Myles Straw is in John Schneider's lineup Tuesday as the Blue Jays try to answer a rough loss to the Rays.
Toronto came into the afternoon at 18-22, while Tampa Bay arrived at 26-13, so this is not one of those quiet May games that can drift by.
George Springer leads off as the designated hitter again, but the first real twist is Straw hitting second in right field. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stays in the 3-hole, with Kazuma Okamoto batting cleanup at third.
That says plenty about what Schneider wants after Monday's loss. He is looking for contact and speed near the top instead of stacking the order only around power.
Leonardo Sosa gets the start at second base and hits fifth, which stands out right away. Ernie Clement is at shortstop in the 6 spot, giving Toronto another contact bat in the middle of the card.
Daulton Varsho bats seventh in center, Davis Schneider is in left hitting eighth, and Brandon Valenzuela catches while batting ninth. Patrick Corbin gets the ball against Shane McClanahan.
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Toronto is trying to reset the lineup fast
The Straw move is the one that jumps off the card. Covers noted Tuesday morning that he has been batting over .300 this season, and that kind of on-base spark matters when Toronto is trying to get more life in front of Guerrero.
It also gives this lineup a different shape against McClanahan. Instead of going all-in on slug, Schneider is leaning into table-setting and hoping the traffic builds before Guerrero and Okamoto come up.
Sosa's placement is another signal. Hitting him fifth is not a hide-him move. It is a manager showing some trust in a spot where Toronto needs clean at-bats, not empty swings.
There is pressure on Corbin, too. This lineup is built to bounce back, but it also needs the left-hander to keep the game under control against one of the hottest clubs in the league.
McClanahan comes in at 4-2 with a 2.60 ERA, while Corbin is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA, so the Blue Jays are not getting much room to ease into this one.
That is why the top of the order matters so much this afternoon. Springer has to reach, Straw has to keep things moving, and Guerrero has to cash in when the lane opens.
For Schneider, this lineup feels less like a shake-up and more like a direct response. The Blue Jays need a better start, more pressure on the bases, and a cleaner game against Tampa Bay. Tuesday's card is built with exactly that in mind.
Do you like John Schneider's lineup changes against the Rays?
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