Blue Jays option Gose to Triple-A to make room for Encarnacion

The Toronto Blue Jays optioned outfielder Anthony Gose to Triple-A Buffalo to clear room for first baseman Edwin Encarnacion, the team announced.

Encarnacion, sidelined since July 5 with a quadriceps strain, is expected to re-join the club for its series opener against the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

Gose's demotion signals the team's unwillingness to part with the struggling Juan Francisco, who is without options and will be relied upon to split duties with Danny Valencia at third base until Brett Lawrie returns from injury. 

The 24-year-old Gose offers the club speed in center and a potential late-game defensive replacement, but his production at the plate still leaves much to be desired. His .355 on-base percentage versus righties helps some, but his lack of pop and ineffectiveness against southpaws makes him expendable on a roster watered down with platoons.

Encarnacion's return promises to offer a big boost to a lineup struggling to score runs. The Blue Jays are averaging 2 1/2 runs per game in August, and find themselves losing ground in the race for the American League's second wild-card spot.

Despite missing 33 games, Encarnacion is tied for the third-most wins above replacement (Fangraphs) among AL first basemen, and returns to a robust .277/.368/.591 hitting line with 26 homers.