The Toronto Blue Jays placed Bo Bichette on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, leaving the team without its star shortstop as it attempts to stay atop the American League East.
Bichette has a left knee sprain, and the IL move is retroactive to Sunday, the team announced.
Bichette, 27, is batting .311 with 18 homers and 93 RBIs in 139 games this season for the Blue Jays, who lead the second-place New York Yankees by two games in the division.
To take Bichette’s roster spot, the Blue Jays recalled outfielder Joey Loperfido from Triple-A Buffalo.
Loperfido, 26, is batting .358 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 30 games for the Blue Jays this season. He most recently played for them on Aug. 15, going 0-for-1 against the Texas Rangers.
Toronto will open a three-game home series against the Houston Astros on Tuesday night after losing two of three games over the weekend to the Yankees. Bichette suffered his knee injury in the middle game of that set when he collided with catcher Austin Wells at home plate.
Bichette finished that Saturday game, going 1-for-3 with a run, but he did not play Sunday. Toronto lost both games.
