Bautista sidelined another game with sore right ankle

TORONTO -- Jose Bautista was forced to miss his second consecutive game on Saturday afternoon because of a twisted right ankle.

The Blue Jays delayed the announcement of their lineup prior to a matinee affair against the Red Sox in the hope that Bautista would receive clearance prior to first pitch.

Those hopes were dashed just before noon ET after Bautista went through some light work and was deemed unable to go.

"He still didn't feel quite right this morning," manager John Gibbons said. "It's a long season. No point putting him in a situation to re-aggravate it."

Bautista suffered the injury while attempting to beat out a ground ball during the eighth inning of Thursday night's victory over Cleveland.

There is currently no swelling in the ankle and Bautista has described the injury as soreness rather than pain. The slugger took some swings in the cage early Saturday morning, but he obviously didn't feel good enough to play against the Red Sox.

The Blue Jays can ill afford to lose Bautista for any prolonged period of time. He homered in back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday and is showing no ill effects from a left wrist injury that prematurely ended his 2013 campaign.

Whenever Bautista does receive clearance to play, he's expected to be eased back into the lineup as a designated hitter.