Blue Jays' Lawrie hopes to return Saturday

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons conceded Thursday that third baseman Brett Lawrie will need a little more time than initially expected to recover from a tight right hamstring.

Lawrie, who's hitting .383 with three home runs in his last 12 games, is poised to resume baseball activities Thursday "in the hopes of returning to the lineup Saturday," according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

The 24-year-old suffered the injury while running out a ground ball during Monday night's contest with the Phillies, and was removed in the fourth inning.