{allcanada} Bautista returns to Jays' lineup, hitting cleanup

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BOSTON – Jose Bautista ended his five-game absence from the Blue Jays lineup, returning to start at designated hitter for Monday night's series opener against the Red Sox.

He was batting cleanup in a retooled batting order meant to maximize the use of the men hitting well – Devon Travis was second and Josh Donaldson in Bautista's customary third slot – and to protect the struggling Edwin Encarnacion, who will bat fifth.

Not a game-time decision, Bautista was an after-batting practice decision. He bounced into manager John Gibbons' office approximately two-and-a-half hours before first pitch to tell the skipper that, after taking swings in the indoor batting cage, he was healthy enough to take on-field batting practice.

Once that was completed, shortly before five o'clock, Bautista met with the media and proclaimed he was good to go.

"It feels okay, obviously not anywhere close to 100-per cent," said Bautista. "But it doesn't hurt to swing so I tell them that I'm available if they need me to start DHing or to pinch-hit, whatever. I left it up to them."

Bautista left it up to them, as if there was really was a decision to be made.

"I also told them if I was the manager I would write myself in because of how I feel," he said.

It sounds as though designated hitter will be Bautista's lineup home for the foreseeable future. Since exacerbating existing shoulder soreness on a throw to the infield late in Tuesday night's win over the Orioles, he's undergone aggressive treatment, including acupuncture. From an offensive perspective, he's helped by the fact that, as a right-handed hitter, the injury is to the top shoulder as he swings; the shoulder which takes less of the force and torque.

"I don't feel pain swinging," said Bautista. "I feel soreness, stiff, discomfort but I don't feel pain. But I play through those three elements all the time so it's not anything that's not normal."

As for when he'll return to right field, Bautista wasn't sure. He also didn't sound confident it would be anytime soon.

"I haven't even attempted to throw a baseball and I don't even have a timeline on that," said Bautista. "I can't even, I would be guessing if I were to tell you that I know when I'm going to play defence."

It never hurts to return at a ballpark, Fenway Park, where he enjoys hitting.

"Yes," said Bautista. "And I believe there are stats to back it up."

The stats, in fact, do back it up. In 45 career games in Boston, 204 plate appearances, Bautista has a slash line of .299/.387/.667 (1.054 OPS) with 20 home runs. Of the four American League East visiting ballparks, Fenway is by far where he's had the most success.

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