Blue Jays' Devon Travis done for post-season
Left Game 1 with injury in 5th inning
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 Travis has been replaced by first baseman Justin Smoak, meaning Travis will not be eligible for the World Series if the Blue Jays advance.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLB?src=hash">#MLB</a> approves <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash">#BlueJays</a> substitution of Justin Smoak for Devon Travis after reviewing his MRI. Season is over for Travis.
—@ShiDavidiTravis 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.
Here’s how the <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays">@BlueJays</a> line up for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALCS?src=hash">#ALCS</a> Game 2 against Cleveland: <a href="https://t.co/eGE3ug74Fi">https://t.co/eGE3ug74Fi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurMoment?src=hash">#OurMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/UfnzbmdqPf">pic.twitter.com/UfnzbmdqPf</a>
—@BlueJaysTravis 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.
Bauer on the mend after drone accident
Trevor Bauer's stitched finger has improved, but the Indians won't be certain of his effectiveness until he pitches.
And even that is somewhat up in the air.
Bauer sliced open his right pinkie while repairing a drone Thursday night, an odd-as-it-gets October injury that has thrown Cleveland's pitching plan — already jumbled after the team lost two starters in the season's final months — into more confusion.
Bauer, who needed 11 stitches to close the wound, had been scheduled to pitch Game 2 on Saturday, but is now slated to pitch Game 3 on Monday in Toronto. At least that's plan for now as manager Terry Francona indicated the team is literally moving forward on an inning-by-inning basis.
Francona said the Indians remain confident Bauer will make his now-delayed start.
"You hope that it wouldn't interfere with his touch and feel," he said before Game 2. "I don't think that's an issue. He's already thrown twice. Then, we just have to make sure that that thing doesn't open up where it's bleeding, because then they won't let him pitch. It needs to close. So, while he's doing his throwing and things, he needs to make sure he keeps this thing not aggravated or pulling the stitches away. So far, he's done a good job. The thing is healing nice."
Francona said Bauer has played catch and reported no problems. Doctors considered putting more stitches in Bauer's finger, but backed off after it appeared to be healing well.