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DUNEDIN, Florida – The following players will make up the Blue Jays 38th opening day roster: STARTING ROTATION (in order of appearance:) R. Moises Alou Jersey .A. Dickey, Drew Hutchison, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Morrow, Dustin McGowan. BULLPEN: Casey Janssen, Steve Delabar, Sergio Santos, Brett Cecil, Aaron Loup, Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond, Jeremy Jeffress. CATCHERS: Dioner Navarro, Josh Thole. INFIELDERS: Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Lind, Jose Reyes, Brett Lawrie, Ryan Goins, Maicer Izturis. OUTFIELDERS: Jose Bautista, Colby Rasmus, Melky Cabrera, Moises Sierra. DISABLED LIST: J.A. Happ. Dustin McGowan typically isnt long-winded. Wednesday morning was no exception when he found out the news he would be starting the Blue Jays 38th home opener on April 4 against the New York Yankees. "I was kind of speechless," said McGowan. "I told them, thank you for the opportunity and Ill be ready." What this decision says about McGowan is one thing. What it says about the state of the Blue Jays starting rotation is another. First, McGowan, who turned 32 on March 24 and suddenly is the author of an unlikely story. At one time the organizations highly prized pitching prospect, McGowan cemented himself as a bona fide big leaguer when he won 12 games and posted a 4.08 ERA in 27 starts for the Blue Jays in 2007. The persistent shoulder problems began on July 8, 2008, when he was forced to leave a game against Baltimore after four innings. He wouldnt pitch again that year and his rehab took him into the 2009 season. McGowan was progressing before developing a cartilage problem in his knee, which required surgery. He missed all of 2010 with a torn rotator cuff. It wouldnt be until September 6, 2011, that McGowan would pitch in another big league game. He finished the season with the Blue Jays but returned to the disabled list out of spring training in 2012 with a foot problem. Later that summer, he was back under the knife for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. It wasnt until last season, when McGowan made 25 relief appearances, that he showed he could continue to pitch at the big league level. Late in the season, he expressed an interest in trying to be a starter one more time. It seemed unlikely at the time but, then again, the fact he pitched at all last year was proof McGowan could overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. "I always had the resolve to push through," said McGowan. "Theres no quitting in my blood. There was times I thought it may not happen anymore but it wouldnt be from lack of trying so I kept pushing hard for moments like this." "He was one of the top up-and-coming pitchers here in this organization a few years ago and we got a glimpse of it before he had his injuries," said manager John Gibbons. "Its pretty amazing in my mind that hes come back this far and looked this good. Were going to run with it and see where it takes us." Really, what option does Gibbons have? J.A. Happ, like Ricky Romero last spring, pitched his way out of the rotation with four poor Grapefruit League performances (20.57 ERA) and will begin the season on the disabled list. "He had that back issue earlier on," said Gibbons. "It hasnt been a big deal. Hes getting better but its something we think its limited him a little bit right now and its affecting him so hell go on the DL and hell get himself right and well look at it in the near future." Disabling Happ is nothing more than a paper move, which enables the Blue Jays to carry an eight-man bullpen to start the season. Each of Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond and Jeremy Jeffress is out of options. When Happ is activated, someone will have to go. The Jays are simply delaying the inevitable. Gibbons confirmed Redmond is the next starter in line should there be an injury in the rotation. Meanwhile, Josh Thole beat out Erik Kratz for the second catchers job behind Dioner Navarro. "Hes got something special with Dickey," said Gibbons. "Hes caught him the last few years. Theres a little bit of something theyve got working so were going to run with that." Thole has caught Dickey for a total of 565 innings during their time together with the Mets and Blue Jays. While its expected the second catcher is going to have to play more this year, Navarro hasnt played in more than 89 games in any of the last four seasons, the ability to handle Dickeys knuckleball is being prioritized ahead of offence. "I think hes a better hitter than he showed last year," said Gibbons, referring to Tholes .175/.242/.216 slash line. "Hes made some adjustments but his number one job is to catch Dickey. Thats what hes here for. Well take whatever offence we can get." Kratz has an option remaining and will begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo. "He was disappointed," said Gibbons of Kratzs reaction to his demotion. "I mean, you expect him to be. It was a long time coming to get to the big leagues. Hed been up there a little bit with Pittsburgh and of course, Philly, and yeah, he was very disappointed and I dont blame him but the way were going to start this thing out, let Thole run with it. Our number one job, the big question mark is how good our starting pitching is going to be, weve got to take care of those guys." It appears it will be a short stay with the Blue Jays for utility infielder/outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo, who was informed on Wednesday he wouldnt make the opening day roster. He was seen leaving Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in street clothes. No formal roster move has been made. Tuiasosopo is out of options, meaning he will have to clear through waivers before being sent to the minor leagues. If he isnt picked up by another club, he would likely start in Buffalo. Tony Kemp Jersey . For Sweed, a second round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008, this will be his second go around in the CFL after previously having spent time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Willson Contreras Jersey . Rodriguez, who has steadfastly denied using banned substances while with the New York Yankees, made the decision nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz largely upheld the discipline issued last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "I think its a good move for him," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. http://www.customcubsjersey.com/custom-dexter-fowler-jersey-large-490n.html . -- Ben Brust scored 19 points to lead six Wisconsin players in double figures as the No.(SportsNetwork.com) - After snapping their longest winless drought of the season, the Ottawa Senators look to breathe life into their playoff hopes on tonight as they visit the Florida Panthers. The Senators carried an 0-4-2 drought into last nights encounter with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and despite blowing a two-goal lead left town with a 4-3 shootout decision. Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1200 at 7:30pm et. It gave Ottawa its first victory since March 8 and the club will try to win two in a row for the first time since Feb. 4-6. The Sens recent drought knocked the club nine points back of a wild card spot. Erik Karlsson, Kyle Turris and Jason Spezza all scored in regulation for the Senators, who failed to hold a 3-1 lead but got the extra point when Spezza scored the only shootout tally. Spezza, Ottawas second shooter, entered the zone and moved the puck back and forth several times before releasing a wrister that fooled Lightning netminder Ben Bishop and found twine in the top right corner. "I dont think I am reinventing the wheel. I just slowed down and made a couple of stickhandles and waited for the right time to shoot it," said Spezza on his move in the shootout. Robin Lehner made 35 saves before going perfect in the shootout for Ottawa. Karlsson, who scored in a third straight game, also had two assists to run his point streak to seven straight gamess. Lee Smith Jersey. The defenseman has 11 points over his run and leads all NHL blueliners with 20 goals and 68 points. Though winger Bobby Ryan is expected to miss a second straight game with a lower-body injury, netminder Craig Anderson may make his first start since suffering an upper-body injury on March 10. He dressed as the backup to Lehner on Monday and is 10-2-1 with a 2.06 goals against average and two shutouts lifetime versus the Panthers. Florida returns home for three straight following a four-game road trip. The Panthers began the swing with a big win over the San Jose Sharks, but were outscored 12-3 in losing the final three contests. The Panthers concluded the trip with a 6-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Jimmy Hayes and Tomas Fleischmann scored in a 2:01 span of the second period to pull Florida within one before Anaheim pulled away. "Theyve (the Ducks) had a little adversity lately but you had to be ready for a big push out of them," Panthers goaltender Dan Ellis said after making 34 saves. Roberto Luongo figures to get the start in net tonight for Florida and is 10-11-0 lifetime versus the Senators with a 2.89 GAA. The Panthers lost their first two meetings with the Sens this season before notching a 4-2 victory in Ottawa on Dec. 19. The Senators have won 13 of the previous 16 meetings overall and eight of the last 11 played in Florida. ' ' '