George Springer is out of the Blue Jays' lineup for a second straight day Wednesday.

Manager John Schneider said the veteran designated hitter is "a little banged-up," though he remains available off the bench against the Athletics.

The plan is to use Thursday's off-day to get Springer fully healthy ahead of a critical six-game homestand starting Friday.

That stretch brings the Orioles and Tigers to Rogers Centre, both teams directly involved in the crowded AL wild-card picture.

Springer has taken a real step back this season, hitting .247 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs.

But he was arguably at his best in August, blasting two homers and hitting .321 that month, right before this two-game absence.

Alejandro Kirk slides into the DH spot in his place, with Brandon Valenzuela catching for the series.

Why this rest comes at a critical stretch

Toronto sits one game out of the final AL wild-card spot, currently held by the Guardians, making every lineup decision carry real weight.

Choosing to rest Springer now, rather than push through against a non-contending Athletics team, suggests the club sees this as the right moment to be cautious.

That approach lines up with the calendar. An off-day Thursday gives Toronto a built-in buffer before the far more important homestand begins.

Springer's late-season form has been genuinely encouraging, and losing that bat for an extended stretch would sting during a stretch this tight.

At 36, managing his workload strategically makes sense, banking rest now to have him fully available when Baltimore and Detroit come to town.

Whether two days off is enough to fully shake whatever's bothering him should become clear once he's back in the lineup for that homestand opener.