Tulowitzki returns to Blue Jays' lineup for final series
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Troy Tulowitzki is back in the Toronto Blue Jays' lineup Friday after missing close to three weeks with a cracked shoulder blade.
He's playing shortstop and batting seventh for the beginning of a regular season-ending three-game series at Tampa Bay.
Tulowitzki returns to the AL East champions after completing a simulated game in Florida, where the All-Star homered, doubled twice and walked once in six plate appearances against a pair of minor league pitchers.
"Probably the most important for me was the swing and miss. That's the time when you're letting it go," Tulowitzki said, according to MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. "It's one thing to have it simulated just because we don't swing and miss in the cage or in BP really, so that was nice to really let it go."
David Price, scheduled to pitch Game 1 of the AL Division series Thursday, also took part in the simulated game and struck out Tulowitzki on a called third strike and got a fly ball to center.
Tulowitzki hasn't played since Sept. 12, when he cracked his scapula and bruised muscles in his upper back after colliding with teammate Kevin Pillar in a game against the New York Yankees.
Toronto obtained Tulowitzki from Colorado on July 28 in a multi-player deal. He's hitting .232/.314/.368 with five homers for the Blue Jays, but they're 30-8 with him in the starting lineup.
- With files from theScore