NEW YORK – Beyond getting steady defence from Edwin Encarnacion on days he plays first base, the Toronto Blue Jays have experienced an additional benefit from using their slugger in the field – better production at the plate.
Heading into Wednesday’s play, Encarnacion batted .287/.359/.616 with 15 homers and 45 RBIs in 42 games at first base versus.260/.358/.527 with 19 homers and 55 RBIs in 77 games as the designated hitter.
That’s a significant swing from last season, when as the DH, he slashed.301/.397/.595 with 24 homers and 75 RBIs in 85 games, compared to .239/.329/.486 with 14 homers and 34 RBIs in 59 games at first.
Told of the difference this season, Encarnacion was surprised.
“I don’t feel anything different,” he said. “When you play defence, your body is always moving, so maybe that’s the difference. I don’t feel it, but maybe that’s why.”
Encarnacion, quite obviously, has different routines depending on whether he’s playing defence or not, using the time between at-bats when he’s at DH to study video of what the opposing starter is doing that day.
While playing first base, “I don’t have the time, I try to do it anyway, but it’s not the same.”
Encarnacion was at first base Tuesday night when he hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth inning and later in the frame added a run-scoring fielder’s choice for his 100th RBI of the season.
It’s his fifth time breaking the century mark and his career-best of 111, set in 2014, is well within range, as is his career best of 42 homers in 2012. He entered Wednesday at 34.
“I’ve been healthy this year, I haven’t missed games, I think this is going to be one of my best years,” he said. “I’m the same guy, making adjustments every day, you’ve got to make adjustments in this game and I’ve been healthy, playing almost every game. I feel good.”
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PILLAR PLANS: Kevin Pillar did some fielding and hitting work again Wednesday and the tentative plan is for him to head for Florida on Saturday for a brief rehab assignment.
Pillar will take Thursday off and workout with the Blue Jays on Friday in Cleveland. The thinking is that he’ll need only a couple of rehab games and the expectation is that he’ll be ready to come off the disabled list when eligible Tuesday.
Pillar is wearing a special brace around his left thumb to protect a partially torn ligament.
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SHORT HOPS: Jose Bautista (left knee sprain) is also feeling better, according to manager John Gibbons, and has an “outside shot” of returning on his first day of eligibility Aug. 25. … Despite off-days both Thursday and Monday, the Blue Jays intend to stay on turn in their six-man rotation. Francisco Liriano, Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman are the probables for the weekend series in Cleveland. … The Indians are slated to throw Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin and Corey Kluber.