The Toronto Blue Jays run out a lineup built for a series win today, with a couple of new names mixed into the middle of the order against Chicago.
Ernie Clement leads off again at second base, riding a .296 season average that's made him one of Toronto's most reliable bats all year.
Nathan Lukes bats second in right field at .288, setting the table ahead of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who slides into the designated hitter spot batting third.
Guerrero sits at .259 with six home runs, still chasing more consistency after a quiet return from the All-Star break.
Kazuma Okamoto bats cleanup at third base, and his 22 home runs remain the clearest power source in this entire lineup even with a .239 average.
Daulton Varsho follows in center field at .244, looking to build on a season that's had its share of both strong stretches and rough patches.
Sean Keys gets the start at first base batting sixth, hitting .188 through just nine games, a small sample still waiting for a real sign of traction.
Valenzuela and Clase add fresh energy to the bottom of the order
Brandon Valenzuela catches and bats seventh, sitting at .241 with seven home runs across 57 games, solid depth production behind the plate.
Andres Gimenez rounds out the middle infield at shortstop batting eighth, hitting .232 with seven homers of his own this season.
Jonatan Clase closes out the order in left field, and he's been nothing short of electric early, hitting .353 with two home runs in just six games.
It's a lineup that blends established regulars with some fresher legs, the kind of mix a team leans on when injuries have thinned out other options.
Does giving at-bats to Keys and Valenzuela in these middle-order type spots actually help Toronto's offense, or does it just reflect how many other options are currently unavailable?
Toronto sits at 45-51 with a two-game skid and a 5-5 mark over its last 10, and tonight's lineup card carries real weight with a series win on the line against the White Sox.
Should Jonatan Clase be getting more everyday at-bats given his hot start?
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