SANTIAGO ESPINAL NEWS

Goes on IL The Blue Jays placed Espinal on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right hip flexor strain.

Impact Espinal exited Saturday's game against the Tigers with the hip issue, which the Blue Jays quickly determined was more than a day-to-day concern. While Espinal is sidelined for at least the next week and a half, Kevin Smith and Breyvic Valera are expected to step in as the Blue Jays' primary options at third base.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dickerson's 3 hits lead Blue Jays to 3-2 win over Tigers

Corey Dickerson’s third opposite-field single of the game scored Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 10th inning and gave the Toronto Blue Jays a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturd...

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Exits with hip injury Espinal exited Saturday's game against the Tigers with a strained right hip flexor, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Impact The severity of the injury is not yet clear. Espinal had stepped into a starting role at third base in the absence of Cavan Biggio, who's dealing with elbow, back and neck issues. Breyvic Valera replaced him in Saturday's contest and could spend time as a regular starter should Espinal miss an extended period as well, though Kevin Smith could also compete for opportunities.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Friday's lineup Espinal is out of the lineup Friday against the Tigers.

Impact Espinal started the past four games and will take a seat after going 3-for-13 with a run and a stolen base. Kevin Smith will cover the hot corner in his absence Friday.

AUGUST 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Abreu hits 3-run HR, Cease fans 7, White Sox beat Jays 5-2

Dylan Cease pitched seven effective innings, José Abreu hit a three-run homer and the Chicago White Sox stopped a three-game slide by topping the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes seat Sunday Espinal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Impact After starting in nine of the past 10 games while reaching base at a .403 clip, Espinal appears to have at least temporarily locked down a near-everyday role at third base. Kevin Smith will get a nod at the hot corner in place of a resting Espinal, who should retain a spot atop the depth chart until Cavan Biggio (back) returns from the injured list.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ryu cruises through 7 innings, Blue Jays beat Tigers 3-0

Hyun Jin Ryu cruised through seven innings, Randal Grichuk and Marcus Semien each homered and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 3-0

AUGUST 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not in Wednesday's lineup Espinal isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals.

Impact Espinal will get a breather after he went 4-for-8 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base across the last two games. Breyvic Valera will start at the hot corner and bat sixth.

AUGUST 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Santiago Espinal's RBI forceout ' 08/17/2021 Santiago Espinal grounds into a forceout and plates Teoscar Hernández to trim the Blue Jays' deficit in half, 8-4

AUGUST 18, 2021 • MLB.COM

Delivers three hits in win Espinal went 3-for-4 with three base hits and his fourth stolen base of the season in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Mariners.

Impact Though he didn't score or produce any runs while batting out of the No. 9 spot, Espinal did his part to turn the lineup over and run up pitch counts on Mariners starter Logan Gilbert and the three relievers Seattle used on the afternoon. Espinal was making his sixth consecutive start at third base and appears to have at least temporarily moved ahead of Breyvic Valera, who started at second base after being withheld from the lineup the previous two days.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Santiago Espinal's RBI single ' 08/11/2021 Santiago Espinal sends a hard ground ball to right field to score Lourdes Gurriel Jr., giving the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead in the top of the 5th

AUGUST 12, 2021 • MLB.COM

Angels' Ohtani hits 38th HR, but Jays hit 4 in 10-2 win

Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 38th home run this season, but the Toronto Blue Jays hit it out of the park four times, including two from George Springer and a grand sl...

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Santiago Espinal's diving stop ' 08/10/2021 Santiago Espinal dives to his left to field a sharp grounder and nabs Phil Gosselin at first base for the second out of the 6th inning

AUGUST 11, 2021 • MLB.COM

Sitting Game 1 on Tuesday Espinal is not starting Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Angels.

Impact Espinal has just two hits in his last 18 at-bats dating back to July 31. He'll sit in favor of Breyvic Valera for the third time in five games during Tuesday's matinee, but he figures to have a chance to start the nightcap.

AUGUST 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting nightcap Saturday Espinal is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox.

Impact Espinal went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in the afternoon contest and is now hitting .235 in 34 at-bats since the All-Star break. Breyvic Valera will start at third base and bat eighth Saturday night.

AUGUST 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Santiago Espinal's barehanded grab ' 08/05/2021 Santiago Espinal charges to make a barehanded grab and fires to first to nab Myles Straw, recording the second out of the 8th inning

AUGUST 6, 2021 • MLB.COM

Riding pine Wednesday Espinal isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Cleveland.

Impact Espinal recently drew six consecutive starts, but he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight contest after he went 1-for-9 with a home run, two RBI, two walks and a strikeout in his last three appearances. Breyvic Valera will start at the hot corner and bat eighth.

AUGUST 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Collects sixth start Espinal will start at third base and bat seventh Monday against Cleveland.

Impact Espinal will stick in the lineup for a sixth consecutive contest after he went 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk in Sunday's 5-1 win over Kansas City. The 26-year-old is now sitting on a .312/.362/.428 slash line over 149 plate appearances on the season, and he at least appears to have worked his way into a timeshare at third base with the struggling Cavan Biggio, who owns a pedestrian .671 OPS on the season while striking out in 27 percent of his plate appearances. Espinal is worthy of a pickup in AL-only leagues where he's still available.

AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Santiago Espinal's solo homer ' 08/01/2021 Santiago Espinal crushes a solo home run to left-center field to make it 4-0 Blue Jays in the bottom of the 4th inning

AUGUST 1, 2021 • MLB.COM

Berríos wins Toronto debut, Jays sweep Royals in return home

José Berríos pitched six shutout innings in his Toronto debut and the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep in their first series north of the border since 2019, beating the Kansa...

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Awarded another start Espinal will start at third base and bat eighth Sunday against the Royals.

Impact Espinal looks to be cutting into Cavan Biggio's role as the Blue Jays' everyday third baseman, as the former will be picking up his fifth consecutive start Sunday. The 26-year-old went 3-for-13 with a pair of walks and a stolen base over the past four contests, but that production may not be good enough for him to permanently usurp Biggio on the depth chart.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bichette homers, Jays beat Royals 6-4 in Toronto return

Bo Bichette hit a two-run home run, Teoscar Hernandez added a solo shot run and the Blue Jays made a triumphant return to Toronto after almost two years away from home, beating the...

JULY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Productive in Thursday's start Espinal went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI in Thursday's rout of the Red Sox.

Impact Getting the nod at third base and hitting eighth, Espinal made a contribution in a 13-1 win that saw every Jays starter collect at least one hit and drive in at least one run. With Lourdes Gurriel (elbow) sidelined and Cavan Biggio seeing more action in the outfield as a result, Espinal and his .320/.370/.422 slash line in 138 plate appearances this season could see an uptick in playing time in the short term.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes base Wednesday Espinal went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base Wednesday against Boston.

Impact Espinal received the start at third base in the back half of Wednesday's doubleheader and picked up his third steal of the year in the third inning. The 26-year-old landed on Toronto's roster as a utility infielder but has logged the bulk of his playing time at third base, slashing .315/.361/.419 with one home run and 10 RBI in 133 plate appearances this season. Espinal would likely move back to his original utility role if Toronto acquires a more offensive-minded third baseman prior to the trade deadline.

JULY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Three hits in win Espinal went 3-for-4 with an RBI single in Sunday's 3-1 win over Tampa Bay.

Impact Sunday was the infielder's third three-hit effort in 50 games this year. Espinal has seen more of a utility role lately, but he's gone 8-for-16 with a home run, four RBI and three runs scored through seven games in July. Overall, the 26-year-old is slashing .321/.367/.420 through 120 plate appearances.

JULY 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE