TORONTO – Michael Saunders left Tuesday’s 11-3 win as a precaution due to right hamstring tightness that the left fielder describes as ‘mild.’

“We decided just to play it smart,” Saunders said. “As of right now it’s day to day. Hopefully it’ll feel better tomorrow.”

Saunders walked in the first inning and flied out to left field to lead off the third, but manager John Gibbons pinch hit for him with Darwin Barney later that inning after the Blue Jays batted around to take a 9-0 lead against the Philadelphia Phillies. Ryan Goins replaced Saunders in left field, making his first outfield appearance since 2015.

Though he battled hamstring soreness in April, regular maintenance work including a steady supply of ice packs has helped Saunders stay healthy enough to play in 58 of the Blue Jays’ 67 games. Along the way, the 29-year-old has distanced himself from a disappointing 2015 season when a meniscus tear limited him to just nine games. But a foul ball off of his lower right leg Monday led to a swollen ankle that may even be related to the hamstring soreness.

“Honestly I think that might be a reason why. My ankle’s pretty sore right now,” Saunders said. “I’ve had to tape my ankle and something else has had to take over the workload, but the ankle’s feeling OK.”

Saunders has been one of baseball’s more productive offensive players so far this year. The left-handed hitter’s batting .310 with a .388 on-base percentage, a .563 slugging percentage and 11 home runs. Only six players have a better OPS than Saunders’ .954 mark: David Ortiz, Daniel Murphy, Manny Machado, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jose Altuve and Matt Carpenter.

The Blue Jays are currently carrying a three-man bench consisting of Goins, Ezequiel Carrera and Josh Thole, but Carrera has been playing regularly of late since Jose Bautista has been dealing with a sore hip flexor. They expect Saunders to return before long.

“I couldn’t tell you about tomorrow, but we don’t think it’s going to be any (significant) length of time,” Gibbons said.

The Blue Jays and Phillies play in Philadelphia Wednesday and Thursday, meaning Saunders and Bautista will both have to play the field in order to start. The Blue Jays optioned Aaron Loup and designated Scott Diamond for assignment Tuesday, and the corresponding moves to come Wednesday may well reinforce the Blue Jays’ bench.