CLEVELAND (AP) Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis returned to Toronto on Saturday for more tests on his injured knee.
And while the team awaits the results, Major League Baseball approved a roster substitution. Travis has been replaced by first baseman Justin Smoak, meaning Travis will not be eligible for the World Series if the Blue Jays advance.
Travis left Friday night’s AL Championship Series opener after aggravating a bone bruise in his right knee while covering first base in the fifth inning. He missed the final two games of Toronto’s AL Division Series sweep over Texas with the injury, and the Blue Jays had enough confidence he was OK that they put him on the 25-man ALCS roster.
Now, they Blue Jays don’t know if they’ll have him back at all.
”It’s kind of up in the air right now what could or what may happen what would even be allowed,” manager John Gibbons said.
Travis underwent an MRI after the division series and again on Saturday. The Blue Jays asked for Travis to be replaced. After his medical tests and history were reviewed by Dr. Gary Green, the MLB medical director, Smoak was added to the ALCS roster.
The 29-year-old Smoak batted .217 with 14 homers and 34 RBIs in 126 games.
Darwin Barney started at second base in Game 2 place of Travis. Barney has three hits in four career at-bats against Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin. Gibbons said Ryan Goins could also be used at second.
Both Barney and Goins played in Game 1.
Following Toronto’s 2-0 loss in Game 1, a discouraged Travis said he felt a sharp pain in his knee. He batted .300 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs in 101 games during the season.
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