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Associated Press 8y

Bautista returns to Blue Jays lineup as DH

MLB, Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO -- Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista is back in the lineup at designated hitter for Monday's game against Philadelphia after missing the previous three because of a sore right thigh.

Bautista left in the sixth inning against Baltimore on Thursday after reaching base in his first four plate appearances. A six-time All-Star, he is hitting .234 with 12 homers and 40 RBI.

Edwin Encarnacion, who homered three times in six plate appearances on Friday and Saturday, is not in the lineup Monday. Encarnacion jammed his right index finger while stealing third base in Sunday's 10-9 win over Baltimore. He is expected to return Tuesday.

Manager John Gibbons said shortstop that Troy Tulowitzki (right quadriceps) will play in an extended spring training game Wednesday. Tulowitzki has not played since suffering a setback while running the bases in an extended spring training game Friday. He is batting .204 with eight homers and 23 RBI in 46 games.

Injured left-hander Brett Cecil (triceps) threw off a mound Monday for the first time since going on the 15-day DL. Cecil, who last pitched May 14, is 0-5 with a 5.23 ERA. There is no timetable for his return.

Also Monday, the Blue Jays selected the contract of left-hander Scott Diamond from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte to Triple-A.

Diamond was 4-6 with a 3.16 in 12 starts at Triple-A, but will pitch in long relief for the Blue Jays. The Canadian pitched for Minnesota from 2011-13.

Franklin Morales (shoulder) was moved to the 60-day DL to make room for Diamond on the 40-man roster.

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