Blue Jays' Jose Bautista: Wednesday's late scratch not related to injury

Bautista (back) went to manager John Gibbons and requested to be scratched from Wednesday's Grapefruit League lineup, but the slugger claimed it had nothing to do with an injury, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

Analysis:

Bautista said he's not concerned about the stiff lower-back ailment that kept him out of the Dominican Republic's final game of the WBC. With the Jays not in action Thursday, it's reasonable to believe that the 36-year-old figured he could benefit from missing Wednesday's game to pack a couple more days of rest under his belt. Assuming all is well with his back, Bautista will be in the lineup on Friday against the Red Sox.