Grapefruit League opener on deck . . . Blue Jays can’t wait

DUNEDIN, FLA.— John Gibbons is ready to get the show on the road.

Little more than a week after pitchers and catchers reported to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium to kick off spring training, Toronto’s manager is itching to get some games under his belt.

“This gets monotonous. You do it day after day. Players are ready to start going, too. Especially those young guys, they want to show us something,” Gibbons said Thursday.

They won’t have to wait much longer. The Grapefruit League schedule starts Saturday with a visit to Orlando to take on the Atlanta Braves. Come Sunday, they’ll host the Philadelphia Phillies — who acquired ex-Jays Michael Saunders and Joaquin Benoit in the off-season — and visit the New York Yankees in Tampa in split-squad action.

Journeyman Casey Lawrence will make his first start for Toronto against the Braves, Gibbons said. Sunday will see Joe Biagini on the mound against the Phillies, followed by veteran Mat Latos. Brett Oberholtzer, signed to a minor-league contract in December, will get the start against the Yankees.

Gibbons added that Marcus Stroman, the only member of the Jays rotation who isn’t being held back ahead of participating in the World Baseball Classic, could start Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Dunedin.

Altogether, the Blue Jays will play 35 games in 36 days. Last year, they went 18-8-3 in Grapefruit League play and while spring training is more about development and player evaluation, winning still counts for something.

“You don’t want to come out down here and get pounded every day,” said Gibbons.