Anthony Santander, scratched from Game 2 with lower back tightness and removed from Game 3 after scoring from the second in the fifth inning, was substituted off the Toronto Blue Jays’ ALCS roster Thursday and replaced by Joey Loperfido.

Major League Baseball approved the injury switch about an hour before Game 4, a move that required the confirmation of medical director Dr. Gary Green and makes the switch-hitting outfielder ineligible for the World Series, should his team get there.

The Blue Jays submitted the request after deciding that they couldn’t wait for the lumbar spine inflammation to relent.

Speaking before the substitution was confirmed, manager John Schneider said Santander playing in Wednesday’s 13-4 win left him “pretty stiff, sore after.”

“Checked in with him this mornin

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