Blue Jays announce lineup for final game vs. the Red Sox

That was the first thing that jumped off Toronto's lineup card. Clement was back at second base and at the top, a sign Schneider wanted contact and pace early against Boston right-hander Brayan Bello.

The matchup shaped the whole card. Bello came in at 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA, while Eric Lauer got the ball for Toronto carrying a 1-3 record and 6.75 ERA.

Behind Clement, Schneider slotted Jesús Sánchez second and kept Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 3-hole. That gave Toronto a left-right-left feel at the top before handing the middle innings to its best hitter.

Kazuma Okamoto hit cleanup, and that part of the order made sense. Schneider stayed with one of his steadiest run-producing bats in a spot where Toronto badly needs more damage.

Daulton Varsho followed in the 5 spot, which kept another left-handed threat in the heart of the lineup. It also gave the Blue Jays more athleticism and extra-base ability behind Guerrero and Okamoto.

Yohendrick Pinango was the more interesting inclusion. He drew the designated hitter assignment and batted sixth, a clear sign Toronto wanted to see what the young left-handed bat could add in a meaningful lineup spot.

The bottom third showed that balance best. Myles Straw started in left field, Andrés Giménez returned at shortstop, and Brandon Valenzuela caught Lauer.

Giménez being back in the lineup mattered on its own. He had been out while dealing with hamstring tightness, so his presence gave Toronto one of its better defenders and steadier infield options again.

This was also not a soft afternoon game for the Blue Jays. Boston entered at 12-18, Toronto at 13-16, so Schneider was filling out a card for a series that still carried some early pressure in the division.

That helps explain why Clement stayed on top. He is not the biggest name in the lineup, but he puts the ball in play and lets Schneider build the rest of the order around traffic instead of waiting for solo damage.

The larger point is that this was a practical lineup, not a flashy one. Schneider trusted Clement to set the tone, leaned on Guerrero in the middle, and mixed in Pinango and Valenzuela to see whether a few newer pieces could help push the offense forward.

For Toronto, that was the real story before first pitch. The Blue Jays were not just posting another lineup. They were trying to find a version of it that could finally put together enough quality at-bats to make a winnable matchup count.