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Blue Jays weighing DL decision on Travis

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays likely are facing a deadline of Friday afternoon to make a final decision on whether second baseman Devon Travis will need to be placed on the disabled list.

Travis aggravated a right shoulder injury during Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Phillies. It's the same ailment that caused him to miss approximately six weeks earlier this year, and while the hope is that it's less severe this time, no one can say for certain.

The 24-year-old Travis received a cortisone shot on Thursday afternoon and won't be able to play until at least Saturday. The bigger concern is a possible DL stint which is something the club would like to avoid, but might be forced to do.

"Devon's a little better today so we're going to give him one more day to see ... he couldn't go out and swing a bat today, but he feels better," manager John Gibbons said on Thursday afternoon before the series opener against the Royals.

"Tomorrow will be a big day for him ... You don't want to play shorthanded and you also don't want to stretch this out four or five days, even if you can backdate it, but you're still missing a guy."

Ryan Goins will take over the starting duties at second base until Travis is ready to return. If Travis requires time on the DL, infielder Munenori Kawasaki likely would become the prime candidate to receive a promotion from the Minor Leagues.

The injury news was a little more encouraging on Edwin Encarnacion, who missed Wednesday's game against Philadelphia because of a jammed left middle finger. Encarnacion didn't start on Thursday, but he was eligible to come off the bench and should be back in the starting lineup either Friday or Saturday.

"Eddie's feeling better ... kind of go day-to-day with him," Gibbons said.

Gregor Chisholm is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, North of the Border, follow him on Twitter @gregorMLB and Facebook, and listen to his podcast.
Read More: Toronto Blue Jays, Edwin Encarnacion, Devon Travis