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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. Wholesale Yeezy Authentic . Both of Padakins goals came in the second period while Zane Jones added a single in the first period for Calgary (13-6-4). Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger finished with 30 saves for the shutout. Replica Yeezy .Mateo Kovacic and Andrea Ranocchia scored for Inter, which had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank for several crucial saves.Its an important victory against a Chievo side which plays well, Mancini said. https://www.wholesaleyeezyauthentic.com/. Jacobs scored two in the first end, but Jahr briefly took charge with two in the second end and two more in the third. Jacobs, from Sault. Marie, Ont., gave Canada some breathing room, following his big fourth end by adding two more points in the fifth to go up 7-4. Wholesale Yeezy . The Montreal Canadiens goaltender has won three of his four games since returning from a lower-body injury that kept him out from the end of the Olympic break until March 15. Yeezy 700 Outlet . Sundays game against the Colorado Rapids at B.C. Place Stadium has important implications in determining Major League Soccers playoff picture and will also mark the final game in the career of veteran South Korean defender Young-Pyo Lee.ABUJA, Nigeria - FIFA has given Nigeria one last chance to avoid a lengthy ban that would prevent the reigning champion from defending its title at next years African Cup of Nations.FIFA wants a court order nullifying recent Nigeria Football Federation elections to be rescinded by midday Friday Nigerian time, regarding it as government interference in football, which isnt allowed under the world bodys rules.FIFA said in a statement to The Associated Press that Nigeria has until the deadline to prove the court order has been withdrawn and the elected NFF leadership is able to work without any hindrance. If Nigeria doesnt comply, FIFA said it will be banned from international football at least until FIFAs Congress in Zurich on May 28-29 next year.That would mean Nigeria is thrown out of the ongoing African Cup qualifying campaign ahead of the start of the finals in January. None of Nigerias national or club teams would be able to play in international tournaments under a FIFA suspension.Nigerias football federation has been in turmoil for months and it has been warned repeatedly.The country — which made the last 16 of the World Cup in Brazil — was already suspended from internationals for nine days in July after previous NFF President Aminu Maigari was detained by security forces on his reeturn from the World Cup and ousted from office.dddddddddddd A new leadership was then installed in government-backed elections that were not recognized by FIFA. Maigari was reinstated and oversaw proper elections on Sept. 30, when Amaju Pinnick was voted in as new NFF president.But FIFA said the Nigerian government is interfering again after persons claiming to have been legitimately elected previously went to occupy the offices of the NFF.We also have been informed that security forces prevented the (new) NFF President from travelling to Namibia where he was supposed to represent the NFF at the final match of the African Womens Championship, FIFA said.Nigeria is also the African womens champion after winning the title last weekend, but was nearly prevented from playing in that game because of the federation problems, the NFF said. The African womens final only went ahead after Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou, who is also a FIFA vice-president, pleaded with his FIFA colleagues to give Nigeria one more chance, according to the NFF.According to the federation, Hayatou also met with Nigeria sports minister Tammy Danagogo at the African womens championship in Namibia and told the minister that FIFA and CAF have had it up to their neck with Nigeria. ' ' '