Indians vs. Jays

Probable Starters:

Tonight, RHP Carlos Villanueva (5-1, 3.24) vs. RHP Zach McAllister (8-3, 2.97)*

Friday, LHP Jo Jo Reyes (3-7, 4.85) vs. RHP Mitch Talbot (2-5, 5.60)

Saturday, RHP Brandon Morrow (5-4, 4.73) vs. RHP Josh Tomlin (10-4, 3.78)

Sunday, LHP Brett Cecil (1-4, 6.37) vs. RHP Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 3.95).

*Stats at Triple-A Columbus.

Jays News/Notes:

• SS Yunel Escobar was back in the lineup and leading off for Wednesday’s finale of a three-game series in Boston. He had not played since he was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the first inning Friday against Philadelphia. Escobar was listed to bat fifth for Tuesday’s game against Boston but did not play after the hand still bothered him in batting practice. However, he was fine Wednesday, leading off the game with a double and finishing 4-for-5 with an RBI.

• 3B/RF Jose Bautista is ahead of the pace he kept last year, when he hit 54 home runs to lead the majors. Bautista has 28 homers in 80 games this season with four games remaining before the All-Star break. Last year at the break, he had hit 24 homers in 88 games. OF George Bell had the most home runs by a Blue Jay at the break with 29 after 85 games in 1987. 1B Carlos Delgado had 28 at the break in 2003 and 2000.

• OF Eric Thames lined out to left field as a pinch hitter for CF Rajai Davis in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 3-2 loss at Boston to end a career-high 10-game hitting streak. He batted .395 (17-for-43) during the streak. It was the longest hitting streak by a Toronto rookie since 1B Adam Lind had a 10-game streak in 2007.

• OF Corey Patterson was caught stealing third base in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s 3-2 loss at Boston. It was the third time Patterson has been caught stealing third this season, and he has yet to make it. The worst part of it was cleanup hitter Adam Lind was at-bat with two runners on. Manager John Farrell said it was a poor decision by Patterson. All 12 of Patterson’s steals are of second base. The three times he’s been caught stealing third leave Patterson tied for the American League lead with Brent Lillibridge of the White Sox. Patterson has been caught trying to steal second four times and for a 63 percent success rate. Patterson was not in the starting lineup Wednesday, and he struck out as a pinch hitter.

• C J.P. Arencibia was hit by a pitch on the left wrist by RHP Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 6-3 loss at Boston. He was removed for a pinch runner for precautionary reasons, manager John Farrell said, and to get more speed on the bases. Farrell said strength tests done by the trainer on the field indicated that there did not appear to be any serious injury. Arencibia has been dealing with a bruised left thumb since late May.

Jays Injury Report:

• C J.P. Arencibia (sore left wrist) left the July 6 game for precautionary reasons. The injury wasn’t considered serious.

• SS Yunel Escobar (swollen left hand) left the July 1 game, and he didn’t play July 2-5. He was back in the starting lineup July 6.

• RHP Casey Janssen (sore right forearm) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 15. An MRI found no structural damage. He’s scheduled to begin his rehab assignment the first week of July with Class AA New Hampshire.

• RHP Jesse Litsch (right shoulder impingement) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive May 19. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Lansing on June 18, and he made rehab starts for Class AA New Hampshire on June 23 and June 28. He started for Class AAA Las Vegas on July 4, but his next step was unclear.

• RHP Dustin McGowan (right shoulder surgery in June 2010) went on the 60-day disabled list March 12. McGowan lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his first rehab start for Class A Dunedin on July 2. He has not pitched in the majors since 2008 because of shoulder surgery.

• LHP Jesse Carlson (strained left shoulder) went on the 60-day disabled list March 29. He underwent season-ending rotator cuff surgery May 26.