Jose Bautista Injury: Updates on Blue Jays Star's Ankle

Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista has been battling an ankle injury, but is making great progress.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr. 9, at 10:57 a.m. ET by Brandon Galvin

Great news for Toronto fans and fantasy players as Jose Bautista (ankle) is on today's lineup for the Blue Jays, according to Sports Net's Shi Davidi.

---End of update---

He was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Boston Red Sox after suffering an injury to his right ankle Thursday against the Cleveland Indians, according to CBSSports.com's senior baseball writer Danny Knobler via Twitter.

UPDATE: Friday, April 5, at 4:18 p.m. ET by Patrick Clarke

According to MLB.com reporter Gregor Chisholm, Bautista is day-to-day and could see some action as Toronto's designated hitter in the coming days.

---End of update---

Here is Friday's lineup without Bautista (via Blue Jays official website):

"

.@bluejays lineup change:Reyes-SSBonifacio-2bCabrera-LFEncarnacion-DHArencibia-CDavis-RFRasmus-CFDeRosa-1bIzturis-3bJohnson-P

— Blue Jays-Official(@BlueJays) April 5, 2013"

Bautista is batting .250 and already has two home runs and four RBI just three games into the 2013 season. As a team, however, Toronto is off to a slow start, having dropped two of three against Cleveland in its season-opening series. 

Regardless of the severity of Bautista's ankle injury, it has to concern Blue Jays fans. After all, Bautista only played 92 games for Toronto last season after suffering a left wrist injury in July that nagged him throughout the year and ultimately forced him to undergo season-ending surgery.

The 32-year-old Dominican native led the majors in home runs in 2010 and 2011, recording 54 and 43 homers, respectively. He recorded 27 home runs and 65 RBI in 2012, playing in the fewest amount of games since 2005, when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Bautista is a three-time MLB All-Star, earning nods in each of the past three seasons. 

Toronto will conclude its three-game series with the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon before traveling to Detroit for its first away series against the Tigers. 

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.