It didnt take long for the Toronto Blue Jays season to feel like it was beginning to unravel. When leadoff hitter Jose Reyes pulled up as he neared first base on his first inning flyout, the doubt creeped in. By the bottom of the inning, when Reyes had been replaced by Ryan Goins, panic was in full effect. Its not like this is unexpected. Reyes missed 69 games last season, has played more than 140 games once in the past five seasons, and is now 30-years-old. As players get older, they get hurt more often and take longer to recover. This is a thing that happens. Even taking all those factors into consideration, it was extra-depressing for Jays fans, who didnt need any additional reasons to be pessimistic about the 2014 season. With Reyes nursing his hamstring injury, look for Goins and Maicer Izturis to handle the middle infield spots. The Jays have also called up 28-year-old utility man Jonathan Diaz, who has a .230 batting average with 14 home runs in eight minor league seasons. Reyes is not the only notable player hurt. Heres an update on some of the more significant players injured as the season gets underway: Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles - The best pitcher on the planet has been bothered by a back injury, even though he had a stellar first start (1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 2/3 IP) in Australia, and it will likely keep him out at least a couple of starts. The Dodgers dont need a fifth starter until April 19, so they can make do, and will have veteran Josh Beckett set to join the rotation in the meantime. Yu Darvish, RHP, Texas - The Rangers ace is coming back from neck tightness and may be ready to join the rotation next week. The Rangers rotation could really use Darvish, and possibly Colby Lewis, as Lewis attempts to come back from a surgically-repaired hip. Matt Kemp, CF, Los Angeles - The 29-year-old who has missed 145 games in the past two seasons, Kemp says hes ready to return as soon as possible. He is recovering from ankle surgery and is eligible to come off the DL on April 4; in the meantime, Andre Ethier will get the playing time in centre for the Dodgers. Cole Hamels, LHP, Philadelphia - Shoulder tendinitis caused Hamels trouble early in spring training and hes behind as a result, but is making progress now. He still has some minor-league starts to work through as he rehabs, and could return as soon as late April. Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore - The rising star is still recovering from October knee surgery and, considering he is already the best fielding third baseman on the planet, there will be some letdown until he returns which, according to the Baltimore Sun, is apparently sometime in late April. While Machado is out, Ryan Flaherty, who has 16 home runs and a .653 OPS in 163 career games, starts at third for the Orioles. Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP, Seattle - Out with a torn tendon in his middle finger, Iwakuma has been cleared to resume throwing and will begin building strength in his arm to get where he needs to be as a starter. Hes likely to miss the first month of the season as he rehabs. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle - A shoulder impingement has halted the progress of the Mariners top pitching prospect, but has resumed throwing and may only miss the first few weeks of the season. With Iwakuma and Walker out, LHP Roenis Elias and veteran RHP Chris Young have landed a couple of rotation spots to start the year. Mat Latos, RHP, Cincinnati - Still recovering from knee surgery, Latos doesnt seem that far away, as hes set to make a rehab start in Double-A this week. If that means he misses a couple starts for the Reds before coming off the DL in mid-April, thats not the end of the world. Jhoulys Chacin, RHP, Colorado - Effectively, the ace of the Rockies staff, is coming back from a shoulder strain, but is expected to miss the first month of the season. With Chacin out, Franklin Morales is one of the pitchers that will get a turn in the rotation. Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Cincinnati - After taking a line drive off the head, Chapman is making progress and appears to be on track to recover, though he has yet to be cleared to resume throwing, that could come in the next couple weeks. In the meantime, with Jonathan Broxton also on the DL, RHP J.J. Hoover is the leading candidate for saves in the Cincinnati bullpen. Michael Bourn, CF, Cleveland - A hamstring strain has slowed the speedy outfielder who is not expected to be ready, when hes eligible, to come off the DL Friday. In the meantime, there is an opportunity for Nyjer Morgan to handle centre field while Bourn is out. Morgan, 33, had a .795 OPS with only three stolen bases in Japan last season. Shane Victorino, RF, Boston - The 33-year-old Flyin Hawaiian has been grounded by a hamstring strain, leaving room for Jackie Bradley Jr. to remain in Boston, though Daniel Nava is the top candidate to handle right field in Victorinos absence, with Mike Carp and Jonny Gomes also available for corner outfield work. Bradley has more versatility in that his skills can translate to any of the three outfield spots. Jurickson Profar, 2B, Texas - One of the top young players in baseball, Profar could be out up to three months with a muscle tear in his shoulder. Journeymen Josh Wilson and Donnie Murphy can handle second base in Profars absence. Murphy showed a little pop last season, hitting 11 home runs with an .849 OPS in 163 plate appearances for the Cubs, but neither has much of an offensive track record. Jonathon Niese, LHP, N.Y. Mets - While Niese was bothered by some elbow inflammation in the spring, and was put on the DL, all signs point to his returning April 6 for his first start of the year. Derek Holland, LHP, Texas - Coming off microfracture knee surgery, Holland is making progress, but it will likely be the second half of the season before hes ready to return. A.J. Griffin, RHP, Oakland - Flexor tendinitis in his elbow puts Griffin on the shelf to start the year and, combined with the season-ending injury to Jarrod Parker, is a big hit to the As rotation. Jesse Chavez and Tommy Milone are slated to hold down the last couple spots on the Oakland starting staff. Josh Johnson, RHP, San Diego - What? Josh Johnson is injured, you say? The shock. Hes expected to return sometime in May from a strained forearm and isnt a bad sleeper as a reclamation project following his disastrous 2013 season in Toronto. While Johnson is out, LHP Robbie Erlin has a spot in the Padres rotation. Wilson Ramos, C, Washington - Suffered an injured hand in the first game of the year, but x-rays were negative, so it may not be broken, which would obviously be good news. For as long as Ramos is out, Jose Lobaton is next in line to handle catching duties for the Nationals. Marco Scutaro, 2B, San Francisco - With a back injury basically wiping out Scutaros spring, he appears to be some distance from returning to the field. One-time touted prospect, now utility infielder Joaquin Arias will see the bulk of the work at second while Scutaro remains sidelined. Carlos Quentin, LF, San Diego - A knee injury will keep Quentin on the DL to start the year, and beyond the minimum 15 days. Veterans Chris Denorfia and Seth Smith could be the best bets to play in Quentins absence. Bobby Parnell, RHP, N.Y. Mets - On the shelf due to a partial torn ligament in his elbow, Parnell may be headed for surgery and that leaves the closers role open. First up is 36-year-old veteran Jose Valverde, who has 286 career saves, but flamed out with the Tigers last season, allowing six home runs in 19 1/3 innings to lose the job. Gordon Beckham, 2B, Chicago White Sox - With an oblique injury limiting Beckham, though possibly not for long, Marcus Semien gets the starts at second base for the White Sox. Semien, 23, has hit 36 home runs with an .828 OPS and 36 stolen bases in three minor-league seasons. Geovany Soto, C, Texas - A torn meniscus could keep Soto out for three months, which gives J.P. Arencibia an opportunity to rebound from a tough 2013 season, but that playing time is no guarantee either. Robinson Chirinos could challenge for playing time, especially if Arencibias defence is a problem. Andy Dirks, LF, Detroit - Slated to miss at least the first two months as he recovers from back surgery, Dirks is replaced by Rajai Davis in left field for the Tigers. Davis has his flaws, but from 2009 through 2013, his 216 stolen bases ranks second, behind only Michael Bourn. Cameron Maybin, CF, San Diego - A ruptured biceps tendon is going to cost Maybin the first couple months of the season and hes coming off a season during which he played just 14 games because of wrist and knee injuries. Alexi Amarista and Will Venable have started in centre field this year with Maybin out. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Nike Free Online Sale . Louis Cardinals won the World Series last season, but after losing first baseman Albert Pujols to free agency and manager Tony LaRussa to retirement, they opened the 2012 season in 12th spot in the TSN. Cheap Nike Free Canada . Not to be outdone, Atletico Madrid bettered its title rivals by demolishing 10-man Getafe 7-0 with Diego Costa returning from injury to score with a brilliant bicycle kick. "It was an almost perfect night," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. http://www.discountnikefreecanada.com/ . Louis Blues just continue to roll -- especially against the Nashville Predators. Nike Shoes Canada Clearance . Some members of the U.S. Congress arent so sure. They say Russia isnt doing enough to assure that athletes will be protected at the Feb. 7-23 games, happening not far from an Islamic insurgency that Russias huge security apparatus has struggled for two decades to quell. Russia may run greater risks in towns outside the tightly controlled Olympic zone. Suicide bombs last month a few hundred kilometres (miles) away have increased concerns, and an Islamic warlord has urged his followers to attack the Sochi Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putins pet project. Nike Shoes Canada Sale .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons.Liverpool, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Liverpool will look to get back on the right track on Sunday when the club welcomes Arsenal to Anfield. The Reds have suffered a massive dip in form, dropping five of their last 11 matches across all competitions. They were riding a five-game unbeaten run before Sundays trip to Old Trafford, but Brendan Rodgers men were demolished in a 3-0 loss to Manchester United. Raheem Sterling operated as an out-and-out striker and was incredibly wasteful in front of goal, unable to beat David De Gea in multiple one-on-one opportunities with the United goalkeeper. But Rodgers maintained faith in the Liverpool youngster and deployed him in the same position for the clubs midweek clash with Bournemouth in the league cup. It paid dividends as Sterling netted a brace in what finished as a 3-1 victory for Liverpool. Sterling may have found a new calling amid Liverpools constant scoring woes. Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli have been ineffective in the early part of the season, and with Daniel Sturridge still sidelined through injury, Liverpool may rely on Sterling for goals against an Arsenal side that has won five of its last six across all competitions. The Gunners are coming off of a commanding performance against struggling Newcastle as braces from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla granted the club a 4-1 home victory last time out. Still, Arsenal finds itself in sixth place in the table with just 26 points, though a win at Liverpool could launch the Gunners into fourth place, depending on Saturdays results. Southampton enters the weekend in fifth place on 26 points, dropping from its second-place position after a run of four straight defeats. The Saints will hope to reverse their poor form on Saturday when they welcome Everton to St.dddddddddddd. Marys. West Ham United, meanwhile, sits fourth in the table with 28 points. The Hammers have taken 10 points from their last four games and will attempt to rebound from a draw with Sunderland when they host lowly Leicester City at Upton Park. Manchester City has been bitten by the injury bug as the likes of Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic will be unavailable for Saturdays clash with Crystal Palace. The Citizens, though, will welcome David Silva back to the fold as they will look to go level with first-place Chelsea by taking maximum points from Palace at the Etihad. Manchester United will test its six-game winning run on Saturday when the club heads to Villa Park to face Aston Villa and Tottenham will look to build upon its defeat of Swansea City when it hosts Burnley at White Hart Lane. Rounding out Saturdays action, Swansea will head to the KC Stadium to face Hull City while QPR will aim to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Everton when it hosts West Bromwich Albion at Loftus Road. Newcastle United was humbled in a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal last time out while Sunderlands winless run in Premier League play was extended to six games with a 1-1 draw to West Ham. The two clubs will meet at St. James Park on Sunday for the latest installment of the Tyne-Wear derby. Mondays lone contest will see first-place Chelsea travel to the Britannia to take on plucky Stoke City. Potters manager Mark Hughes has been adept at taking points off of some of the leagues top sides, and with Chelseas injury concerns gradually worsening, a slip-up from Jose Mourinhos men may not be out of the question. ' ' '