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Donaldson returns to Blue Jays' lineup after hip ailment

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Toronto Blue Jays welcomed back the reigning American League MVP to the lineup Thursday.

Josh Donaldson, who missed three consecutive games while dealing with an ailing hip, hit second as the designated hitter when the Blue Jays squared off against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

"It was kind of one of those things where I didn't feel like I could go out there and perform in a manner that could help my team out," Donaldson told reporters Wednesday, according to MLB.com's Alykhan Ravjiani. "It was one of those things where I felt at first, if I was able to get some treatment on it like normal, I was going to be able to go out there and hopefully just miss a day. I just never got where I was comfortable with it."

Donaldson underwent an MRI on the sore hip Wednesday, and, according to manager John Gibbons, the results showed the third baseman was "really just a little beat up. Nothing major."

"He said my hips look good, for a 30-year-old athlete," Donaldson told MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. "Obviously there's some wear and tear ... we feel like it's good enough for me to play."

The slugger is in the midst of a 23-at-bat hitless streak, and hasn't recorded a knock since Sept. 3.

Over the course of the season, he's slashed .284/.400/.552 with 34 home runs and 92 RBIs for the Blue Jays, who sit two games back of the Boston Red Sox for top spot in the AL East.

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