Blue Jays tweak batting lineup, lose Devon Travis for rest of ALCS
CLEVELAND -- After being shut out in the American League championship series opener, the Toronto Blue Jays have a slightly different batting order for this afternoon's Game 2.
Catcher Russell Martin, who has one hit in 20 at-bats this postseason, has been dropped a spot in the batting order to sixth, with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki moving up to hit in front of him.
"As a coach or manager you sit there and you watch every day who's hot and who's not, that kind of thing. But I also believe we've been on a nice roll, winning a lot of games on a nice little streak," Jays manager John Gibbons said before the game. "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."
The Jays will have one other change in their starting lineup against Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin. Darwin Barney will play second base and bat ninth in place of Devon Travis.
Travis, who had been battling a knee injury late in the season, reinjured his knee last night covering first base and had to be taken out of the game.
Travis underwent an MRI today and MLB Medical Director Gary Green confirmed the injury after reviewing the test results and consulting with team doctors. The Jays will be allowed to replace Travis on their ALCS roster with infielder Justin Smoak.
Smoak will join left-hander Francisco Liriano as new additions to the Jays roster for Game 2. Liriano was ineligible to return after taking a line drive off his head in the division series and undergoing tests for concussion symptoms. He could not return for a full seven days, a period which ended yesterday.
According to MLB rules, Travis will be ineligible to return should the Jays advance to the World Series.