CLEVELAND – Darwin Barney got 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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