TORONTO – Jose Bautista is nearing a return to the Blue Jays lineup and pinch hit in the sixth inning of Sundays series finale against the White Sox. Batting for Dioner Navarro with runners on the corners and the Jays down 2-0 at the time, Bautista grounded out to end the inning. Fans who arrived to watch batting practice were treated to Bautistas first public testing of his injured left hamstring. He was running sprints in the outfield; he estimated at about 50 to 60-percent effort and admitted to feeling some pain, which he said he expected. Bautista will work out on Mondays off day and is hopeful of being in the starting lineup on Tuesday when the Jays play a Canada Day matinee against the Brewers. He hasnt been in the starting lineup since removing himself in the third inning of the June 22 loss in Cincinnati. "You know, its huge," said Bautista of avoiding the disabled list. Then he offered a precautionary thought: "Obviously thats still not in the plans but you never know how things are going to respond," said Bautista. "I just want to make it clear that I can get back into playing and because theres a previous injury there anything can happen. Im not trying to jinx it or anything but thats just reality." Bautista has been hitting in the underneath batting cage. "I feel like hitting is much easier right now than running," he said. While its superfluous to suggest the Blue Jays miss Bautista when hes not in the lineup the matter became more pronounced as the club faced three Chicago lefthanders over the weekend. After two home games versus Milwaukee, against right-handed starters, the Jays kick off their next road trip with four games in Oakland. The As will throw three left-handers at the Blue Jays in that series. Bautistas done serious damage to southpaws this year. Seven of his 15 home runs have been hit off of lefties. Hes accomplished that in only 57 at-bats. His on-base plus slugging percentage sits at an otherworldly 1.329. Combine Bautistas absence with the predominantly right-handed lineup manager John Gibbons has played this weekend, featuring Triple-A call ups Brad Glenn and Darin Mastroianni, and offence has been in relatively short supply. Left-handed hitters Adam Lind and Colby Rasmus, when theyve played, have struggled as the numbers would suggest they would. Bautista isnt committing to whether hell be Tuesdays designated hitter or take his usual spot in right field. "If I come in and feel 100-percent and great and go out on the field and play defence and I could not feel 100-percent and ask to DH instead of playing the field," said Bautista. "It all depends on how I feel on Tuesday and I wont know that until Tuesday." If Bautistas hamstring limits him to the designated hitters role, that likely removes Adam Lind from the Canada Day starting lineup. Against a right-handed starting pitcher, thats less than ideal. Should Bautista declare himself fit to play right field, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind would both play, one as the designated hitter and the other at first base. Anthony Hitchens Chiefs Jersey . Smith has spent the last three seasons with the Rockies, playing both left and right field, and has a .275 batting average with 51 homers and 181 RBIs in 487 major league games. Chad Henne Jersey .S.-Portugal game on June 22 in the Amazonian jungle city of Manaus. FIFPro, the international soccer players union, had pressed FIFA to avoid the earliest kickoffs in the hottest and most humid weather. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Kendall-Fuller-Elite-Jersey/ . The Canadian defensive tackle suffered the injury on Monday and had tests done on Tuesday. He was a potential starter on the defensive line but head coach Mike OShea said he wasnt even thinking about the ratio when he got the news. Dorian ODaniel Chiefs Jersey . After a 99-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, his Celtics coaches and teammates have only positive things to say about the Toronto-born rookie. Derrick Nnadi Jersey . On Sunday, head coach Patrick Roy said the teams leading scorer will skate at Mondays morning practice and the club will make a decision on his status for Game 6 at that point.Gianluigi Buffon admits the prospect of losing his status as Italys undisputed No 1 has been brought closer by the arrival of Spain ahead of the sides 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday. Italy coach Giampiero Ventura handed teenage AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma his international debut during the second half of a 3-1 friendly defeat to France last month.And Iker Casillass omission from the Spain squad by newly-appointed coach Julen Lopetegui has made Buffon realise he cannot go on forever. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. The fact hes not here is very strange, but its also a signal for me, Buffon told reporters of Casillas.Were running out of time, but thats normal. Im fine with that. Inside of me I know my sporting career has to come to an end. Until that happens, Ill enjoy every moment. Iker Casillas is not included in Spains squad to face the 2006 World Cup winners Set to earn his 164th cap, Buffon will edge one closer to former Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas 167-cap record for a European footballer, which he shares with retired Latvian Vitalijs Astafyevs.After opening their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win against Israel in Haifa last month, Italy host Spain at Juventus Stadium fully aware the result will be key in deciding which team clinches top spot in a Group G that also includes Albania, Israel, Liechtensteein and Macedonia.ddddddddddddThis is an important match that will have consequences in terms of who qualifies for the World Cup, said Ventura, who succeeded Antonio Conte after he became manager of Chelsea in the summer.But we wont win this game if we play at 60 percent of our capacity.As well as dropping Casillas, Lopetegui has instigated a number of other changes to a Spain squad that won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 but has disappointed at the last two major tournaments. Diego Costa is expected to lead the line for Spain against Italy Spain put eight unanswered goals past Liechtenstein in their opening qualifier in Leon, where Chelsea forward Diego Costa was one of three players to hit a brace.Ventura was quick to underline the qualities of his own, new-look squad but warned: I believe that, tactically, Spain have taken a step forward. But what most worries me is how mentally ready they look.Costa is expected to be given the nod to play up front ahead of Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata after Lopetegui said: Costa will play. This will be a key game for us and should fully test our ability to impose our game. But were here for a result.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Thursdays international preview Internationals: 10 questions Messi worried over injury Rooney key for England ' ' '