Blue Jays Home Opener Lineup

The lineup John Gibbons will send out against the Rays tonight features centrefielder Dalton Pompey batting second and catcher Russell Martin, who has been struggling at the plate so far this season, batting seventh. Edwin Encarnacion will DH while Justin Smoak will play his first home game in the Rogers Centre at first.

Tonight's @HondaCanada #HomeOpener lineup (7:07pm start), presented by @MajesticOnField pic.twitter.com/2jp0StdAOU

— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 13, 2015

Obviously the Blue Jays are fielding a very righty-heavy lineup against Jake Odorizzi, who had displayed reverse splits in 2014, as pointed out by Scott C. in his game preview that you should read.

Because of thunderstorms in the area (and because they have not had warm enough weather to test it), the Rogers Centre roof will remain closed today. I'd reckon that it'd be closed for most of this homestand as well.

Roof will be CLOSED for tonight's @BlueJays @HondaCanada #HomeOpener.

— Rogers Centre (@Rogers_Centre) April 13, 2015

TURF UPDATE

Reporters are now starting to tweet out photos of the Rogers Centre turf. Let's compare this year's luscious, grass lookalike to last year's green carpet with coffee grinds spilled on top of it:

2015

Hitters best motor out of the box. This new turf is long and thick. Significant difference from last year. pic.twitter.com/PvcC0ocvxp

— Jamie Campbell (@SNETCampbell) April 13, 2015

2014 (Minor Leaguer photo)

And here is the whole field from Arden Zwelling. Note that the Blue Jays are going to the new league standard of having shorter "sides" for base coach boxes. (We all know they don't stay in there anyway, but just wanted to point it out.)

The shot-of-the-field-from-the-press-box is pretty played out eh pic.twitter.com/4uSOWWLExU

— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) April 13, 2015

Compare the boxes to last year:

GO JAYS GO!