Travis sidelined with knee inflammation

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Infielder Devon Travis will to be sidelined until at least next week with inflammation in his left knee, the team announced before its 6-5 loss to the Rays on Saturday.

Travis, who is in a position battle to keep his spot at second base, will be re-evaluated Tuesday. He has appeared in two Grapefruit League games and is hitless with a walk in four plate appearances.

"It’s a day-to-day thing," manager Charlie Montoyo said. "We’ll see after the day off [Monday] how he feels and go from there."

Travis, 28, has been dealing with injuries for much of his MLB career and has only played more than 100 games in a season twice in the big leagues -- 101 games in 2016 and 103 in '18. He has missed extended time in the over the past four seasons with surgeries on his left shoulder and right knee.

The fact that this inflammation is in Travis’ other knee gives Montoyo hope that his absence will be short term.

"There’s nothing wrong with it," Montoyo said. "He was just running around and he got inflammation somehow. So we’ve got to give it some time."

Travis got off to a slow start last season and spent a few weeks at Triple-A Buffalo before returning to the Blue Jays and hitting .232 with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs in 357 at-bats. His career numbers are much better, with a slash line of .274/.314/.437.

Bichette goes yard

Bo Bichette continued his productive spring from the plate with a home run to left-center field in the sixth inning Saturday for his first round-tripper of the spring.

Bichette has had a strong spring at the plate and in the field, and his competitive nature has won over Montoyo quickly.

"I just love that kid," Montoyo said. "On Friday, he went to the wall to chase down a fly ball, kind of like a Derek Jeter thing. He plays hard every day."

Bichette is ranked No. 11 overall on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. He is the second-highest-rated Blue Jays prospect behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the third-highest-rated shortstop prospect.

No lingering effects for Gurriel

Infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the starting lineup Sunday after being removed from Friday’s game against the Braves when he was hit on the left arm with a pitch.

"He is fine," Montoyo said on Saturday. "Just a little contusion."

Gurriel went 2-for-2 with a home run on Friday and has gotten off to a hot start in the Grapefruit League, hitting .429 in nine plate appearances.

"It’s always scary when someone gets hit around the hands and stuff," Montoyo added. "But I was going to take him out [at that point of the game] anyway."

Around the horn

? First baseman Justin Smoak hit his first home run of spring, a rocket over right field off Rays starter Wilmer Font.

? Montoyo and Rays manager Kevin Cash had a short but sweet reunion before the game Saturday. Montoyo was the Rays' bench coach from 2015-18 and managed in the Rays' organization from 1997-2015, winning six division titles and two International League championships with the Triple-A Durham Bulls.

Up next

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker will make his second start of the spring when he faces the Yankees in Dunedin, Fla. at 1:07 p.m. on Sunday. The Yanks will be a split squad and right-hander Domingo German will make the start.