TORONTO – There may come a time in the next few years when the Houston Astros are a good baseball team. That time, however, is not now and with apologies to the "Its Early" crowd, with whom we typically should all agree hardly removed from opening day, this three-game home set with the Houston Astros is important to the Blue Jays. Nobody is suggesting that, say, if Toronto gets swept its season is over. But a check of the math tells you it doesnt help. The Blue Jays, by virtue of their perch in the American League East, have the unenviable task of playing 76 of their 162 games against their four divisional opponents. They get the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles 19 times each, a veritable meat grinder that can chew up and spit out the hope for a successful season all by itself. Lets say, for the sake of argument, the Blue Jays go 38-38 against their own division. That leaves 86 games against non-divisional opponents. To get to 90 wins, which likely wont be enough to win the division and may or may not be enough to capture one of the two wild card spots, Toronto would have to go 52-34. So far, after splitting a four-game series in Tampa Bay and disappointingly dropping two of three at home to the Yankees, the Jays are 3-4 within the AL East. Houston marks the first non-divisional opponent and due to the make up of the schedule, this is the only time the Astros will visit Toronto all year. It doesnt matter whether its April, June, or the intensity filled months of August and September, Houstons only here once and when they visit the Jays need to make hay. More than anything, manager John Gibbons wants his club to better protect home soil. "Ive always said you cant bury yourself early," said Gibbons. "Especially in this division, its an uphill battle and its real tough to come back. Were trying to get off to a good start and with more games at home itd be nice to finish up good at home. Youve got to play good at home, its no secret. Hold your own on the road and play good baseball at home." JEKYLL AND HYDE ROTATION The biggest question facing the Blue Jays (3-4) heading into the season centred on the starting rotation. Could it hold up in the toughest division in baseball? In the wins, Dr. Jekyll rules the day. When Torontos lost, Mr. Hyde rears his ugly face. Heres a look at the numbers through the first seven games: In the three wins, no runs allowed in 20 2/3 innings pitched. April 1: Drew Hutchison, 5.1 innings pitched.April 2: Mark Buehrle, 8.2 IP.April 5: R.A. Dickey, 6.2 IP. In the four losses, the starts have allowed a staggering 20 earned runs in just 16 innings pitched (11.25 ERA, averaging four innings pitched per start): March 31: R.A. Dickey, 6 earned runs in 5 innings pitched.April 3: Brandon Morrow, 4 ER in 5 IP.April 4: Dustin McGowan, 4 ER in 2.2 IP.April 6: Drew Hutchison, 6 ER in 3.1 IP. ROTATION JUGGLING Mondays off day has afforded manager John Gibbons the opportunity to flip R.A. Dickey and Dustin McGowan, meaning Dickey will start Thursdays series finale against the Astros and McGowan will open a three-game set in Baltimore on Friday night. "Thatll split up Morrow and McGowan," said Gibbons. "The two guys were watching a little bit. Put Dickey in the middle and he can eat some innings, anyway." Dickey has repeatedly said he prefers pitching under a roof, although Gibbons denied the forecasted cool conditions outdoors in Baltimore factored in to the decision. REYES UPDATE Jose Reyes, eligible to come off the disabled list from a strained left hamstring on April 16, ran the treadmill and took ground balls during batting practice on Tuesday afternoon. "Ill know better when I start running and see how Im feeling," said Reyes. "For now, Ill just take it day by day and see what happens." Reyes has been hitting to maintain his batting stroke but still has yet to run at full speed. When Reyes is ready to play, he expects to appear in at least a couple of minor league rehab games before returning to the Blue Jays. JANSSEN UPDATE Casey Janssen, out with an abdominal/back strain, doesnt think hell be ready to come off the disabled list when hes eligible on Sunday. "Probably not," said Janssen. "I dont know the exact date but Ive got to get on a rehab somewhere; hopefully shortly thereafter." Janssen expects only to need one or two minor league rehab games before hes back with the Blue Jays. If he continues to progress, its not unreasonable to expect Janssen to return mid-to-late next week. Kyle Korver Jersey .Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity. Tyrone Hill Jersey . - For years William Gay kept quiet. http://www.cavaliersbasketballpro.info/k...valiers-jersey/. 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Only one of the five players needs to be trained by the club itself.CORTLAND, N.Y. -- New York Jets running back Joe McKnight appeared to be OK after he was carted to the locker room, wearing an oxygen mask, after dropping to the field during a drill Monday. McKnight, who has a history of migraine headaches, has been recovering from a head injury and dealing with dehydration during training camp. About an hour after being escorted to the locker room, he walked to the field to watch the end of practice in a T-shirt and shorts while wearing dark sunglasses. McKnight was not available to the media, walking past reporters without comment, and the Jets had no further details on his condition. The Jets confirmed that while he was in the locker room being treated, McKnight angrily responded on Twitter to someone he thought was a reporter who wrote, "about time you get released. Good luck. And stay healthy." McKnight tweeted about trying to keep his cool before adding "now it has gone too far with these reporters." He then asked, "are you outside," but a public relations staff member assured McKnight the critical tweet had not come from a reporter but a fan. Heading to the field at the start of practice, he dropped to a knee three times and was examined by trainers. After pouring water over his head, McKnight then jogged and appeared OK. "If the trainers thought he would be at risk, he would never be out there, ever," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. Wearing a red no-contact jersey, he was participating in a drill 45 minutes into practice when he went down again after diving for a pass. Trainers rushed to him, and then walked him to a medical tent behind the field. McKnight remained on his right side as he was examined for several minutes. It appeared trainers were also checking his lower left leg before he was removed on a cart. He was wearing an oxygen mask as hee walked gingerly on his own into the locker room while a trainer held the tank.dddddddddddd "For whatever reason, he stopped or whatever and thats fine," Ryan said. "Theres no chance any player would be on the field if the trainers or doctors felt that it wasnt safe for that person to be there." McKnight has had a rough summer. He failed a conditioning test just before the team reported to Cortland, but passed the next day. He blamed the failure on dehydration and his low percentage of body fat (3.3 per cent). Ryan also suggested that McKnight has "anxiety" when it comes to the conditioning tests. McKnight was arrested two weeks ago in New Jersey for outstanding traffic warrants. He was released on $320 bail, the amount of the tickets. Later that week, he injured his head during practice -- an injury the Jets still havent officially called a concussion -- and he returned to the field Sunday, wearing the no-contact jersey. After practice, McKnight spoke to reporters for three minutes, but refused to answer any questions about his head injury or the arrest, repeatedly saying, "Im not getting into that right now." McKnight, the teams fourth-round pick out of Southern California in 2010, has had his moments on the field with the Jets, but his inconsistency has kept him from being a bigger part of the offence. He has proven himself to be an outstanding kick returner, with two touchdowns, including a 107-yard score in 2011 thats the longest play in franchise history. But his health issues possibly put him on the bubble for making the 53-man roster. "Weve got a long way to go before we make the final decisions and things," Ryan said. "But Joe has led the league in kick returns. He has plenty of talent, but durability, there is concern about durability." 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