Josh Donaldson expected to play in Blue Jays' home opener

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Thursday that he expects Josh Donaldson to play in the Blue Jays' home opener against Boston on Friday night after the third baseman suffered a calf injury.

The reigning American League MVP left Wednesday's loss at Tampa Bay after limping out of the batter's box when he grounded out in the seventh inning.

"I think he'll be out there tomorrow night," Gibbons said at a news conference Thursday. "He's feeling better today. But we've got to wait until tomorrow to see."

Donaldson homered earlier in the game on Wednesday, but said afterwards that the calf had been bothering him.

"The calf just sort of locked up," Donaldson said. "I tried to go three or four innings with it. It was just one of those situations where one, I didn't think I was quite able to play defence the way I wanted to, and two, if I had to try and run, it was pretty difficult.

"But I don't think it's too serious, and hopefully I'll be back for our next game."

Stroman to start home opener

Toronto's record is 2-2 after splitting its season-opening four-game series in Tampa Bay.

The Red Sox are in Toronto for three games, beginning Friday night at 7:07 p.m. ET.

Marcus Stroman will start for the Jays. He pitched superbly in Toronto's 5-3 opening-day win over the Rays, going eight-plus innings while allowing three runs and only six hits.

Boston counters with righty Joe Kelly, who's making his season debut.

The Red Sox split a pair of games at Cleveland, where the other two contests were called off due to weather.

The postponements mean that David Price will not start during the Toronto series. The ace lefty helped the Jays reach the AL Championships Series last year after arriving in a late-July trade. Upon hitting free agency, he signed a seven-year, $217-million US deal with Boston.