TORONTO -- Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right knee and there is no timetable for his return. For now, he will be considered questionable for Sunday's Game 3 of the American League Division Series, at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on TBS in the United States and in Spanish on MLB Network. The game will be televised by Sportsnet (English) and TVA (French) in Canada.
Travis received a cortisone shot in his right knee on Saturday afternoon and the club will evaluate him again in 24 hours. If Travis is unable to go, infielder Darwin Barney will take over the starting job at second base, while catcher Russell Martin would become the emergency backup.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said he would be "shocked" if Toronto had to make a roster move because of Travis' injury. If the Blue Jays remove Travis from the roster, he would become ineligible for a potential AL Championship Series as per MLB rules.
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"Usually, over the next 4-5 days, you can feel the effects -- but that doesn't mean he can't play within 4-5 days," Blue Jays trainer George Poulis said, when asked how long it would take for the cortisone shot to take effect.
"There have been times when people get cortisone injections in a certain body part and they'll play the next day. But, for Devon Travis, there is no set timetable for him, right now. We have to evaluate him each day."
Travis missed last year's run into the postseason because of a right shoulder injury. He got the start in Game 1 of this year's ALDS, but had to miss Game 2 because of the injury -- and his status for the rest of the series appears to be in doubt. Travis did not speak to the media on Saturday afternoon, but the day before said he was not sure when the injury took place.
The 25-year-old Travis underwent an MRI on Saturday afternoon, which revealed the bone bruise. During Travis' absence, left fielder Ezequiel Carrera is expected to take over as Toronto's leadoff hitter, while Barney will hit ninth.
"[Travis] had a bone bruise in his knee, and [the MRI] just showed normal wear and tear," Poulis said. "So it was very good findings. We didn't find anything big in there. Structurally, he's really good."
Benoit slowly progresses
Blue Jays reliever Joaquin Benoit remains without a timetable for his return from a torn left calf muscle. Benoit sustained the injury while running onto the field as part of a fracas between the Blue Jays and Yankees on Sept. 26.
The right-hander is still in a walking boot and using crutches. He is not on the 25-man roster for the ALDS, and it appears extremely unlikely that the veteran reliever would be available for the ALCS if Toronto advances.
"He's doing good," Poulis said. "Getting treatment each day. Still on crutches, right now. He's progressing, but very [slowly], right now.
"First, we have to control the pain and inflammation and gradually get him to [increase] his range of motion and strength. Then, move toward the movement phase and on from there."