MLB Injury Update: Troy Tulowitzki Ready to Return Before Playoffs?
The Toronto Blue Jays have just clinched their first AL East Division crown since 1993 after a 15-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, as per ESPN stats. They have a shot in having the best record in the AL with a two-game lead over the Kansas City Royals as they ended the current longest postseason drought in MLB, per Yahoo! Sports.
According to Vegas Insider, the Blue Jays are the current favorite to win the 2015 World Series with a 4/1 odds. They are doing it without star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who has not played since Sept. 12 after colliding with teammate Kevin Pillar, trying to catch a pop up in shallow center field.
In a report from MLB.com, Tulowitzki was diagnosed with a small crack in his left shoulder blade and should be out for two to three weeks. After their game against Baltimore was postponed due to rain a day before they clinched the division, the 30-year-old shortstop told The Star that the he is ready to return to the Blue Jays lineup as he already started seeing live pitches.
"It's nice to get out there on the field and watch the ball. It's a little different than hitting in the cage. I'm definitely pretty close. Maybe it's the last game of the Orioles series. Maybe Friday when the Tampa series starts, but I definitely like my chances to play in games before the post-season starts," Tulowitzki said.
"I'm good enough to take swings and I'm good enough to field ground balls and now it's just about giving them good feedback: 'Hey I took a lot of swings and a lot of hard swings and I feel good.' I think that's what their concern is, not to rush this thing," he added.
The five-time All-Star was acquired by Toronto from the Colorado Rockies on July 29, sending three prospects and Josey Reyes, per MLB.com. They shocked the baseball world by adding another powerful bat to an already potent lineup that has Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson.
The Blue Jays have gone 42-14 after the trade, cruising towards the postseason with the best record in the AL. As for Tulowitzki, he has only batted .232 with five homeruns and 17 RBIs after arriving from Colorado, per Baseball-Reference.com.
The addition of the five-time Gold Glove winner is a welcome site for the defense as they will likely face the winner of the AL Wildcard Game. It could be the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels or Minnesota Twins. You can view the AL Wildcard Standings here.
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