Tulowitzki likely done for the season
TORONTO Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday and it’s likely that he’s done for the season.
Tulowitzki sprained the ankle while running to first base on a ground out in a game against the Los Angeles Angels on July 28. Manager John Gibbons is hopeful he’ll get through rehab this winter in plenty of time for spring training. Tulowitzki missed 31 games earlier in the season with a hamstring problem and also had groin issues.
SUPERMAN STRUGGLES
Centre-fielder Kevin Pillar has struggled at the plate recently (. 211, .253 OBP, three homers in July), but he’s not getting bent out of shape over it.
“I don’t necessarily get anxious,” Pillar said. “I understand (struggles) are part of the game.”
“The more I can go up there and have a plan and swing at good pitches and be aggressive and drive the ball, I think the results will start coming,” added Pillar, who has a career-high 12 home runs and is hitting .245 this season.
Gibbons said the club needs Pillar to heat up if the Jays hope to finish strong.
AROUND THE DIAMOND
Gibbons didn’t start DH Kendrys Morales or catcher Russell Martin on Wednesday against New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka.
“We’re going to give (Raffy) Lopez a game behind the plate and Pearcy (Steve Pearce) had his knee drained last night, so we’re going to give him a day to DH,” said Gibbons. “And get (Nori) Aoki in there. He’s got a couple of knocks off him.”
Heading into the game, Aoki had two home runs in six at-bats against his countryman Tanaka and was batting .333.
Gibbons said Martin’s usual backup behind the plate, Miguel Montero, is progressing well from a groin injury and should be back after his DL stint is up next week.
To make room for Wednesday’s starter, right-hander Nick Tepesch, who was brought up from Triple-A Buffalo, the Jays optioned lefty Matt Dermody to the Bisons.
There’s a sense in the Jays clubhouse that the team (53-59) is fortunate to be only four games behind the last wild card spot, despite all their struggles this season.
“How many games out of .500 are we?” asked Gibbons prior to Wednesday’s game. “Yeah, I gotta believe that’s unusual. But when you have a couple of wild cards, you really never know. I would figure either one of them (wild card teams) would be at least .500. So you don’t give up. Strange things happen in this game. We play all the teams ahead of us except Texas and Seattle. So who knows?”