Valencia out of lineup for fifth straight game

TORONTO -- Third baseman Danny Valencia was out of the Royals' starting lineup for the fifth straight game on Thursday night against the Blue Jays.

Valencia is recovering from a hand injury sustained while batting at Anaheim last weekend. He had taken over for the struggling Mike Moustakas who was optioned to Triple-A Omaha a week ago.

Valencia went without swinging for three days, then took some swings on Wednesday and was to take some more cuts on Thursday.

"We'll see how he feels tomorrow," manager Ned Yost said.

Yost still wasn't ready to announce who will start Saturday's game against the Blue Jays in place of Yordano Ventura, who's been skipped as a precaution because of elbow issues in his last start.