Darwin Barney will get the start at second base Saturday as the Blue Jays looked to make do without the injured Devon Travis.
Toronto manager John Gibbons also made a switch in his batting lineup with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki moving up to No. 5 and catcher Russell Martin dropping to No. 6 for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against Cleveland.
Here’s how the @BlueJays line up for #ALCS Game 2 against Cleveland: https://t.co/eGE3ug74Fi #OurMoment http://pic.twitter.com/UfnzbmdqPf
— @BlueJays
Travis, who has been nursing a bone bruise on his knee, exited in the fifth inning of Friday's 2-0 loss to the Indians. He was replaced by Ryan Goins.
Travis was removed from the ALCS roster on Saturday, effectively ending his postseason even if the Blue Jays advance to the World Series. Justin Smoak replaced him on the roster.
MLB has approved Toronto's request to replace Travis with Smoak. Travis is officially done for the postseason. #BlueJays
— @gregorMLB
Travis, who said after the game he had felt a "super sharp pain in my knee," returned to Toronto to have an MRI on Saturday morning.
Gibbons was awaiting word from GM Ross Atkins whether the Jays would be able to replace Travis if so desired. The MLB rules are somewhat fuzzy given that the injury was pre-existing. If he is replaced, he would not be eligible for the World Series.
"We might not be able to use him anyway...he's hurt pretty good," Gibbons mused out loud prior to Saturday's game.
Travis missed two games of the ALDS with Texas, when he had his first MRI.
"He had the injury flare up a few days ago then it calmed down," said Gibbons. "Then it resurfaced [Friday] night."
Gibbons said Barney and Goins will rotate starts at second base depending on the pitcher they're facing.
Barney said Travis leaves a big hole.
"We're going to try to do what we can to fill that big hole that Devon brings to this lineup," he said. "That guy is so diverse offensively that I don't think there's another guy on this team that can do what he does offensively, but hopefully we can go out there and play well."
Tulowitzki was hitting .333 in the post-season with seven hits in 21 at-bats going into Saturday's game. Martin was hitting .050 with just one hit in 20 at-bats.
Gibbons had rejected swapping the two when asked about it Friday night, saying the team had been on a good roll — winning six straight — prior to running into a hot pitcher in Corey Kluber.
The decision changed Saturday.
"As a coach or manager you sit there and you watch every day who's hot and who's not, that kind of thing." he explained. "But I also believe we've been on a nice roll, winning a lot of games on a nice little streak. I've watched it and experienced it, when things are going good, don't mess with things. Tulo has been hot, so we'll just flip those today. Since we got beat last night.
"But there is something to it, whether you like it or not, when things are going good, get out of the way, don't interrupt. I know some of you may not agree with that or like that but that is a fact."
The Jays did get pitcher Francisco Liriano back Saturday after he cleared concussion protocols.
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.
Terry Francona on starting Corey Kluber again: 'We've talked about... games 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.'7:41
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.
Blue Jays' Travis done for postseason, Barney in for Game 2
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