Troy Tulowitzki, Blue Jays shortstop, injures hand

Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki left in the fourth inning of the Blue Jays' 3-1 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday after being hit on the right hand by a pitch from Bartolo Colon.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Tulowitzki was struck on the knuckles. The player was given X-rays which returned negative but he remains day to day with a bone bruise onhis knuckles.

"It's swollen a little bit and he cut it up a little bit, too," Gibbons said. "It's a sensitive area, hands and all that."

Toronto slugger Jose Bautista was a late scratch due to neck stiffness, a move Gibbons said was precautionary.

Coming off a start Friday against Washington in which he allowed eight runs over five innings, Colon limited the Blue Jays to three hits including two by Darrell Ceciliani over six scoreless innings.

Toronto's Aaron Sanchez, bidding to be the fifth starter, scattered four hits in 6 1-3 shutout innings. He has given up three earned runs in 19 2/3 innings and five appearances.

"They both get groundballs all day long," Gibbons said of Colon and Sanchez.

Colon had six strikeouts, while Sanchez picked up four. Neither had a walk.

"Bartolo was doing his thing out there," Sanchez said.

Stroman's start

As expected, Gibbons said Marcus Stroman would start the opener April 3 at Tampa Bay. "I'm honored, I'm humbled," Stroman said after pitching in a minor league game. Gibbons also didn't rule out Stroman taking the hill five days later in the home opener with Boston.

Trainer's room

Mets: OF Michael Conforto left with back stiffness.

Blue Jays: Gibbons said DH-1B Edwin Encarnacion (oblique) is getting better. He could soon get at-bats in a minor league game. ... INF Ryan Goins didn't play due to flu-like symptoms.

Up next

Mets: An impressive matchup has Matt Harvey starting for a split-squad against Houston ace Dallas Keuchel on Thursday. Logan Verrett will start for the other squad against Boston's Joe Kelly.

Blue Jays: Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will start Thursday against Detroit's Matt Boyd.