TORONTO — David Price spent nearly three months with the Toronto Blue Jays last season, his presence a huge factor in the team making its first playoff appearance since 1993.

But when the lefthander returns to the mound at Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon, there’s a good chance he’ll get booed. Signing a $217 million contract with the Red Sox will do that.

Back in December, even his good friend Marcus Stroman suggested Price should hear it from the fans.

“I think it’d be cool if they booed him,’’ Stroman told Rogers Sportsnet. “He’s on a division rival, you have to boo him. There’s no friends when it comes to competition.’’

Price hopes to be cheered at least once, but he’s not counting on it.

“I’m not worried about that. I want to focus on that lineup, go out there and get outs,’’ he said.

Fans who have encountered Price this weekend have all been friendly, not that he expected less.

“It’s never anybody to my face. Everybody has been really nice and it’s really appreciated,’’ he said.

No matter the reception, Price will long treasure his time in Toronto.

“It was awesome. When you play the type of baseball that we played for that amount of time, you’re going to have a lot of fun,’’ he said. “To do it here in Toronto and to have all these fans gravitate towards us . . . it definitely made it very special.’’

Price is 17-2 with a 2.42 earned run average in 22 career starts against the Jays. He faced them at Fenway Park on April 16 and allowed two runs over seven innings.

Ortiz, again

David Ortiz was 2 for 5 with a double and a home run in Saturday’s 10-9 loss. He is hitting .339 with 23 doubles, 13 homers, and 46 RBIs in 44 games this season.

In his last six games, Ortiz is 13 of 24 with 10 extra-base hits and 10 RBIs. He is on a pace to end the season with 43 homers, a major league-record 76 doubles, and 152 RBIs.

“I don’t know what else to say about him,’’ teammate Hanley Ramirez said. “He’s incredible.’’

Buchholz ready

A day after he was demoted to the bullpen, Clay Buchholz told the coaching staff he was available to pitch if needed. But the Sox aren’t going to factor him in until Sunday or Monday.

Buchholz threw 82 pitches in his start Thursday.

“He’s bounced back well and feels he’s ready to go,’’ manager John Farrell said.

Because of his inexperience pitching in relief, the Sox plan to use Buchholz only to start an inning and with ample time to warm up, at least at first.

“He understands the situation we’re in. He needs to go out and pitch and perform as he’s capable of. While he might not like the current situation, that’s where we are,’’ Farrell said.

Buchholz is still not willing to discuss his thoughts with the media, however. After declining comment Friday, Buchholz walked away from reporters again Saturday.

“I got [expletive] moved to the bullpen. You can write it down,’’ he said over his shoulder.

Workman progresses

Righthanded reliever Brandon Workman has pitched three times in extended spring training, going four innings. Those are significant first steps in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Farrell said the tentative plan was for Workman to start a rehabilitation assignment with Single A Lowell when their season opens June 17.

Workman, 27, was a key reliever for the Sox in 2013, pitching in seven postseason games, three in the World Series. Over 8? innings, he allowed one unearned run.

The Sox tried Workman as a starter in 2014, with poor results. Elbow issues landed him on the disabled list last season and he had surgery June 15.

Workman has been pitching on a five-day schedule in extended spring. The hope is his velocity and endurance will increase over time.

“How he throws and how the arm strength returns will indicate how we factor him in and what he’s going to be capable of,’’ Farrell said.

Workman said in March that his goal was to return to the majors in July or August.

Hanigan ready

Catcher Ryan Hanigan, who last played Wednesday, was available. He has been dealing with a strained neck and the aftereffects of an illness.

“I can play now,’’ Hanigan said before Saturday’s loss. “Hopefully I’ll be in there soon.’’

With Steven Wright starting Monday in Baltimore, Hanigan is likely to return then.

Saturday was the third consecutive game Christian Vazquez started and the ninth consecutive game he played over a span of 11 days. That’s by far the heaviest workload Vazquez has had since returning from Tommy John surgery.

“He’s come out of each game feeling strong and the recovery has been fine the next day,’’ Farrell said.

Brock Holt is making only “small’’ progress as he returns from a concussion. He is limited to conditioning work and has not yet started hitting.

Holt went on the concussion disabled list May 20.

Umpire leaves game

Home plate umpire Mike DiMuro left the game in the second inning after a foul ball hit him squarely in the mask. After being attended to by one of Toronto’s athletic trainers, DiMuro was escorted off the field. After a delay of about 10 minutes, Brian Gorman moved behind the plate and the game continued with three umpires . . . Dustin Pedroia’s double in the first inning gave him a 22-game hit streak against the Blue Jays. That started in 2014. The longest streak against Toronto was by Jerry Remy, who hit in 26 straight against the Jays from 1977-82 . . . Left fielder Blake Swihart was out of the lineup as Chris Young started against Stroman. Swihart is 3 of 19 since being recalled from Triple A Pawtucket and struck out three times Friday. “Blake’s kind of feeling for some things right now,’’ Farrell said . . . Toronto placed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps. Lefthanded reliever Aaron Loup was activated off the disabled list. Loup had been out all season with an elbow strain. Tulowitzki has hit .211 with a .685 OPS in 87 games for Toronto since being obtained from Colorado last July 28.

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