Jose Bautista is not in the Blue Jays’ lineup tonight against the A’s and has left the team due to a “personal family matter,” according to John Lott of the National Post.
He’s expected to miss the entire three-game series versus Oakland and for now Juan Rivera is taking his place in right field with Edwin Encarnacion shifting to designated hitter and Jayson Nix getting the start at third base.
Bautista is off to an excellent start as he tries to follow up one of the most out-of-nowhere breakouts in MLB history, hitting .455 with two homers and a league-leading four walks through three games.