TORONTO -- I'm not at the ballpark today, but I just received word that both shorstops David Eckstein (strained right hip flexor) and John McDonald (sprained right ankle) have been placed on the 15-day disabled list. Neither infielder is seriously injured, but the Jays can keep running out two men short until they're completely recovered.

For the time being, the Jays have recalled Mighty Joe Inglett from Triple-A Syracuse. I'm told a subsequent move will be coming on Friday. There's been rumblings that the Jays have been scouring the market for a right-handed bat. Robinzon Diaz would've been an option, but he's out 2-3 weeks with an ankle injury all his own.

I'll catch you all from Cleveland tomorrow.

TORONTO -- One day after Jays shortstops David Eckstein and John McDonald both left a game with injuries, the pair showed just how scrappy they really are. Neither Eckstein nor McDonald were placed on the disabled list.

McDonald, who was on crutches as recent as this morning after spraining his right ankle, was walking around fine before the game and even hit some baseballs off a tee. Eckstein was at a local hospital undergoing an MRI on his strained hip flexor, but was potentially available for Wednesday's game.

"The way Johnny Mac went down, I thought a sniper got him from the fifth deck," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi joked. "Today, they're better than I thought. The powers of modern medicine."

Just in case, the Jays promoted shortstop Jorge Velandia from Triple-A Syracuse, though Marco Scutaro will man short until either Eckstein or McDonald are ready to come back. Ricciardi said the Jays would wait until Thursday to determine whether or not Johnny Mac would need a trip to the DL.

"Going on the DL is the last thing I want," McDonald said. "The more minutes and hours that J.P. and [manager John Gibbons] will give me to get healthy and get back on the field I'll take. But I understand that they've got a lot of other things to think about besides my health."

To clear room on the active roster for Velandia, the Jays optioned Adam Lind back to Triple-A Syracuse, where he can get regular playing time. Lind -- 1-for-19 with Toronto -- was receiving little action since Shannon Stewart was named the regular left fielder. No need to clear room on the 40-man, since Frank Thomas' dismissal left the roster at 39.

Today's lineups:

TAMPA BAY (17-15) at TORONTO (16-18)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre

RAYS
Akinori Iwamura, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
B.J. Upton, CF
Carlos Pena, 1B
Evan Longoria, 3B
Eric Hinske, DH
Dioner Navarro, C
Gabe Gross, RF
Jason Bartlett, SS

PITCHING: RHP Matt Garza

JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Shannon Stewart, LF
Scott Rolen, 3B
Matt Stairs, DH
Vernon Wells, CF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Rod Barajas, C
Marco Scuatro, SS

PITCHING: RHP Shaun Marcum

TORONTO -- It's amazing! The Blue Jays have rolled out an identical lineup for the second game in a row. That makes this lineup the second-most used order of the season -- tied with two other variations. Consider that, of the 28 different lineups used, the one that's been used the most has only been penned four times.

"I don't know how many more times I can change it, to be honest with you," Gibbons joked.

On a different note, the barking that was coming from the White Sox side in the ninth inning last night apparently was Chicago trying to get the umpires to follow ump Bruce Dreckman's lead, calling a balk on B.J. Ryan. Dreckman called a balk on Ryan in Boston in the ninth on Thursday, nearly costing Toronto a win.

Gibbons believes that, ever since Dreckman made that call, ruling that Ryan didnt come set in his delivery, other teams may be watching the lefty a little more closely.

"Oh yeah. I'm sure theyre looking for it now. Definitely," Gibbons said. "I think that's what [the Sox] were screaming about yesterday, is that right? I still don't think the umpire would call that with the game on the line and the closer in the game. Those teams may be looking for it, but if they didn't do it yesterday, I have a hard time believing they'll do it."

The bottom line is Ryan has pitched this way his whole career. He's consistent with his delivery and calling him on it now is a little ridicilous. A balk is an intentional attempt to deceive and when Ryan does the same thing on every pitch, I hardly think it can really be throwing too many hitters or baserunners off.

But I digress...

Talked to David Eckstein today and he gave us this reaction to the Jays decision to use John McDonald as a late-inning defensive replacement in close games:

"Everyone knows that feelings don't really matter in this scenario. The only thing that matters is going out there and winning games. That's the decision they made and, being a professional, you just have to go out there and keep trying to do your best."

So, whether of not Eckstein agrees with the decision is a moot point, because: "It doesn't matter. We're here to win games and that's the only thing that matters," he said.

Today's lineups:

TAMPA BAY (16-15) at TORONTO (16-17)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre

RAYS
Akinori Iwamura, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
B.J. Upton, CF
Carlos Pena, 1B
Evan Longoria, 3B
Eric Hinske, DH
Dioner Navarro, C
Gabe Gross, RF
Jason Bartlett, SS

PITCHING: RHP Andy Sonnanstine

JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Shannon Stewart, LF
Scott Rolen, 3B
Matt Stairs, DH
Vernon Wells, CF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Gregg Zaun, C
David Eckstein, SS

PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett

THIS JUST IN: Mike Wilner of The Fan 590 has just confirmed that "Hangin' Tough" by the New Kids on the Block, which was blaring out of the Roger Centre's sound system while A.J. Burnett warmed up, was in fact requested by Mr. Burnett. Amazing. Or not...

TORONTO -- Oh the sights you'll see when running along the Toronto lakefront. Beautiful day out today, so I got in a cool five miles and stopped to say hello to Alan Ashby and his wife, waved as I jogged by Roy Halladay and strength and conditioning coach Donovan Santas and said hi to Marty Pevey later on when I was walking my dog.

Over at the ballyard, the Jays ran out yet another lineup. (See what I did there? Sticking with the running theme?) The cool new thing to do is to move Shannon Stewart into the No. 2 hole and slide Master of Grit David Eckstein to the No. 9 spot. That makes, ready for it? 28 different lineup in 33 games. That's an 85-percent new lineup rate.

"It's just a different look," Jays skip John Gibbons said. "We've tinkered here and there to try some different things. We'll just try this and see how this works."

Gibby said he'd try this lineup for a few days to see if it amounts to anything. He believes getting Stewart in the mix on a more regular basis can help get his bat going. Gibbons added that "it's too early" to be thinking this switch means Adam Lind (1-for-19 since being called up) might have a trip back to Triple-A in store.

There's been a whole heckuva lot of lineups used, but there have been factors involved -- this isn't just Gibby flip-flopping John Kerry style. Consider that the Jays once employed a guy named Frank Thomas, shuffling people in and out of DH since he was released. Scott Rolen was injured and Toronto mixed and matched at third until he came back.

Once upon a time there was a platoon in left field...so there's been things forcing Gibbons' hand some. Not to mention the offense's struggles, leading Gibbons to switch things up to try to find some sort of consistency. So 28 out of 33 is high, no doubt, but it's not really too surprising when you think about it.

In other news -- I hate that segue -- Gibbons said that the Jays can now use B.J. Ryan in consecutive games. You probably won't see him in three games in a row yet and you won't see him used in multi-inning saves this year, but this is good news for the Jays. No more closer by committee every other day.

Today's lineups:

CHICAGO (14-15) at TORONTO (15-17)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre

WHITE SOX
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Carlos Quentin, LF
Jim Thome, DH
Paul Konerko, 1B
Jermaine Dye, RF
Nick Swisher, CF
*Pablo Ozuna, 3B
Juan Uribe, 2B
Toby Hall, C

PITCHING: RHP Javier Vazquez

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Shannon Stewart, LF
Scott Rolen, 3B
Matt Stairs, DH
Vernon Wells, CF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Gregg Zaun, C
David Eckstein, SS

PITCHING: RHP Dustin McGowan

*Sox 3B Joe Crede scratched with a migraine

TORONTO -- All that preseason complaining by fans about how the Blue Jays needed a lefty in their rotation and, as it turns out, Toronto already has one. Sitting in the dugout this morning, watching Jesse Litsch signing autographs...with his left hand.

Turns out Litsch does everything left handed except pitch. When asked about his amphibious nature -- as Yogi Berra would call it -- Litsch just smiled and shrugged. He said when he was a kid, he picked up a pencil with his left hand and a baseball with his right. That's just the way it's always been.

Speaking of Litsch's right hand, his outing last night marked the 17th quality start by the Jays rotation this year and the ninth in a row. The 17 QS rank second in the American League. Since April 26, the Jays' pitchers have held batters to a .164 average and posted a 1.17 ERA -- tops in the league in both categories.

Not much else going on, so without further adieu, here are...

Today's lineups:

CHICAGO (14-14) at TORONTO (14-17)
at 1:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre

WHITE SOX
Nick Swisher, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Jim Thome, DH
Paul Konerko, 1B
Jermaine Dye, RF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Carlos Quentin, LF
Joe Crede, 3B
Pablo Ozuna, 2B

PITCHING: RHP Jose Contreras

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
David Eckstein, SS
Scott Rolen, 3B
Matt Stairs, DH
Vernon Wells, CF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Adam Lind, LF
Gregg Zaun, C

PITCHING: RHP Roy Halladay

TORONTO -- Back at the ballyard after a lovely day off, though part of me wishes I was on hand for that gem by Shaun Marcum that lasted only 2 hours and 10 minutes. That kind of outing is a sportswriter's dream.

Not much going on here today. A scheduled day off for Third Base Jesus: Scott Rolen (little shout out to the boys of Tao there). Jays skipper John Gibbons discussed such a day off for TBJ a few days ago, so it's no surprise.

Gibbons said he hasn't been surprised by Rolen's hot start at the plate, but the third baseman has impressed the manager with his strong play in the field. Specifically, Rolen has impressed with his throwing, considering he's coming back from that gruesome right middle finger injury.

"It's still hanging there," quipped Gibbons, joking about Rolen's once-mangled digit.

STAT OF THE DAY: Since May 13, 2007, Shaun Marcum ranks second in the American League with a .230 opponents' batting average. Since joining the Jays' rotation last year, Marcum has gone 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA. That's good enough for a .700 winning percentage, the third-best mark in the AL in that time period.

Today's lineups:

CHICAGO (14-13) at TORONTO (13-17)
at 1:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre

WHITE SOX
Nick Swisher, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Jim Thome, DH
Paul Konerko, 1B
Jermaine Dye, RF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Carlos Quentin, LF
Joe Crede, 3B
Pablo Ozuna, 2B

PITCHING: RHP John Danks

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
David Eckstein, SS
Aaron Hill, 2B
Vernon Wells, CF
Matt Stairs, DH
Shannon Stewart, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Rod Barajas, C
Marco Scutaro, 3B

PITCHING: RHP Jesse Litsch

BOSTON -- That was the response from Blue Jays manager John Gibbons this afternoon, when asked how happy he was to be beyond the season's first month. Here's a quick glance at the April that was:

• Went 11-17 in April, marking the club's first losing April since it went 7-15 in '04
• Finished April in fifth place in the East, the first time that's happened since '04
• Own a .423 winning percentage since 2002 in March/April, the third worst mark in the AL
• Rank 14th in the AL with a .211 average with runners in scoring position, the worst such mark in club history for the opening month
• Boast a .250 team average for April (12th in the AL), lowest in April by the Jays since 1998
• With a loss on Thursday, the Jays' 1-8 record on their current trip would represent the worst road trip of more than six games in team history
• Played 10 one-run games in April, tied for the most in the AL. Went 2-8 in those games.

Here's hoping May goes a little better for the Blue Jays. One area the team did do well was pitching, posting a 3.75 ERA as a staff in April. That ERA is the best in April by the Jays since 2001.

Some minor items today: Gibbons stacked the lineup with right-handers to face Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Marco Scutaro was at first base and Shannon Stewart in left. The only lefty in the lineup was Matt Stairs, but the way he's hitting lately, you can't keep him out.

Gibby also noted that he plans on using the DH spot to help slide guys in and out to provide days off every now and then ("I think it helps the team."). You might see that this weekend with Scott Rolen, though Gibbons noted he may just give Rolen a complete day off. "I'm not going to kill him right out of the gates," Gibbons said.

Today's lineups:

TORONTO (11-17) at BOSTON (17-12)
at 7:05 p.m. ET at Fenway Park

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
David Eckstein, SS
Scott Rolen, 3B
Matt Stairs, DH
Vernon Wells, CF
Aaron Hill, 2B
Shannon Stewart, LF
Rod Barajas, C
Marco Scutaro, 1B

PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett

RED SOX
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Brandon Moss, RF
Coco Crisp, CF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Kevin Cash, C

PITCHING: RHP Tim Wakefield

BOSTON -- Beautiful day here in Boston. Enjoyed a nice five-mile run along the lovely Charles River this morning and a pleasant walk to the Fens this afternoon. I've received a handful of e-mail inquiries about the sudden use of mouthguards by Blue Jays pitchers Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum. Talked to Marcum today -- he's feeling much better after a bad bout with the flu -- and he said it began in Spring Training.

A representative from somewhere in Canada visited Toronto's spring site and explained that wearing a mouthguard can help align the jaw and also create added flexibility and range of motion. So, the M&M boys decided it was worth a shot and started wearing the mouthguards during their starts.

STAT OF THE DAY: Since 2002, Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay has thrown more complete games (32) than any other Major League pitcher and more than eight big-league teams have as a whole. Since '02, the Dodgers (31), Phillies (31), Rays (30), Red Sox (29), Mets (29), Reds (28), Braves (26) and Pirates (23) have had fewer CGs than the good doctor.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Do you see a lack of effort? So you see anybody loafing? That's when you run into trouble. The effort's there. The effort has always been there. You get into trouble when you start pointing fingers. Things can go from bad to worse in a hurry that way." --Jays manager John Gibbons, on his team's recent struggles

RYAN UPDATE: Gibbons noted that closer B.J. Ryan might be able to be used on consecutive days "in the next couple weeks." Ryan, who is currenly only permitted to throw every other day, will need to pass the one-year anniversary (May 10) of his left-elbow Tommy John surgery before being considered in back-to-back games.

Today's lineups:

BOSTON -- During the Blue Jays' off-day on Monday, manager John Gibbons took some time to head about a half-hour north of Boston to visit with his 96-year-old grandmother, Mary Boyson. Knowing her grandson's team just endured a rough six-game losing streak, Boyson got right to the point.

"She's still pretty sharp," Gibbons said with a smile. "She said, 'What the hell's going wrong with your team?' I said, 'Good question.' She said, 'Are you going to get fired?' I said, 'That's another good question.' I didn't expect her to hammer me. I thought she might give me a hug or something."

Gibbons is a Texan through and through, but he does have a little Boston blood flowing through his veins. Both of Gibbons' parents lived in Beverly -- not too far from the hub of Red Sox Nation. It just so happens that Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi -- a Minor League roomie of Gibby's in their days in the Mets farm system -- also lives in Worcester, Mass.

"New England blood, man. I don't tell anybody that, though," Gibbons joked. "That's the only reason J.P. hired me."

Gibby also joked that Grandma Boyson advised him to shake up his lineup, which featured David Eckstein in the No. 2 hole and Aaron Hill bumped to the No. 5 hole for the opener in Boston. IF there's a series opener tonight, that is. It's drizzling and the tarp's on the field about an hour before game time here, but the forecast would seem to indicate that they'll get this game in.

The cramped visitor's clubhouse is not the place a team battling a nasty flu bug would want to be and Toronto sent another victim back to the team hotel today. Shaun Marcum  -- scheduled to start on Friday at home against Chicago -- is the latest to fall prey to the contagious bug.

Gibbons also noted that left-handed reliever Scott Downs was available out of the bullpen on Tuesday, if needed. Downs has been battling some minor soreness in his throwing shoulder for the past few days, but Gibbons said the pitcher was feeling better. A trip to the disabled list doesn't appear to be on the horizon.

On another note, I just finished reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road and I would advise others to do the same. It was a fantastic read and a book I struggled to put down until I was finished. I picked it up after thoroughly enjoying McCarthy's No Country for Old Men, which reads like a screenplay for the film. I've since moved on to Scott Smith's The Ruins and blazed through half the novel yesterday, thanks to lengthy delays at the airport.

Anyway, here are...

Today's lineups:

TORONTO -- I'm off for the next few days, handing off the Blue Jays' beat duties to a fill-in down in Kansas City. After that lousy display of baseball in Orlando, I don't mind having a few days off, though I am looking forward to seeing Scott Rolen finally in Toronto's lineup.

I'll be back on the road when the Jays head to Boston and I'll pick up the blogging from there. I have a hunch that Adam Lind will have returned well before then, maybe even tonight in K.C. We'll see. Anyway, I'm about to head out for dinner -- just didn't want you guys wondering where the pregame bloggage was.

One thing before I sign off, though: Someone in the last post commented with a question about my doing a live in-game Q&A last season. I'll probably do one or two of these this year, depending on my schedule. I'll post well in advance when I plan on doing this so you all can be sure to hop on and dish questions.

Catch you all from Beantown. Stay tuned for more...