Updated

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie will start the 2013 season on the disabled list because of a rib injury.

Lawrie suffered a strained left rib cage during a game with Team Canada in preparation for the World Baseball Classic earlier this month. He was hurt while fielding a ball at third base.

In 125 games for Toronto last season, Lawrie hit .273 with 11 homers and 48 runs batted in. He also missed more than a month with a similar injury. Last year's strain occurred on the right side of Lawrie's body.

Lawrie was acquired from Milwaukee in a December 2010 trade that sent Shaun Marcum to the Brewers. He appeared in 43 games during the 2011 season for the Blue Jays and is a career .278 hitter with 20 homers and 73 RBI in 168 games.

The Blue Jays could use Maicer Izturis and Mark DeRosa at third base during Lawrie's absence.