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TORONTO - Edwin Encarnacion will take batting practice before Fridays series opener against the Orioles, a crucial test for his ailing left wrist. After hitting off a tee on Thursday afternoon, the Blue Jays slugger is confident of an imminent return to the lineup. “Maybe Saturday, maybe (Friday), depends on how I feel,” said Encarnacion. Encarnacion last played on Saturday in Minnesota. After the game, an 11-2 win over the Twins, he was seen entering manager John Gibbons office with his wrist wrapped in ice. The pain intensified over the past couple of weeks. Encarnacion is hitless in his last 12 plate appearances (0-8 with three walks and a sacrifice fly.) Encarnacion has already secured a second-consecutive 100-RBI season. With 36, he is four home runs shy of a second-straight 40-home run year. Rasmus feeling good Day by day, Colby Rasmus is ramping up his workouts and baseball activities in anticipation of a weekend return against Baltimore. “Feeling good; the body feels good,” said Rasmus. “I think Im getting over the soreness a little bit, getting back on the turf and amping up the swings. Like today, I took pretty much game speed swings and it felt good so well go from there.” Rasmus went on the disabled list on August 11 with a strained left oblique. He suffered a setback during rehabilitation, which is common with his type of injury. “Its definitely a tough injury because its hard to tell,” said Rasmus. “Its something you use everyday so its hard to shut those muscles down to let them heal. I told myself when I got hurt and I was going down there that Im going to try to take a mental break. That way if I was able to come back Id be fresh.” Its expected Rasmus will get the bulk of the playing time in centre field when he returns. Gibbons will use the other two outfield spots to parcel out playing time to Anthony Gose, Rajai Davis, Moises Sierra and Kevin Pillar. Buehrle on Albers Mark Buehrle watched closely as Canadian lefthander Andrew Albers started for the Twins against the Blue Jays on Sunday. The two have been compared due to their low-velocity, finesse styles. “He throws more fastballs than I do,” said Buehrle. “He throws a bit harder. Similarities: It seems like he works quick; he was pumping, filling up the strike zone, getting strikes early. Guys were kind of off balance and thats the name of the game. It doesnt matter how hard you throw, its keeping guys off balance and then hitting your spots and as far as that aspect goes, I think he did pretty well.” Buehrle stressed that his observations were based only on Albers start against the Jays. He hasnt seen footage of Albers other work. “His off-speed, his curveball, it seemed like he didnt throw many for strikes,” said Buehrle. “Whether they were bouncing them in the dirt or throwing them too high ,it just seemed he wasnt too consistent with the curveball. But everything else, its just about location. Again, from sitting in the dugout I couldnt see if he was missing spots, hitting location wise, but the way he was keeping guys off balance, its just keep on attacking the strike zone.” Any advice for Albers? “When its a fastball situation, throw something else,” said Buehrle. “Hitters in fastball counts are sitting on fastballs so just have confidence to throw those other pitches in those situations.” Youth Raiders Jerseys . Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U. Black Raiders Jerseys . Hattestad managed to avoid the carnage midway through the mens final, as a crash took out three skiers, essentially leaving two men vying for gold. The Norwegian posted a time of 3:38.39, outlasting Swedens Teodor Peterson, who took silver with a time of 3:39. http://www.cheapraidersjerseyselite.com/. The young man, never lacking confidence, thought he could be really good. Raiders Jerseys Free Shipping . Barnard, 28, was 1-0 with a 0.53 ERA in three appearances, including two starts, with San Angel o this season. He struck out 19 batters and walked just one in 17 innings pitched. He has previous American Association experience with the Lincoln Saltdogs, El Paso Diablos and Amarillo Sox. Womens Raiders Jerseys . McCutchen was cut before the series opener against Seattle on Monday night, when Lewis was set for his first start for Texas since July 18, 2012. Texas selected Lewis contract from Triple-A Round Rock.GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Raymond Felton is determined to keep personal turmoil from affecting what was already his most trying season professionally. A day after his arrest on felony weapons charges, Felton returned to practice with the New York Knicks on Wednesday, saying that was "not a distraction" to the team. Felton spoke for less than a minute and did not take questions. He thanked family, friends and teammates for their support and insisted his thoughts were on the Knicks game Thursday night in Miami. "This is not a distraction to this team," he said. "Im focusing on finishing out this season, finishing out these games with my teammates and going down to Miami, focusing on this next game at task versus the defending champs." The Knicks are barely hanging on in the playoff race and Feltons struggles have been among their biggest problems. Slowed by nagging leg injuries early, hes averaging a career-worst 10.4 points on 40.3 per cent shooting for a team with a 21-36 record. Hes also dealing with the breakup of his marriage, and he was arrested early Tuesday after authorities said a lawyer for his wife turned into a police precinct a loaded semi-automatic handgun allegedly belonging to the point guard, claiming she no longer wanted it in their home. Felton was released on $25,000 bail, and his next court appearance is scheduled for June 2. Knicks coach Mike Woodson said he never considered not letting Felton play against the Heat. "The bottom line is Ray is a part of our team, and as his coach Im going to support him and make sure hes doing everything the right way from here on out, and to try to get him to just concentrate on basketball and practice and playing games," Woodson said. Felton was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal possession of a firearm. The firearm charge is punishable by up to four years in prison. The weapons charge is punishable by up to seven years in prison. He had turned himself into police not long after a 110-108 loss to Dallas dropped the Knicks farther back in the playoff race. His wife, Ariane Raymondo-Felton, filed for divorce last week, according to court records, and Felton acknowledged recently dealing with personal problems. He said he wouldnt comment on the case, referring any qquestions to his lawyer.dddddddddddd "But other than that, Im here to concentrate on this team, finish this season out with the New York Knicks and see what happens, man," Felton said. "Trying to make it to the playoffs. Were 5 1/2 games out, 25 games left, so Im really focusing on that with these guys, with the team and trying to make that happen." Felton was playing well in his first stint in New York before he was traded to Denver in the middle of the 2010-11 season as part of the package for Carmelo Anthony. He had a dismal 2011-12 season for Portland, admitting he reported out of shape because he wasnt sure if, or when, the lockout might end. Yet the Knicks surprisingly re-signed him that summer, a move that paved the way for them to let Jeremy Lin leave as a free agent. Felton rebounded with a strong performance last season in helping the Knicks to their first Atlantic Division title since 1994, but neither he nor the team has been able to build on that. Felton has played better lately, and centre Tyson Chandler said he was focused at practice Wednesday. "He seemed like he was no different," Chandler said. Felton still could face punishment from the NBA, though likely not until the legal process has been completed. He is set to earn $3.8 million next season and has a player option that would pay him $4 million in 2015-16, and any attempt by the Knicks to void his contract would be met with a strong challenge from the players association. For now, Felton and the Knicks are just trying to salvage the season. "My job is to continue to coach and try to get guys to do the right thing on and off the basketball floor. I take pride in that, so when things creep in like this, its a surprise, but again weve got to get through it," Woodson said. "Again, I dont know the legal part, the severity of it. All I know is Raymond is still with us and Im on Raymonds side in terms of trying to make sure that hes doing the necessary things to play basketball and Im going to continue to do that." Notes: The Knicks plan to sign veterans Shannon Brown and Earl Clark to 10-day contracts Thursday and have them available to play against the Heat. ... Anthony missed practice for personal reasons but will be with the team in Miami. ' ' '