Encarnacion exits ALCS opener with sprained finger

The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a potentially major blow during the eighth inning of Friday's game when Edwin Encarnacion left their ALCS opener against the Kansas City Royals with an injury to his bothersome left middle finger.

Encarnacion was removed from the game prior to his eighth inning at-bat, and sent for a precautionary X-ray, which came back negative. He's been diagnosed with a ligament sprain, the Blue Jays announced after the game, and is considered day to day.

Manager John Gibbons told reporters after the Blue Jays' 5-0 loss that Encarnacion aggravated his ailing finger during an at-bat earlier in the game.

"He's been battling this thing, I don't know how long it's been now. X-rays are negative. But it swelled up a little bit more than we've seen it in the past," Gibbons said. "Hopefully he can go. Usually a day or two it calms down on him and he's able to get through it. We'll see. It's an early game tomorrow, hopefully he'll be ready to go."

The Blue Jays designated hitter went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before being replaced by switch-hitter Justin Smoak, who fouled out to first baseman Eric Hosmer with runners on first and second during a pivotal eighth-inning at-bat.

Encarnacion's been bothered by the finger injury for most of the season, causing him to miss games in July and August. He looked no worse for wear during the division series, though, hitting .286/.423/.476 with one home run and three RBIs in five games.