TORONTO — Dustin Pedroia isn’t back with the Red Sox yet. But soon he will be only 46 miles away.

Manager Alex Cora said there was a “good chance’’ Pedroia would be added to the roster of Triple A Pawtucket on Monday or Tuesday. The only hurdle is getting clearance from the medical staff in Boston this weekend.

Once Pedroia plays in a minor league game, his 20-day rehabilitation assignment would start.

Pedroia had seven at-bats Friday in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers, Fla. He faced two major league pitchers also coming back from injuries, righthander Austin Maddox and lefthander Tommy Layne.

“The result didn’t matter. He felt good,’’ Cora said before the Red Sox played the Toronto Blue Jays Friday. “It’s about that time to let him start playing underneath the lights.’’

Pedroia has been on the disabled list all season recovering from what was extensive surgery on his left knee in October. Pedroia had a cartilage restoration procedure and microfracture surgery on his tibia.

Cora spoke to Pedroia on Thursday and found him in good spirits.

“He feels that he’s getting closer,’’ Cora said. “All the soreness from [extended] spring training is almost gone. That’s a good sign. We feel comfortable with him starting to play next week.’’

Pedroia had a large number of at-bats in Florida. Now he has to show he can bounce back and play second base on consecutive days.

“It’s about building stamina,’’ Cora said. “I’m excited that he’s going to start playing baseball.’’

Thornburg pitches in

In the parlance of pitching coach Dana LeVangie, righthanded reliever Tyler Thornburg threw a “very aggressive’’ bullpen session at Rogers Centre before the game.

Thornburg faced five batters and threw 24 pitches for Double A Portland on Thursday night then traveled to Toronto on Friday afternoon. The Sox wanted to see how he responded to essentially pitching on back-to-back days.

“The fact he was able to throw that bullpen is a good sign,’’ Cora said.

Thornburg is on a minor league rehabilitation assignment as he returns from shoulder surgery. His fastball velocity has returned to pre-surgery levels but not yet the command of his curveball.

Thornburg has appeared in five games for Pawtucket and Portland. He has six strikeouts over 4⅓ innings but also put eight runners on base and has thrown two wild pitches.

For now, the Sox are not concerned with results.

“It’s too early for that,’’ Cora said. “The fact that the velocity is still there [and] he’s maintaining the velocity is a good sign.’’

Thornburg will stay with the Red Sox over the weekend then join up with Pawtucket and pitch on Monday and Tuesday. His rehab assignment could go through May 29.

Learning experience

Eduardo Rodriguez was working on a one-hit shutout of the Yankees on Thursday night when the game was delayed by rain for 55 minutes.

“That was the first time for me,’’ said Rodriguez, who had completed four innings. “I wasn’t sure what to do.’’

Rodriguez sought the advice of his fellow starters and kept throwing in the batting cage next to the visitor’s clubhouse at Yankee Stadium. It was nothing strenuous, but enough to keep his arm warm.

When the game resumed, Rodriguez pitched a perfect fifth inning. He finished with eight strikeouts over five innings with three walks. Rodriguez acknowledged that the two walks he issued to Aaron Judge were on purpose to get to lefthanded-hitting Didi Gregorius.

“That was the best I’ve felt all season,’’ said Rodriguez, who did not get a decision in a 5-4 victory. “I commanded all my pitches. I wish I could have gone longer.’’

Cora said the rain delay throwing essentially counted as an inning for Rodriguez, so he halted his outing after 93 pitches.

Rodriguez has a 2.70 earned run average in 10 career starts against the Yankees — 2.25 in six starts at Yankee Stadium.

“Something about pitching against them gets me going,’’ Rodriguez said.

Stroman out

Righthander Marcus Stroman, who was scheduled to start Sunday, was placed on the disabled list by the Blue Jays. Officially, it was because of shoulder fatigue. But there seems to be more than that with Stroman, who is 0-5 with a 7.71 ERA.

“Just a collective decision between me and the staff, to take a step back, do what I need to do for my shoulder, get my emotions and everything in synch, to get back to myself,’’ he told Toronto reporters. “I ­haven’t been myself out there at all.’’

Toronto recalled righthander Joe Biagini from Triple A Buffalo and he is expected to start in place of Stroman. Biagini has a 6.48 ERA in 15 career appearances against the Sox.

Toronto also optioned lefthander Tim Mayza and recalled righthander Sam Gaviglio.

Bench time

Slumping Jackie Bradley Jr. was on the bench for a third consecutive day. Cora plans to return him to the lineup Saturday. “We’ll see where it goes,’’ the manager said . . . Craig Kimbrel and Mitch Moreland are among the players who have been wearing T-shirts honoring Sean Glennon, the Yarmouth police office who was killed in the line of duty April 12 . . . With Tim Neverett off for a few days to attend his son’s graduation, NESN’s Tom Caron joined Joe Castiglione on the radio for the game.

They will work together Saturday, too, before Neverett returns Sunday.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.