Ben

Francisco

He’s just getting the night off. John Mayberry Jr. will make the start in center field and bat fifth against the left-hander J.A. Happ while Ben Francisco plays left field.

The Jays might keep him on the minor league side of things the next couple days just in case he has a setback and they need to backdate a DL move, but Francisco is fully expected to be ready for Opening Day. He should get plenty of playing time in left field this year against southpaws.

He’s sitting against Felix Doubront, which is something that should be common practice against southpaws. Rajai Davis will start in his place in left field, but Ben Francisco is another option.

Lind is just getting the day off. Edwin Encarnacion will play first base while Ben Francisco will serve as the Jays’ designated hitter.

Francisco strained his left hamstring in Friday’s game but will only miss 5-7 days with the injury. He is hoping to land as a reserve wit the Blue Jays this season.

Just a day off for Lind, who is hitting just .203 with one homer over his first 22 games this season. Edwin Encarnacion will start in his place at first base while Ben Francisco serves as the designated hitter.

Francisco hasn’t played since Friday due to a strained left hamstring, but he was scheduled to go through a series of running drills and hit in the cage on Wednesday. The Blue Jays expect he will be ready come Opening Day.

Francisco, 30, registered a weak .704 OPS with six homers and 34 RBI in 100 games for the Phils this past season. He’ll function as outfield depth for Toronto in 2012.

Toronto acquired Francisco from the Phillies in mid-December for left-hander Frank Gailey. The 30-year-old outfielder will serve as a backup this season after posting a .704 OPS, six homers and 34 RBI in 100 games last year.

The Astros went with an outfield of Fernando Martinez, Brandon Barnes and Jimmy Paredes instead. It’s not clear at this point how long Francisco might be sidelined.