DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista didn't play in the Dominican Republic's final game of the World Baseball Classic on Saturday because of a stiff lower back, and was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
Both decisions were strictly precautionary, he said.
"I'm feeling great," he said. "But with an off-day [Thursday] I talked to the staff and it makes no sense to crank it up just to take a day off. So I'm going to get back in the lineup on Friday [against the Red Sox].