TORONTO – Melky Cabrera can play to pain tolerance through the irritation in his right quadriceps and left hamstring revealed by an MRI Wednesday, and the Toronto Blue Jays intend to keep their outfielder a part of the everyday lineup.
Manager John Gibbons said he’s likely to use Cabrera as a designated hitter against left-handed starters – slotting in Emilio Bonifacio or, when healthy, Rajai Davis into left – but will continue to use him in the field against right-handers in order to keep DH Adam Lind in the batting order, too.
“We want both their bats in there, we need both their bats in there, that’s the way it’s set up,” said Gibbons. “We’ll just see how it goes. Late in the game we might sub for him out there depending on the score, that type of thing.”
Cabrera has been fighting through leg issues since spring training, although his running has deteriorated at an alarming rate in recent weeks, plodding around the basepaths and lumbering through left field.
Lind has played left field in the past, although not since 2010, but GM Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday switching him back wasn’t being considered.
Instead, the Blue Jays will hope off-days Monday and Thursday this “help him a little bit,” and that the Rogers Centre’s artificial turf doesn’t make matters worse.
“I don’t think there’s a difference,” Gibbons said of natural grass versus turf, “he just hasn’t been moving real well.”
Reliever Sergio Santos, meanwhile, had the surgery to shave down bone spurs and remove loose bodies from his elbow scheduled for Thursday. He’s expected to miss six weeks.
