BALTIMORE -- Kendrys Morales left Monday night's 7-1 victory over the Orioles in the second inning because of a strained right hamstring, but the Blue Jays think he will be able to avoid a stint on the disabled list.
Morales was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his hamstring and for now he is considered day to day. The veteran slugger is scheduled to be re-evaluated by the Blue Jays' medical staff on Tuesday when a more definitive timetable for his return will be established.
Gibbons' optimism seems to indicate the Blue Jays believe this is a minor strain. If the issue was severe enough to be labeled a Grade 2 or Grade 3 strain then Morales would have missed a significant period of time, but that does not appear to be the case here.
"No, I don't think so," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said when asked if Morales would need some time on the DL. "I don't think it's a big deal."
Morales singled to center in his first at-bat of Monday's game but then appeared to tweak his hamstring as he rounded first base. When Morales got back to the bag, he grabbed his leg and a Blue Jays trainer quickly ran onto the field.
The Blue Jays initially allowed Morales to remain on the field but when Russell Martin grounded into a fielder's choice later in the inning, Morales was removed from the game. Utility man Yangervis Solarte entered as a pinch-runner and took over at third base while Josh Donaldson moved across the diamond to first.
If Morales requires additional time off, the Blue Jays likely will cycle several players through the DH spot. Steve Pearce, Donaldson, Devon Travis and Justin Smoak would all be candidates to occasionally fill in for the notoriously slow-footed Morales.
"It's not going to slow him down any," Gibbons jokingly said in reference to the injury.