TORONTO -- Devon Travis' status for the remainder of the 2017 season is very much in doubt after the 26-year-old suffered a setback in his return from a right knee injury.
Travis was working out in Florida last week and going through regular baseball activity when he aggravated his knee. He initially was expected to begin a rehab assignment in the near future, but that is no longer the case, and it's not immediately clear whether he will return this season.
Travis has been dealing with the knee injury since June 4. It's a similar injury to the one that brought a premature end to his run in last year's American League Championship Series. Different year, same bad luck.
"He was moving along good, taking ground balls, hitting, a little bit of running, and then it flared up on him again," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "This was just last week when we were in [St. Petersburg]. He's backed off. I think the plan was he was going to get a few Minor League games in and then this happened. There's not a lot of Minor League games left."
Smoak out with sore calf
First baseman Justin Smoak was held out of the Blue Jays' lineup on Wednesday night because of a sore calf muscle. It marked just the second game this season that Smoak did not play in, but Toronto does not appear to think the injury is very serious.
"I hope so," Gibbons said when asked if Smoak's injury was a short-term thing. "They said it's mild, but he could use [a day off]. He hasn't missed much this year."
Josh Donaldson also was held out of the lineup, but that was to rest, and Gibbons said there is no injury concern with his slugging third baseman.
Worth noting
• Gibbons mentioned outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and right-hander Chris Rowley as probable September callups. The Blue Jays are expected to add one wave of players on Friday, and then another group when Triple-A Buffalo's season comes to an end on Monday.