Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo believes the team avoided a serious injury scare with George Springer.
Springer wasn’t in the starting lineup on Thursday after getting hit in the forearm by a pitch on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox, but Montoyo wouldn’t rule him out of pinch-hitting in the matinee.
“Honestly the whole game I was thinking about him … We don’t need to lose George Springer right now. Thankfully, nothing’s broken and he should be fine,” Montoyo said before the series finale.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are flipping left-handed relievers, recalling Tayler Saucedo from Buffalo and sending Anthony Kay down to triple-A.
The moves were announced before Thursday’s series finale in Boston against the Red Sox.
Saucedo was on Toronto’s opening-day roster and got into two games, giving up five hits and four runs in 2.1 innings.
Kay has made one relief appearance, allowing two hits and a run in one inning against the New York Yankees on April 12.
Bradley Zimmer will play centre field for Springer on Thursday, Zack Collins bats cleanup as catcher and Gosuke Katoh gets his first start at second base.
Watch the Blue Jays-Red Sox game on Sportsnet at 1:30 p.m.