Bautista still recovering from cortisone shot

TORONTO (AP) Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista is out of the lineup for a second straight day after getting a cortisone shot in his strained right shoulder.

The slugger got the shot over the weekend because the injury had failed to progress after more than a month. He hopes to play again Tuesday.

''The progression wasn't going the way I expected or as quick as I expected,'' Bautista said before Monday night's game against the White Sox. ''I was having to take pain medicine just to go to sleep and that was messing up my stomach. It was just time. I had been on the pain medicine for too long, anyway. It was time to cut that off and try alternatives.''

Bautista was injured making a throw to first base in an April 21 game against Baltimore. He said inflammation inside his shoulder joint prevents him from lifting his arm above shoulder height without pain.

After suffering the injury, Bautista took five days off before coming back as the designated hitter on April 27. He resumed throwing last week but has yet to return to the outfield.

''I feel the same,'' Bautista said. ''Nothing has changed. Very, very slow progress. I wish it was quicker.''

Bautista, who is batting .215 with seven homers and 25 RBIs, said the ''ideal scenario'' puts him back in the field by next Monday when the Blue Jays begin a series in Washington. Between June 1 and June 16, Toronto plays five games in National League ballparks, where there is no DH.

''Going to the National League and wanting to be available more than just on pinch-hit duty is definitely something that was considered with the timing of the shot,'' Bautista said.

Manager John Gibbons said Bautista wouldn't hit or throw Monday in an effort to get him back in the lineup at DH Tuesday. Bautista, however, seemed reluctant to miss Monday's game against the White Sox.

''I could hit today,'' he said. ''It wasn't my decision (to sit).''

Gibbons said he doesn't expect Bautista to be placed on the disabled list. Gibbons also said the Blue Jays have not considered moving Bautista from right to left field or first base to get him back in the field more quickly.