Anthony Santander will start Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on the bench.
The 30-year-old outfielder was replaced defensively in the bottom of the fifth in Game 3 after scoring from second on a single in the top half of the frame.
Despite manager John Schneider telling reporters post-game that the substitution was "score-dependent," Santander wasn't in the Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup on Thursday.
Schneider said Thursday that Santander's absence was due to a "stiff" and "sore" back. It is unclear if he is available to pinch-hit.
Santander was also a late scratch in Game 2 after experiencing back tightness.
"Everyone's grinding right now, and Tony's grinding. I think with the score where it was, you've seen us play that game, where you get to a certain point, and Tony gets three at-bats against the starter, and you kind of flip the script to defence a little bit," Schneider said after Toronto's 13-4 win.
With Santander out, Alejandro Kirk slides up into the cleanup spot and Isiah Kiner-Falefa enters the batting order at second base, sliding Ernie Clement to third base and Addison Barger to right field.
Santander was a late scratch in Game 2 with back tightness, but Schneider said he was available to pinch-hit if needed. In Game 3, the switch-hitter went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
Kiner-Falefa has had success in his career against Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo, going 5-for-13 off the right-hander with a home run and a double.
Santander missed an extended chunk of the regular season with a shoulder injury suffered on May 29. He returned to the lineup against the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 24 in the Blue Jays' penultimate series of the season.
The Mariners also made a small tweak to their lineup. Outfielder Victor Robles was moved to the bench, with Leo Rivas taking his spot in the lineup and playing second base. Dominic Canzone will take over defensively in right field, and Jorge Polanco will serve as Seattle's designated hitter.
Robles was 1-for-12 through the first three games of the series.
You can watch as Max Scherzer leads the Blue Jays into a pivotal Game 4 of the ALCS on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 8:33 p.m. ET / 5:33 p.m. PT.
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