One thing that Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston has always done is be upfront and honest with his players, especially when it comes to lineup decisions. Gaston will always talk to his players first and then make a move, and this is something they respect.

I bring this up because Cito had a chat with center fielder Vernon Wells on Wednesday to tell him that the lineup was going to see some changes. The struggling Wells was going to have a day off and then he was going to be pushed down to the lower portion of the lineup.

"He just said some changes are going to be made," Wells said on Wednesday. "He's always been straight-up and forward with me. That's something that he's been since Day 1. He's called us in his office and told us how he's felt about different things. It's been an open relationship."

Here at the new Yankee Stadium today, Wells was in the sixth spot for the opener of a four-game all-afternoon set against the Bronx Bombers. Until Wells starts to come around, this is likely where he'll remain -- the same for Alex Rios in the seven hole. Eventually, Wells and Rios could return to the heart of the order. That's up to them.

"Players do write up the lineup," Gaston said. "If he starts to swing the bat well, I'll get him back up that way. You always like to have your speed up there at the top if you can. Hopefully, this will take a little of the pressure off of him and he can just be a little bit more loose and go out and start swinging the bat like he's capable of doing."

Closer Scott Downs threw in the bullpen prior to today's game, testing that pesky sprained big toe on his left foot. Downs said recently that he would love to be activated from the DL this weekend -- he's now eligible. Said Gaston: "I doubt if it'll be here, but who knows? ... We'd love to get him back as soon as we can." A lot will depend on how Downs feels on Saturday.

Prior to the game, the Blue Jays also announced that Russ Adams had been designated for assignment and David Dellucci's contract had been purchased from Triple-A Las Vegas. Dellucci will play left field and some DH and Cito is hoping he can add some pop from the left side to Toronto's lineup. Check bluejays.com later for more on Dellucci.

Today's lineups:

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (42-38)
Fourth place AL East, 7.0 GB

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Adam Lind, DH
4. Scott Rolen, 3B
5. Lyle Overbay, 1B
6. Vernon Wells, CF
7. Alex Rios, RF
8. David Dellucci, LF
9. Raul Chavez, C

Starter: LHP Brian Tallet (5-5, 4.47)

  NEW YORK YANKEES (45-33)
Second place AL East, 3.0 GB

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Robinson Cano, 2B
6. Nick Swisher, RF
7. Hideki Matsui, DH
8. Francisco Cervelli, C
9. Brett Gardner, CF

Starter: RHP A.J. Burnett (6-4, 3.93)

The Blue Jays' lineup wasn't drastically different on Wednesday morning, but manager Cito Gaston did make some noticeable alterations to the local nine.

First and foremost, slumping center fielder Vernon Wells was out of the lineup, given a day off to "clear his head" as Cito put it. Come Friday in New York, Wells will be back in the lineup, Gaston just isn't sure where he'll be batting.

"I'll think about it," Gaston said. "Give me a couple days to think about it and I'll see what I can come up with."

We chatted some with Wells, who once again said he's as frustrated now as he has been at any point in his career. Asked if about potentially being dropped lower in the order by Gaston, Wells shrugged and had this to say:

"Unfortunately, I haven't given him a choice," Wells said. "If you swing the bat, you're going to be in the position where you're supposed to be. If you're not, you're going to be put in a different position. That's part of this game and that's something that, if you're moved, you've got to try to prove that you need to be back in that position.

"It puts it right back on your shoulders and you've got to go out and start swinging the bat better and get back to where you're used to."

Gaston also shifted left fielder Adam Lind to the third spot of the order -- a place previously occupied first by Alex Rios and then by Wells. Rios has struggled and is now batting seventh. Wells will likely be batting fifth or sixth when the Jays open a four-game set against the Yankees on Friday.

"You wouldn't want him hitting ninth or anything like that," Gaston said. "I think you have to put him somewhere that certainly he's not embarrassed or you just put him so low that he's not getting enough at-bats either. He's a guy that we need. We need him to hit."

Going forward, Gaston said that Lind will continue to bat third for the Jays. Shortstop Marco Scutaro and second baseman Aaron Hill won't be moved out of the Nos. 1-2 spots any time soon, and third baseman Scott Rolen has performed well as the cleanup hitter. Everthing else is up for debate right now.

Today's lineups:

TAMPA BAY RAYS (44-35)
Third place AL East, 4.0 GB

1. B.J. Upton, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Ben Zobrist, 2B
6. Pat Burrell, DH
7. Jason Bartlett, SS
8. Gabe Kapler, RF
9. Michel Hernandez, C

Starter: RHP James Shields (6-5, 3.41)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (41-38)
Fourth place AL East, 7.0 GB

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Adam Lind, LF
4. Scott Rolen, 3B
5. Lyle Overbay, 1B
6. Kevin Millar, DG
7. Alex Rios, RF
8. Rod Barajas, C
9. Jose Bautista, RF

Starter: LHP Ricky Romero (5-3, 3.20)

Don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter: @MLBastian

~JB

As manager Cito Gaston promised, right fielder Alex Rios was back in the Blue Jays' starting lineup for Tuesday's tilt against Tampa Bay. For the second time in the past week, Gaston slid Rios down into the seventh spot of the batting order.

Gaston was asked if, at the beginning of the season, someone told him Rios would be hitting seventh before the All-Star break, what would the manager's reaction be?

"I wouldve thought that'd be bad," Gaston replied. "It's someone that we really need to step up and play well. I would've thought, 'Hey, that's not good.' We still need him to step up and play well and hopefully he will before it's all over."

Overall, Rios entered Tuesday batting .263 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs through 76 games for the Blue Jays this season. He opened the year as Toronto's No. 3 hitter for 61 games before being moved down to the sixth hole for 14 contests. Over his last eight games, Rios has hit just .188.

Gaston still believes the talent is in there.

"He has as much as anyone on this ballclub," Gaston said. "He's probably as strong as anybody on this ballclub. He has a lot of talent. It's just putting it all together."

That's been the story year in and year out with Rios. Loads of potential, flashes of his raw ability in spurts, but prolonged slumps during which he can look completely lost at the plate. As he has stated numerous times before, Gaston said he believes timing is the root of Rios' issues at the plate.

"I still believe a lot of times he's not ready," Gaston said. "I say this all the time, guys when they don't hit well they just don't get ready in time. Also, you have to have an approach up there, too. You can't hit every pitch that they throw up there. You've got to have a plan about what you want to do.

"Alex has got to take a plan up to the plate with him, whether he's going to hit a fastball or he's going to hit a breaking ball. Start looking for some of those pitches."

OTHER ITEMS: On Tuesday, closer Scott Downs (sprained toe on his left foot) threw off a mound in a bullpen session for the first time since injurying his foot on June 16. Downs said the session went well, and the injury hasn't negatively affected his mechanics, but he has yet to test his foot with running. That step will come in he next few days. Downs said he hopes to be ready to return during the coming road trip, maybe even as early as Friday, when he's eligible to be activated. Gaston said the club might be more cautious, possibly giving Downs until after the All-Star break. ... Catcher Rod Barajas, who has been dealing with a sore right hamstring, was out of the lineup on Tuesday. Gaston said Barajas and catcher Raul Chavez will alternate starts for the time being. ... Jays draft pick Jake Eliopoulos (68th overall) from nearby Newmarket, Ontario, visited Rogers Centre and threw in the bullpen on Tuesday. He remains unsigned. ... If you have any Jays questions, send them with your name and hometown to bluejaysmailbag@gmail.com. Thinking of rolling out a mailbag on Thursday, if I get enough quality Q's from the fanbase.

Today's lineups:

TAMPA BAY RAYS (43-35)
Third place AL East, 5.0 GB

1. B.J. Upton, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Willy Aybar, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Ben Zobrist, 2B
6. Pat Burrell, DH
7. Gabe Gross, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Dioner Navarro, C

Starter: RHP Matt Garza (5-5, 3.61)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (41-37)
Fourth place AL East, 7.0 GB

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Vernon Wells, CF
4. Scott Rolen, 3B
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Alex Rios, RF
8. Russ Adams, LF
9. Raul Chavez, C

Starter: RHP Scott Richmond (6-4, 3.68)

Don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter: @MLBastian

~JB

Calling all Jays fans,

I'm thinking about rolling out an Inbox -- formerly known as the mailbag -- for bluejays.com on Thursday. The only problem is I am lacking a pile of good recent questions from fans. So please, if you have any questions and want to possibly be included in the Inbox, send them my way with your name and hometown.

Send all Q's to bluejaysmailbag@gmail.com.

Thanks.

~JB

It's just a "day off" for Alex Rios, says manager Cito Gaston. Nothing more to it than that -- just a way to get Jose Bautista "a few at-bats." Maybe so, but there is no arguing that it is a well-timed day off for Rios, who has been frustratingly streaky this season.

Rios, whose last day off came on May 26, has hit a paltry .188 with no homers and four RBIs over his last eight games. That comes after a 13-game stretch during which he batted .321 with two homers and seven RBIs for the Jays.

Asked what he's been seeing at the plate from Rios, Gaston stuck to his usual explanation.

"I say it all the time," Gaston said. "When guys are in slumps, they just don't start on time. They're just late. They don't get it started. It just boils down to timing -- that's all."

DOWNS WATCH: Spoke briefly with Jays injured closer Scott Downs this afternoon, between his moving the "No Media Beyond This Point" sign and finding the "Red Bull spot" for his can in the dugout routine. Downs (DL'd with a sprained toe on his left foot) said his foot feels "the best it's ever felt" and he plans on testing it out a mound and during some fielding drills on Tuesday. He's eligible to come off the DL for the Jays upcoming series in New York. Not sure if he'll be ready by then.

ROD READY: Catcher Rod Barajas (sore right hamstring) convinced the Jays to change their lineup on Monday with some successful baserunning prior to the game against the Rays. Barajas has avoided the DL and is back behind the plate. Gaston admitted that having Doc Halladay on the mound Monday played a role in starting Barajas. The catcher has been behind the dish for each of Doc's 14 starts this season, and the ace has gone 10-1 with a 2.53 ERA. Why mess with a good thing?

HOME RUN HILL: Chatted some with Jays second baseman Aaron Hill this afternoon about where all the power is coming from. He talked about his swing mechanics and also noted that his bat is 1.5 ounces heavier this year. Check bluejays.com later tonight or tomorrow morning for more. ... A good story he also shared: Hill set his high school's record for homers with nine back in 2000 at Redwood High in Visalia, Calif. Earlier this season, Redwood player Blake Proctor broke Hill's mark. Hill found out from one of his old teammates, Redwood coach Mario Celillo, and decided to call Proctor to congratulate him. Nice move. Just another reason to like this Aaron Hill fellow.

I never got a call when I broke my high school's record for being hit by the pitch. No love.

TOUGH STRETCH: After bolting out of the gates this season, the Blue Jays have fallen back to earth. The Red Sox, Yankees and Rays are all now ahead of the Jays in the American League East standings, and Toronto's next 16 games (10 on the road) are all against division rivals.

Said Gaston: "We've got all East coming up. All these games are important games for us -- right up until the All-Star game. We play these guys three, we go to New York for four and then we go down there [to Tampa Bay] and over to Baltimore. I say all the time, you better take your best game to Baltimore, too. They're not just going to lay down and let you beat on them. They've got a good-hitting ballclub over there. All these games, it's important that we go out and play well and see if we can win some of these games."

Today's lineups:

TAMPA BAY RAYS (42-35)
Third place AL East, 5.0 GB

1. B.J. Upton, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Willy Aybar, 2B
6. Pat Burrell, DH
7. Gabe Gross, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Dioner Navarro, C

Starter: RHP Jeff Niemann (6-4, 4.23)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (41-36)
Fourth place AL East, 6.0 GB

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Vernon Wells, CF
4. Scott Rolen, 3B
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Jose Bautista, RF
8. Russ Adams, LF
9. Rod Barajas, C

Starter: RHP Roy Halladay (10-1, 2.53)

Don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter: @MLBastian

~JB

Funny story. So, you know how the Blue Jays announced that Rod Barajas was going to be placed on the disabled list last night? Yeah, well, see, it turns out that Rod felt much better this morning, so Toronto went ahead and pulled the plug on that move.

So all that stuff about Kyle Phillips being called up from Triple-A and Shaun Marcum being moved to the 60-day DL to clear room on the roster? Yeah, just kidding. That's all voided. The Jays never filed the paperwork with the league, so the roster remains as is.

Raul Chavez will serve as the starter behind the plate for now and Barajas is available, if needed. If the strained right hammy continues to act up, the Jays will then place him on the DL. For now, he's day-to-day and the club is in a wait-and-see mode.

Phillips did catch a flight from Las Vegas and I'm guessing the team will have him hang out in Toronto for a few days while the club sees how Barajas recovers. Hopefully Phillips can at least get some air miles out of all of this.

In other news, Johnny Mac is in the lineup! Starting at third base in order to give Scott Rolen a day off. It's McDonald's first start at third since April 20 of last season, when Rolen was on the DL.

FROM THE WOW DEPT: In the first inning on Saturday afternoon, Jayson Werth sent a 2-2 offering from rookie lefty Brad Mills to the first row of the 500 level seats high above left field. That's the first 500-level bomb I've seen since covering this team. The last came on Sept. 16, 2004, when Vernon Wells sent one up there.

Today's lineups:

PHILADELPHIA (37-34)
First place NL East, 0.0 GB

1. Shane Victorino, CF
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry, LF
6. Pedro Feliz, 3B
7. Chris Coste, DH
8. Eric Bruntlett, SS
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Starter: LHP J.A. Happ (4-0, 3.47)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (41-34)
Third place AL East, 5.0 GB

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Vernon Wells, CF
4. Kevin Millar, 1B
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Alex Rios, RF
7. Jose Bautista, LF
8. Raul Chavez, C
9. John McDonald, 3B

Starter: LHP Brad Mills (0-1, 9.82)

Don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter: @MLBastian

~JB

Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas left Friday night's game against the Phillies in the second inning with a strained right hamstring and was placed on the 15-day disabled list following Toronto's 6-1 win.

With Barajas sidelined, the Jays selected the contract of catcher Kyle Phillips from Triple-A Las Vegas. To clear room on the 40-man roster for Phillips, Toronto transferred injured starter Shaun Marcum (right elbow) to the 60-day DL.

The Blue Jays will know more about the exent of Barajas' injury on Saturday.

With two outs, Barajas sent a 3-1 pitch from Phillies lefty Cole Hamels up the middle for a single. After reaching first base, Barajas called for time, walked off the bag and was quickly met by Jays manager Cito Gaston and head trainer George Poulis.

Barajas jogged a few steps down the right-field line before deciding to head back to the clubhouse with Poulis. Backup catcher Raul Chavez entered the game as a pinch runner and remained behing the plate for the Jays.

On Saturday, Barajas was given a day off against the Nationals during a night game in Washington. Gaston said the veteran catcher was dealing with a sore hamstring and was in need of some rest. Barajas played on Sunday and started in each of Toronto's three games against the Reds in Toronto earlier this week.

Barajas has appeared in 62 of the Blue Jays' 74 games this season, often receiving a day off on a day game following a night game. Entering Friday's game against Philadelphia, Barajas was hitting .263 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs.

The Blue Jays also had replacement options at Triple-A in veteran Michael Barrett and prospect J.P. Arencibia. Barrett is currently rehabbing from a right shoulder injury he suffered in April and needs more at-bats before returning to Toronto, according to general manager J.P. Ricciardi. Ricciardi added that Arencibia needs to continue playing every day with Vegas.

Barrett recently joined Vegas and has hit .308 in three games with Vegas after playing three games with Class A Dunedin. Arencibia is Toronto's top catching prospect, but has hit just .227 with eight homers and 37 RBIs in 64 games for Las Vegas.

In 51 games between stints with Double-A New Hampshire and Vegas this year, Phillips has hit .302 with four homers and 13 RBIs. Phillips, 25, is the younger brother of former big-league catcher Jason Phillips, who also played for the Blue Jays from 2006-07.

~JB

Praise the Baseball Gods Blue Jays fans, your prayers have been answered. The good doctor, Harry Leroy Halladay, is ready to rejoin Toronto's rotation. Come Monday, Doc will be toeing the rubber at the dome against those pesky Rays.

Halladay threw in a 50-plus pitch bullpen session today and worked through all of his pitches. Afterwards, Doc declared himself healthy and ready to go. He said that mild groin strain was "completely gone" and he didn't see why he wouldn't be able to activated from the 15-day disabled list for Monday's start.

Asked Halladay whether this injury might influence his decision to pitch in the All-Star Game, and he said it's too early to make a call on that. For what it's worth, Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said he won't hold Halladay back in any way if he's asked to pitch, or even start, in the ASG in St. Louis.

"I would never do that," Gaston said. "I think that it's quite an honor to be picked or play in an All-Star Game. It'll certainly be all up to Doc. If he didn't want to go, that would be his choice. It certainly wouldn't be mine. I can't see anyway that he's going to get around not going to the All-Star Game.

"If he wants to go pitch, let him go and pitch."

As for those wounded relievers, Gaston said Jeremy Accardo (groin) is ready to pitch again, but lefty Scott Downs (sprained toe on his left foot) has nothing new to report. Accardo threw off the mound prior to Friday's game and Downs threw in a long toss session on flat ground. There is still no established timetable for Downs' return, though.

In the clubhouse, the Michael Jackson (RIP) tunes were blaring this afternoon. Marco Scutaro easily had the best moves of the players, busting out some nice footwork and a few crotch grabs during "Beat It". Aaron Hill did part of the "Thriller" dance when that song came on. Quality entertainment.

Today's lineups:

PHILADELPHIA (37-33)
First place NL East, 0.0 GB

1. Shane Victorino, CF
2. Chase Utley, 2B
3. Jayson Werth, RF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry, LF
6. Pedro Feliz, 3B
7. Chris Coste, DH
8. Eric Bruntlett, SS
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Starter: LHP Cole Hamels (4-3, 4.24)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (40-34)
Third place AL East, 5.0 GB

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Vernon Wells, CF
4. Scott Rolen, 3B
5. Adam Lind, LF
6. Kevin Millar, 1B
7. Alex Rios, RF
8. Rod Barajas, C
9. Jose Bautista, LF

Starter: LHP Ricky Romero (4-3, 3.59)

Don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter: @MLBastian

~JB

It's funny how taking just two days off away from the team can leave a beat reporter feeling a bit lost. Sure, it's only been two days, but you walk in and you feel like you have no clue about what's been going on. Takes a minute or two to catch yourself up.

It was a lovely little break, though. Went on a belated anniversary dinner date with the Wife -- headed up to the 360 revolving restaurant at the top of the CN Tower and had a great time. But, now, it's back to the presbox and back to covering the Fightin' Jays.

The only real news item to emerge from today's relaxed pregame chat with manager Cito Gaston was that the team should know more about ace Roy Halladay's status on Friday. Doc is scheduled to throw in a bullpen session to test that sore groin, and the Jays will decide if he's able to start on Monday.

If Halladay isn't able to come off the disabled list for that outing, Scott Richmond would likely get the nod.

"Let's hope it's Doc -- nothing against Richmond," Gaston said.

In the bullpen, the Blue Jays are without the services of righty Jeremy Accardo for tonight's game -- another groin tweak. The team is giving him another day off to see if he'll be fine in time for this weekend, hoping that sending Accardo to the DL won't be necessary.

Today's lineups:

I am off for the next two days, so the Blue Jays beat will be in the hands of Erika Gilbert for the first two games of this Interleague set against the Reds at the Rogers Centre. The blog will be quiet until I return to the pressbox on Thursday. You can still follow my updates on Twitter. Find me under @MLBastian.

~JB