Edwin Encarnacion, Salvador Perez in lineup; Cubs make roster change
The latest on the League Championship Series. The Blue Jays and Royals play Game 2 in Kansas City with a first pitch set for 4:07 p.m. The Cubs and Mets play the opener of the NL best-of-seven at 8 p.m. Here's a look at what's happening:
KANSAS CITY – The Toronto Blue Jays have their cleanup hitter back in the lineup, even if at less than 100%.
Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, who had to leave Friday’s Game 1 of the AL Championship Series when an injury to his left middle finger flared up, was back at his customary No. 4 spot for Game 2 against the Kansas City Royals.
“He’s a huge part of our lineup,’’ manager John Gibbons said. “He’s battled this on and off. The day off might do him some good, but we need him, so he’s in there. He’ll battle through it.’’
Gibbons added that Encarnacion had an MRI exam Saturday morning and was given the OK to play as long as he can deal with the pain. He’s expected to wear some protection for the finger.
Gibbons was forced to send out Justin Smoak to pinch-hit for Encarnacion in the eighth inning Friday, when the Blue Jays had two runners on base and were threatening to cut into a 3-0 deficit. Smoak popped up and Toronto went on to lose 5-0.
The Blue Jays led the majors in scoring with 891 runs, the highest total in baseball since 2009, and Encarnacion was a prime contributor with 39 home runs and a career-best 111 RBI. Along with Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, they produced 120 homers, the largest output by any trio in the big leagues since 2006.
Toronto is just the fourth team in history with three players who hit at least 39 home runs.
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Shadows are pretty severe in front of the mound at Kauffman Stadium in the first inning of Game 2 of the ALCS with the late afternoon start. It's going to make for some tough at-bat for hitters against the Royals' hard-throwing Yordano Ventura and Blue Jays' David Price.
Ventura reached 99 mph in a perfect first.
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Mets slugger Lucas Duda is slumping, and now he is sitting. The left-handed swinging first baseman was held out of the starting lineup for Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against Cubs lefty Jon Lester.
Duda, prone to prolonged slumps and big surges this season when he hit 27 homers, went just 2 for 18 with 11 strikeouts in the Division Series against the Dodgers. He played all five games, including the four against left-handed starters.
Michael Cuddyer will make his 16th start at first base this year. He last was in the lineup for Game 1 of the Division Series and struggled defensively in left field. He was 0 for 4 in the series, with two plate appearances as a pinch hitter.
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Royals starter Yordano Ventura will have the familiar figure of Salvador Perez behind home plate against the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Perez was ill for part of the divisional round, then took a bat off the back of his glove hand in the ALCS opener. Royals trainer Nick Kenney checked on Perez during that game, but the affable catcher decided to remain in the rest of the way.
Still, there was some question whether Drew Butera might get the start Saturday.
"The toughest guy I ever saw was Jason Kendall and Sal is right there with him," Royals manager Ned Yost said of the longtime big league catcher. "It's just amazing the beating that he can take and rebound every day, being in that lineup."
Perez, a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, hit his third homer of the postseason in the Royals 5-0 win on Friday night.
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The Chicago Cubs have added speedy outfielder Quintin Berry to their roster for theNL Championship Series against the New York Mets.
Berry replaces rookie shortstop Addison Russell, who strained his left hamstring during Game 3 of the NL Division Series against St. Louis.
Berry is 27 for 28 in stolen-base attempts during his big league career. He was on the roster for the wild-card game win at Pittsburgh, then was replaced by pitcher Jason Hammel for the Division Series.
New York also made one change Saturday, adding left-hander Sean Gilmartin in place of right-hander Erik Goeddel, who allowed three singles and a home run without getting an out in Game 3 of the Division Series against Los Angeles.
Contributing: AP