TORONTO -- Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki just can't seem to catch a break when it comes to the lower half of his body. First it was a hamstring injury, then it was a groin, and now it's an ankle.
Tulowitzki left the 7-2 loss to the Angels on Friday night in the third inning after he sprained his right ankle while running to first base. Tulowitzki is tentatively scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday, but he likely won't be back any time soon.
The latest incident happened when Tulowitzki was trying to beat out an infield grounder. Tulowitzki's right foot made contact with the foot of Angels first baseman C.J. Cron, which caused Tulowitzki's ankle to roll as he touched down on the base. Tulowitzki crumpled to the ground and remained there for several minutes before he was helped off the field by the training staff.
"We'll have a better idea tomorrow," manager John Gibbons said when asked for an update on Tulowitzki after Friday night's game. "I'm sure he'll get checked out. I'm sure he'll get an MRI on that or something."
Tulowitzki also has been dealing with a groin injury for the last week. He sustained that injury on July 21 and initially had to miss two games. Tulowitzki returned to the lineup on Monday, but Gibbons admitted before the series opener vs. the Angels that the groin was still "nagging" Tulowitzki, but not enough to keep him out of the lineup.
Ryan Goins moved from second base to shortstop when Tulowitzki exited Friday night's game and Darwin Barney entered at second. Tulowitzki is batting .250 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs in 66 games. He missed more than a month earlier this season because of a hamstring injury.
If Tulowitzki has to go on the disabled list, infielder Rob Refsynder would likely be promoted from Triple-A Buffalo. Refsnyder was acquired in a trade with the Yankees last week after he previously had been designated for assignment. Refsnyder is a career .241/.312./.332 hitter at the Major League level and he could play some second base while Goins and Barney split time at shortstop during Tulowitzki's absence.