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Jose Reyes returns to Blue Jays lineup following rib injury

The Toronto Blue Jays offence might be turning things around as its regular leadoff man returns to the lineup.

Shortstop Jose Reyes was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday after sitting out the past month with a fractured left rib and muscle strain in his left side.

The 31-year-old is will return to his customary leadoff spot in the batting order when Toronto opens a three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

The Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep against Seattle with a 8-2 victory on Sunday afternoon. They had scored a combined five runs in the first two games of the series.

Popular reserve infielder Munenori Kawasaki was optioned to triple-A Buffalo to make room on the roster for Reyes, who had four singles in 13 plate appearances during a three-game rehab stint with the Bisons.

Prior to his injury on April 27, Reyes had a .250 batting average and .266 on-base percentage. He had been playing through pain since April 10 when he immediately clutched his left side after a swing during the Baltimore Orioles' home opener.

Reyes, a switch hitter, had experienced discomfort whenever he swung from the left side and it gradually worsened.

He hasn't played in more than 143 games in five of the last six seasons, appearing in just 93 contests with Toronto in 2013.

A year ago, Reyes strained his left hamstring during his first regular-season at-bat and was sidelined nearly three weeks. In April 2013, Reyes slid awkwardly into second base in Kansas City and suffered a severely sprained left ankle that kept him out of the lineup until June 25, or 66 games.

Reyes' double-play partner, second baseman Devon Travis, was put on the 15-day DL on Friday with a left shoulder injury.

Ryan Goins, who homered, drove in three runs and walked twice in Sunday's game, will likely get most of the starts at second in Travis' absence.