Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is back, Andrés Giménez is back, and John Schneider finally gets a healthier Blue Jays lineup to open the Boston series.
Toronto's card for Tuesday against the Red Sox puts George Springer at DH, Ernie Clement at second, Guerrero at first, Alejandro Kirk behind the plate, Kazuma Okamoto at third, Nathan Lukes in right, Davis Schneider in left, Giménez at short, and Myles Straw in center, with Dylan Cease on the mound. Cease entered the day with a 2.91 ERA.
The biggest part of that lineup is obvious. Guerrero had been dealing with lower back tightness, and MLB's Blue Jays injury tracker listed June 16 as his expected return date after he missed time over the weekend.
Giménez's return matters too, even if it lands a little quieter. Sportsnet reported Sunday that he had been pulled from the lineup because of left wrist soreness after a slide into first base, so seeing him back at shortstop this quickly is a good sign for Toronto's infield stability.
That changes the look of the lineup right away. With Guerrero back in the 3-hole, the Blue Jays can stop building around patchwork first-base coverage and get their middle back into a more normal shape. This is an inference based on Guerrero's return to first base and his lineup slot.
It also helps Kirk. Hitting cleanup behind Guerrero gives Toronto a better chance to create real traffic in front of one of its steadiest bats, instead of asking the catcher to carry too much of the offense by himself. This is an inference based on the batting order provided.
-
Toronto's lineup finally looks closer to normal
Clement staying in the 2-hole says a lot too. He has played well enough to keep a premium lineup spot, and his contact-heavy game makes sense directly in front of Guerrero on a day the Blue Jays badly need cleaner innings at the plate. This is an inference based on his batting order placement and recent All-Star voting lead reported by Sportsnet.
Then there is Cease. Toronto is not just getting 2 regular bats back. It is also handing the game to one of its top starters against a Red Sox club that entered at 29-40. The Blue Jays came into the opener at 34-38, so this series has real weight for both sides.
The lower half still has some give to it with Lukes, Davis Schneider, and Straw, but that is easier to live with when Guerrero and Giménez are back in their usual spots. This is an inference based on the lineup structure.
That is the real takeaway from this card. The Blue Jays are not fully whole yet, but Tuesday's lineup is a clear step back toward the version Schneider wants to write. Guerrero is back. Giménez is back. And for one afternoon at Fenway, Toronto finally looks a little less patched together.
Does Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andrés Giménez returning make this lineup feel dangerous again?
Also read on Blue Jays Insider :
Sportsnet just made a broadcast announcement that has fans heartbroken
