Blue Jays expect Bautista to return on Thursday

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista. (Mark Blinch/CP)

The Toronto Blue Jays have more reinforcements on the way this week, as manager John Gibbons announced on Tuesday that right fielder Jose Bautista is expected to return from the disabled list on Thursday.

Bautista has been out since Aug. 10 with a left knee sprain he suffered when his cleat got caught in the turf. The injury occurred shortly after Bautista had returned from a toe injury that caused him to miss 30 games. The Blue Jays went 17-13 during Bautista’s first stint on the DL and went 6-4 during his latest absence.

Bautista’s return will further bolster a Blue Jays outfield that got centre fielder Kevin Pillar back from injury on Tuesday, while Ezequiel Carrera returned from the DL last week.

In 80 games this season, Bautista is batting .222 with a .793 OPS to go with 15 home runs and 48 RBI.

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