CLEVELAND – At any other time, this could be a disaster.
But maybe, just maybe, the Blue Jays might be able to weather yet another setback, this one to Vernon Wells, who has been diagnosed with a broken left wrist.
Wells will be lost to the team from between six to eight weeks.
Wells, who had off-season shoulder surgery, injured himself diving to make a catch during Friday's 6-1 setback here against the Indians.
He also tweaked his right hamstring on the same play.
“That will be nice and healed by the time the wrist gets better,” Wells joked earlier today. “At least I'll be able to run, so that's good.”
The Jays have placed Wells on the 15-day disabled list along with reliever Jeremy Accardo, who is suffering from tightness in his right forearm.
Accardo, according to Toronto manager John Gibbons, has been battling arm soreness – off and one – all season, but nothing out of the ordinary.
After he pitched in Thursday's game, the pain was worse than normal and the Jays have told Accardo to shut it down for a couple of weeks just to be on the safe side.
Utility player Joe Inglett has been recalled – again – from Triple A Syracuse along with veteran reliever Armando Benitez.
During Wells' absence Alex Rios can expect most of the starts in centrefield. For tonight's game, newcomers Brad Wilkerson and Kevin Mench will get the start in right and left field, respectively.
After off-season shoulder surgery, Wells was having a decent season so far – leading the team with 24 runs batted in and five home runs.
But, along with the rest of the team, Wells' batting was no great shakes, his average the time of his injury .281.
His defence will be missed but Wilkerson and Mench can be counted on to pick up the slack in the outfield.
The timing is never great when one of your key players goes down.
But if the Blue Jays batters finally start to hit like they're supposed to the loss of Wells will be easier to swallow.
The lineups.
Blue Jays
1. Alex Rios, CF
2. Brad Wilkerson, RF
3. Scott Rolen, 3B
4. Kevin Mench, LF
5. Shannon Stewart, DH
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Marco Scutaro, SS
8. Gregg Zaun, C
9. Jorge Velandia, 2B
Pitcher: Dustin McGowan
Indians
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, 2B
3. David Dellucci, LF
4. Victor Martinez, C
5. Ben Francisco, RF
6. Travis Hafner, DH
7. Ryan Garko, 1B
8. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
9. Casey Blake, 3B
Pitcher: Aaron Laffey
