CLEVELAND - Right-hander Aaron Sanchez was optioned by the Toronto Blue Jays to single-A Dunedin on Sunday morning.

Left-handed reliever Aaron Loup recalled from triple-A Buffalo to take Sanchez's place on the Blue Jays roster.

Sanchez has had a career-best season, working as a starting pitcher for the first time in his three-year Major League career.

He has a 12-2 record with a 2.99 earned-run average and 132 strikeotus in 156.1 innings pitched.

The Blue Jays front office planned on keeping Sanchez to a hard innings cap at the start of the season to prevent long-term wear on his arm.

In early August Toronto changed course and opted for a six-man rotation after acquiring veteran left-hander Francisco Liriano in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.