to get back by the end of the regular season, and in an AL Wild Card race that could be decided by a single game, that could make all the difference.Blue Jays Retro Bag Giveaway is Sept. 11 | Hello Kitty Bobblehead Giveaway is Sept. 12!From here, this is what Yesavage’s ideal plan looks like:1. The first bullpen -- When Yesavage throws off a mound Friday, the key will be how his knee responds the next day. This is Yesavage’s landing leg down the mound, so how will that respond to pitching closer to max effort?2. Another bullpen -- If the first one goes well, the Blue Jays will need to see another. This one would likely come a few days later and could include a few more pitches, but will prove that Yesavage is ready to face hitters.3. Live hitters -- This would likely be Yesavage facing some hitters down at the Blue Jays’ complex, close to max effort while simulating an inning or two. 4. Game action -- Keep in mind that the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons play their final game on Sept. 20. If Yesavage isn’t ready for this step by then, it could take the shape of a more formalized “sim game” at the complex, but he’s got a shot to line it up. Manager John Schneider says Yesavage would need “at least a game” to prove that he’s ready.“If that goes well,” Schneider said, “we’ll see if he can help us out in some capacity.”This schedule represents a perfect world for Toronto, but it’s what the club is hoping for. It’s difficult to put anything past Yesavage, either, who’s determined to get back if at all possible for another postseason run. If the Blue Jays fall out of this race by then, they are likelier to exercise extreme caution and back Yesavage off. But it looks like this will go down to the wire in late September.Don’t expect Yesavage out there for six innings and 100 pitches, though. Instead, Toronto would be happy to see him build back up closer to half of his usual workload. Perhaps that lands him around three innings, four if he’s ultra efficient. The club is chasing his sheer upside at this point, not a grind-it-out start. “That would make it interesting for a bullpen-y bulk day, with him being part of it,” Schneider said. “That would be nice. It just depends on how much time he’s missed, how much he can build up. Is it an inning or two? Is it three or four? We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”Schneider added that, if Yesavage comes back, it would be more tempting to just start Yesavage in the first inning, not using an opener, then figure out the bullpen from there. Most bulk relievers are pitchers caught between starting and relieving, but Yesavage would invent the “super bulk” role for the stretch run if this all works out, capable of filling a few innings with legitimately dominant upside. So much still needs to go right between now and then, but Yesavage has a chance, and all the Blue Jays need is a chance.