The Toronto Blue Jays are hopeful that Kazuma Okamoto will be back in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox, manager John Schneider said, as the third baseman worked through a left knee injury that has now cost him two straight games.
Okamoto fouled a ball off his knee during Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, then missed Monday's series opener with a left knee contusion. He was scratched again Tuesday, with Charles McAdoo sliding over from left field to cover third base.
"He's hopeful Kazuma Okamoto will be in there Wednesday," Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote on X.
It's a encouraging update for both the Blue Jays and Okamoto as Schneider sounds confident that Okamoto will not need to head to the injured list.
The 30-year-old is slashing .225/.299/.429 with 24 home runs and 70 RBIs in his first MLB season. His power alone motivated the Toronto Blue Jays to sign Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal this past offseason after 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Toronto has had to lean on its depth all season long, even more so now as the club's postseason hopes are still alive, fighting for a Wild Card spot, just 2.5 games out of the postseason as of Wednesday.
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Toronto's versatile bench allows Schneider to make moves like slotting McAdoo from left field to third, allowing players to take a rest day if needed or allowing day-to-day status of players to recover a bit longer.
Toronto and Boston continue their four-game series Wednesday, with Okamoto's status expected to be resolved closer to first pitch.
