Matt Stairs misses opening day due to back problem, could comeback Wednesday

[Halladay_is_God]

The Official Site of The Toronto Blue Jays: News: A little R&R: Stairs out one more day

NEW YORK -- The Blue Jays don't believe Matt Stairs will need to be placed on the disabled list. On Tuesday, Toronto manager John Gibbons kept the veteran outfielder out of the starting lineup against the Yankees, but that was simply to provide Stairs one more day of rest.

Gibbons added that Stairs, who has been nursing a sore left hip flexor, was available off the bench for Tuesday's season opener against New York and that there was "a very good chance" that the outfielder would play on Wednesday. All that adds up to Stairs likely avoiding a stint on the 15-day DL.

"He's OK," Gibbons said. "We're going to stick with what we were doing [on Monday] and give him one more day. If we need him we'll use him [we can], but we'd like to stay away from that one more time."

The 40-year-old Stairs hasn't appeared in a big league game since March 23 and he hasn't had an at-bat in a game since March 20 due to the hip soreness. Stairs, who said the source of the discomfort is the muscles surrounding the hip, hasn't had any problems when hitting -- only while running.

As was going to be the case for Monday's game, which was pushed back to Tuesday due to rain, outfielder Shannon Stewart was in the lineup as the No. 2 hitter and left fielder for the Blue Jays. The plan heading into this year was for Stairs, who hit .289 with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs in 125 games for Toronto last season, to platoon with Stewart in left.

As long as he doesn't go on the DL I think this will turn out well, no use rushing him. Power bat that was missed in the lineup and Stairs didn't take an At Bat during spring training so maybe he's not ready either.

Although the team is known for lying to the fans about injuries, so on the other hand Stairs might as well be out for the season.

[missionhockey21]

S3F will be holding a candlelight vigil and perform several human sacrifices to hurry along the recovery of Matthew Wade Stairs.

[Halladay_is_God]

sounds like Stairs is heading to the DL now

edit: spoke too soon, he's playing tonight

[missionhockey21]

edit: spoke too soon, he's playing tonight

Yes, it worked.

Thank you dark lord Zenu.