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As the fight to return to a playoff position continues for the Blue Jays, the team received more grim news on Tuesday with word that shortstop Bo Bichette is headed back to the injury list.
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The all star and team’s leading hitter has been diagnosed with a high quad strain, an ailment that took him out of Sunday’s game at the Rogers Centre.
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Bichette’s absence comes on the heels of third baseman Matt Chapman headed to the injury list on Monday with a strained middle finger as that side of the Jays infield has beed decimated.
To take Bichette’s place on the roster, infielder Mason McCoy has been recalled from Buffalo. The 28-year-old has hit .192 for the Bisons so far this season.
It will be Bichette’s second stint on the IL after being absent from Aug. 1-19 with right patellar tendonitis. His absence comes at a critical time as the team heads into Tuesday’s game against the Nationals at the Rogers Centre 2.5 games out of the final wildcard spot in the American League.
With the absence of Chapman and Bichette, the Jays makeshift lineup for Tuesday’s contest will see Davis Schneider at second base, Ernie Clement at shortstop and Santiago Espinal at third.
Bichette has led the AL in hits for much of the season, but was just passed by Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez, who had played 12 more games heading into Tuesday. Bichette remains second in batting average.