Blue Jays' Jose Bautista: Returning Thursday

Bautista (knee) was officially activated off the DL on Thursday, Barry Davis of Sportsnet reports.

Analysis:

Bautista will lead off in his first game back, but in an effort to take some of the pressure off his left knee, he'll be deployed as the DH on Thursday. The club figures to continue down this path in the short term, going with a combination of Michael Saunders and Ezequiel Carrera in right field, but Bautista's bat will likely remain in the lineup most nights. Ryan Goins was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding roster move.