Jays hopeful injured Springer will play Game 6

""He was right on the fence," Schneider said Thursday of Springer's status for Game 5, a 6-1 Toronto win that gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 series lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I think he probably could have. I was really juggling what's best for him, what's best for the team, not just immediately to start the game, but kind of how that game may unfold too.""

""Springer worked out in the batting cage and again on the field before Game 5. He appeared to be preparing to pinch run for Bo Bichette in the ninth inning, but Bichette grounded out. "He was close, and he was ready to come in, and I'm glad we didn't need him and got him an extra couple days," Schneider said. "Hopefully he's good to go [Friday].""

""Springer has hit the second-most leadoff homers in major league history with 63, trailing only Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson's 81. Springer hit a three-run homer in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against Seattle on Oct. 20, playing a major role in sending the Blue Jays to their first World Series title since 1993. That came three days after he was struck on the right kneecap by a 95.6 mph pitch from Seattle's Bryan Woo during the ALCS""

George Springer is on track to play in Game 6 of the World Series on Friday. Springer strained muscles on his right side while taking a swing in Game 3 and left the game after the first pitch of a plate appearance in the seventh inning. He did not play in Game 4 and was close to playing in Game 5 as staff monitored his readiness and game conditions. Springer completed batting-cage and on-field workouts and was prepared to pinch-run late in Game 5. He has 63 leadoff homers, and he hit a three-run homer in ALCS Game 7 after being struck on the right kneecap three days earlier.

Read at ESPN.com