Braves’ Maybin cleared to play by eye doctor

Cameron Maybin was given full clearance to play after being re-examined by the Braves’ eye specialist Tuesday, but it’ll be another day before the center fielder is back in the starting lineup.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez opted to start Michael Bourn in center for Tuesday’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays and left-hander Mark Buehrle. Bourn was 5-for-11 in his career against Buehrle before Tuesday, while Maybin was 0-for-6.

Maybin was out of the lineup for a week due to a corneal abrasion and infection in his left eye. He was diagnosed after leaving a game Sept. 5 at Washington due to hazy vision that had worsened over a period of four days.

His only game action since then came Sunday when Maybin entered as a late-innings defensive replacement in a 10-inning loss to the Mets. He said Tuesday that he got a clean bill of health from the doctor and that his eyes felt great.

Bourn can also play left field, but Nick Swisher got the start in left Tuesday because he was 11-for-30 (.367) with eight walks and a .500 on-base percentage in his career against Buerhle.

“He’s ready to go, he’s good,” Gonzalez said of Maybin. “But I like the way Bourny’s been swinging the bat, and he’s a pretty good matchup against Buerhle. Him, (Nick) Markakis and A.J. (Pierzynski) all have pretty good numbers against him.

“Cam will be ready to go tomorrow. He got cleared, he looked great. Saw the eye doctor, he was good to go.”

Markakis was 22-for-49 (.449) with two homers against Buerhle before Tuesday, and Pierzynski was 10-for-25 against the veteran lefty.