TORONTO -- Blue Jays outfielder Brad Wilkerson is a player the team has coveted for a long time. Toronto tried to acquire the outfielder on various occasions in years past, but was unable to do so until earlier in May, when Wilkerson became a free agent.

Now a member of the Jays and firmly entrenched in the team's outfield picture, Wilkerson has won the praises of his manager.

"I like everything about Wilkerson," Toronto skipper John Gibbons said prior to Wednesday's game against the Angels. "We've been winning with him in there. He's a very good outfielder. He's got a good eye at the plate."

Gibbons is right about the fact that the Blue Jays have been winning with Wilkerson in the lineup, particularly when he occupies the leadoff spot. In games where the outfielder has served as the team's No. 1 hitter, the Blue Jays are 5-3.

Gibbons also indicated on Wednesday that Wilkerson will continue to see time as the leadoff hitter for the near future, despite the impending return of shortstop David Eckstein from the disabled list. Eckstein occupied the leadoff role for Toronto earlier this season.

"I like the way [Wilkerson] looks up there," said Gibbons. "Plus, we've been winning with him up there."

However, despite Gibbons' confidence in Wilkerson, the hitter has struggled since Toronto signed him as a free agent on May 9. Through his first 12 games with the Blue Jays, Wilkerson has hit .167 (7-for-42), with one home run, two RBIs and four runs scored.

The 30-year-old also got off to a slow start to begin the season as a member of the Mariners. In 19 games with Seattle, Wilkerson -- a veteran of eight Major League seasons -- hit .232 with no home runs and five RBIs. His struggles forced the Mariners to designate the outfielder for assignment on April 30, just over a week before he signed with Toronto.

Gibbons does not believe Wilkerson's struggles will last long, though.

"I think with some steady at-bats, he's going to have a nice year," Gibbons said of Wilkerson, who belted 32 homers in 2004 for the Expos. "He always has. He's a baseball player. He plays the game the right way."

Pitching matchup
TOR: RHP A.J. Burnett (4-4, 4.71 ERA)
In his only career start against the Angels, Burnett suffered a loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over seven innings.

LAA: RHP Ervin Santana (6-1, 2.97 ERA)
In four career starts against Toronto, Santana is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA.

Tidbits
After suffering a 4-3 loss on Wednesday, the Blue Jays are now 7-10 in one-run games this season. ... Aaron Hill has now hit safely in nine straight games. ... Over his last nine games, Jays catcher Rod Barajas has hit .423 (11-for-26) with two home runs and seven RBIs. Over that span, he managed to raise his batting average from .175 to .273. ... Jays reliever Brian Tallet has not allowed a run in his last 11 innings. ... Seven of Lyle Overbay's last 15 hits have gone for extra bases (six doubles and one home run). ... Heading into Wednesday's action, the Toronto pitching staff ranked fourth in the American League with a 3.67 ERA. As well, the Jays led AL starting staff's in inning pitched (294 2/3) and were second in strikeouts (226) and opponent's batting average (.238).

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Up next
• Friday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 4-5, 3.38) vs. Royals (Zack Greinke, 5-1, 2.18), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Blue Jays (Jesse Litsch, 5-1, 4.22) vs. Royals (Luke Hochevar, 3-3, 4.29), 1:07 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Blue Jays (Dustin McGowan, 2-4, 4.21) vs. Royals (Gil Meche, 3-6, 5.58), 1:07 p.m. ET