Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion is feeling “much better” and manager Terry Francona isn’t ruling him out for Game 3 against the Yankees on Sunday night.

Encarnacion suffered a right ankle sprain during Game 2 on Friday night and it looked much worse than that.

MRI results showed no structural damage to the ankle and the team listed Encarnacion as “day to day” with the injury. ESPN reported that he left the clubhouse on crutches and in a walking boot.

Francona met with reporters on Saturday afternoon and had this to say about the injury:

If the team were to remove Encarnacion off the roster, he would be ineligible for the American League Championship Series which would be a tough hole to fill.

Encarnacion hit 38 home runs and drove in 107 runs in his first season with the club after signing with the team as a free agent last winter. 

So far in this series he’s 0-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Michael Brantley will likely get the start at designated hitter which he filled in for Encarnacion when he left the game and went 0-5 with two strikeouts. 

If he continues to struggle at the plate on Sunday night and Encarnacion can go, I’m sure Francona will make the switch if needed.