Gose, Pillar to see more action with Melky out for year

BOSTON -- The season-ending injury to left fielder Melky Cabrera has opened up even more playing time for Blue Jays outfielders Anthony Gose and Kevin Pillar.

Cabrera will miss the rest of the season after he fractured his right pinkie finger during Friday night's 9-8 loss to Boston. Gose and Pillar spent the past week platooning in center field, but the Cabrera injury has created an opportunity for both to become regulars in the starting lineup.

Former starter Colby Rasmus and John Mayberry Jr. could eventually receive some playing time as well, but for now the plan is to use Gose and Pillar as often as possible.

"We've said we want to see these two guys play," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "[Rasmus] is going to play, but we really want to get a look at these guys. We play good when these guys have been here. It's not like we have been experimenting."

Rasmus spent most of the year as Toronto's center fielder, but he lost his job when the roster expanded Sept. 1. The Blue Jays said they wanted to see what Gose and Pillar could do with the opportunity during the final month of the season.

In a lot of ways, it signaled the Blue Jays were closing the book on Rasmus, who is set to hit free agency at the end of the season. The plan hasn't changed even though Cabrera won't play another game this year. With Cabrera also set to hit free agency this winter, it's possible that Pillar and Gose will both have starting jobs next year.

"That could be your center and left fielder next year, you don't know," Gibbons said. "You don't know how things will shake out."