Jays’ lineup card will change frequently

TORONTO • The Toronto Blue Jays might consider coming up with a “Guess Today’s Starting Lineup” promotion for every home game. There may never be a winner.

For a number of reasons, Jays manager John Gibbons will be changing his lineup from day to day. For one, he has some veterans, like catcher Russell Martin, who are at an age (35) where they need regular days off. Gibbons figures to give Martin a day off from catching every third or fourth game and start Luke Maile.

Second baseman Devon Travis played in only 50 games last season because of a knee injury and the club wants to give him every third game off in an attempt to get him through the season in one piece. Gibbons is convinced that a healthy Travis can give the Jays a big boost offensively.

Gibbons also wants to give Josh Donaldson regular days off and use him as a DH — all of which means that Yangervis Solarte will see semi-regular service at third and at second base. And with Troy Tulowitzki out for at least six weeks after bone spur surgery, Aledmys Diaz will play short, as will Gift Ngoepe from time to time.

“It is different,” said Gibbons when asked about his having to constantly tweak his lineup.

Donaldson, who has been the DH the past few days, was back patrolling third on Tuesday as his “dead” right arm was feeling better. Solarte was moved from third to second in place of Travis, who was given the day off.

“Hopefully if we’re still in it at the end, then they play more,” said Gibbons of Martin and Travis. On days Donaldson isn’t at third, the regular DH, Kendrys Morales, is on the bench, and Gibbons said that isn’t ideal.

“We’re still counting on him ( Morales) to do some good things for us too. We need them all,” said the manager.

KEEPING THE BULLPEN FRESH

The Jays may not have an “ace” per se ( barring someone like Marcus Stroman or Aaron Sanchez having a huge year), but they do have one of the more reliable rotations in the game and Gibbons is banking on his starters giving him a good six, seven innings most games.

“The way I look at it, I think we need to,” said the manager.

AROUND THE DIAMOND

Gibbons said Pearce was feeling better on Tuesday after coming down with a bug earlier in the week ... With team interpreter Josue Peley otherwise engaged, Jays’ GM Ross Atkins stepped in and acted as the interpreter for a reporter interviewing Kendrys Morales in the dugout on Tuesday. Atkins learned Spanish playing ball on the sandlots of South Florida.