Blue Jays' George Springer injury update is basically, 'So you're telling me there's a chance'

The good news is that the Toronto Blue Jays won Game 4 of the World Series without George Springer.

The bad news is that it's not clear when Springer may return.

Then there's the news in the middle: Toronto has kept Springer on the World Series roster rather than removing him for an injury replacement. So there's a chance, it seems, of him making a return.

Springer left Game 3 after fouling a pitch off, clearly injuring himself on his swing. It's a right-side injury, but the Blue Jays have stopped short of calling it an oblique injury.

Hitters are usually sidelined for a couple weeks, at least, when they strain their oblique.

MORE: How Blue Jays won World Series Game 4

On Tuesday before the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider called Springer "hour to hour" before he was eventually left out of the lineup.

With Springer sitting, Bo Bichette slid into the DH spot while Isiah Kiner-Falefa played second base. The new leadoff hitter was Nathan Lukes.

Toronto would likely lead off a different player in Game 5 against the lefty Blake Snell, rather than the lefty Lukes.

Springer apparently has been working through pain all season.

"Whenever this season is over, you guys will be surprised to see how much he has grinded physically," Schneider said, via ESPN.

Springer has four home runs and an .884 OPS in the postseason. That includes the home run that took Toronto from trailing to leading for good in Game 7 of the ALCS to get to the World Series.

With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 is Wednesday night. Then Thursday is a travel day before the series concludes Friday and potentially Saturday.

MORE: Why Louis Varland did an intentional balk late in Game 4