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TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays recalled Neil Wagner from the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday and optioned fellow right-hander Marcus Walden to the triple-A club. Andrew Miller . Wagner, 30, appeared in 36 games for the Blue Jays last season, posting a 2-4 record with a 3.79 earned-run average. He gives Toronto another hard-throwing right-handed option out of the bullpen. "It made sense to get a little more firepower late (in games)," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said before Wednesdays game against the Houston Astros. Wagner played 23 games with Buffalo in 2013 and had 16 saves with a 0.76 ERA. The six-foot 215-pound Minneapolis native has not allowed a run in two appearances with the Bisons this season, earning saves in both outings. Gibbons said Wagner impressed him last season and again this year at spring training. "He came into his own," he said of Wagners performance last year. "He started out in triple-A and put it all together, came up and did a nice job for us. Hes got that big arm. Thats what you like to see coming late in the game. The key for him was he started finding that strike zone consistently. "Thats something that had deserted him in his career until last year. Yeah, we expect him to fill a big role for us." The Toronto bullpen is missing closer Casey Janssen, whos on the 15-day disabled list with a strain in his left abdominal area and lower back. Gibbons said pitching coach Pete Walker thought Janssen looked "really, really good" in a bullpen session earlier in the day. "Hell throw one more side (session) and then well just see where hes at," Gibbons said of the veteran right-hander. "He may go out on a rehab (assignment) after that. If hes not really good, then hell throw another one." "Pete said he really picked it up today compared to his last one," Gibbons added. Janssen, who went on the DL on March 30, was 4-1 last year with 34 saves and a 2.56 ERA. Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes, whos on the 15-day DL with a hamstring injury, did some light running Wednesday and took some swings in the batting cage. His lone game appearance came in a season-opening loss to Tampa Bay. "Hes making progress," Gibbons said. "This next road trip well get him out there running the bases a little bit. Hes moving along pretty good." Second baseman Maicer Izturis was slotted into the second spot in the batting order against the Astros. Izturis has yet to drive in a run this season but hes batting at a .421 clip. "Hes swinging it," Gibbons said. "Hes been one of our hottest hitters. So well get him up there and see what happens." Izturis batted in the No. 8 position Tuesday when the Blue Jays opened the three-game series with a 5-2 victory at Rogers Centre. In 107 games last season, Izturis had a .236 average with five homers and 32 RBIs. "He came into camp in better shape this year, really focused, and hes done a nice job," Gibbons said. "He made a couple nice plays last night at second base and thats good to see too." Walden did not make an appearance with the Blue Jays after being called up last Saturday. Willie McGee . Wiggins, who had been seen as a contender for a podium finish in Paris, was one of about 20 riders caught near the back of the peloton with 38 kilometres to go in the 218-km flat stage from Le Mans to Chateauroux. Ozzie Smith . - A lot of scenarios ran through Terrell Suggs head when the Baltimore linebacker prepared to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-daniel-ponce-de-leon-jersey-large-991q.html . Marcus Olsson, 23, joins Blackburn on a free transfer from Swedens Halmstads. He made 139 appearances and scored 17 goals in his four years with the club. He earned his first caps for Sweden this month, featuring against Bahrain and Qatar.SUNRISE, Fla. - By stocking up on tons of upcoming draft picks and young talent, the Florida Panthers are trying to set themselves up for a bright future.The future might arrive a little ahead of schedule.Often a playoff long shot at this time of year, the Panthers find themselves right in the mix of the Eastern Conference post-season race this season. The Panthers are six points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, still in the chase despite just enduring a five-game losing slide that ended with a 3-2 win over Columbus on Thursday night.We still have some growing to do, Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. But were close. Its getting exciting because we see the future and we see that were not far off.Led by a combination of savvy veterans — like goalie Roberto Luongo and defenceman Willie Mitchell — playing alongside a young core that includes rising star defenceman Aaron Ekblad, centre Nick Bjugstad and winger Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida has probably exceeded many expectations already.A year ago at this time, the Panthers were 15th in the 16-team East. Now, some of the players are already checking scoreboards around the league on a nightly basis to see what the playoff standings look like.Weve got a good team, said Huberdeau, the No. 3 overall pick in 2011 who hasnt sniffed an NHL playoff chase before. Its cool. The games are way more important when youre looking at a playoff spot. Itss big for us. Harrison Bader. We dont want to miss our chance this year and weve got some veterans reminding the young guys who havent been there to take advantage of that chance.Florida starts a three-game, four-day swing through the New York metropolitan area on Saturday, with road games against the Rangers, Islanders and Devils. The Rangers are the team that was immediately atop Florida in the standings entering Friday, and the Islanders seem poised to grab one of the Easts best playoff seeds.It might be a critical stretch, but the road hasnt been unkind of Florida of late. The Panthers have emerged with 13 of a possible 20 standings points in their last 10 road games.This is a huge road trip, Luongo said.Floridas playoff history — or lack thereof — is well-known. The team hasnt won a playoff series since its run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, and has reached the post-season just once since 2000.Nonetheless, theres still confidence inside the Panthers locker room.And if nothing else, at this time of year, that represents some progress.Its such an important time of the season right now, said Sean Bergenheim, who had the gamewinner on Thursday on a play where he was simultaneously taking a high stick to his face. Its a good feeling but were learning at the same time. We havent played the way we have to play in a lot of games lately to be a successful team. But youve got to believe. And we do. ' ' '