Blue Jays' Bautista returns to lineup for series finale vs. Yankees

Despite being omitted from the lineup Tuesday night to rest his sore shoulder, Jose Bautista will serve as the Toronto Blue Jays' designated hitter for Wednesday's series finale against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre.

Hampered by a shoulder strain for the last two weeks, Bautista has been confined to DH duty since returning to the lineup April 27 following a five-game absence. The 34-year-old appeared in eight consecutive contests before receiving the night off Tuesday, though he did manage to draw a walk as a pinch-hitter during the ninth inning.

Bautista has impressed at the plate since returning, hitting .321/.394/.607 with five doubles and four walks over his last eight games, leaving little doubt about his ability to hit through the ailment. But Blue Jays manager John Gibbons admitted Tuesday that the veteran's shoulder discomfort has lingered longer than he anticipated.

"It's not like it's going to take surgery or anything, it's just taken a little bit longer," Gibbons told Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun. "We've got to be smart with it. Eventually he's going to be back out there."

Bautista, who boasts a 127 OPS+ and ranks sixth among qualified hitters with a 16.7-percent walk rate this season, has yet to resume throwing.