Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wasn't on the original lineup card, and now he's batting second.

The Blue Jays made a late change ahead of today's first game, inserting him back into the order after he'd initially been left off entirely.

There's no word yet on the specific reasoning behind either decision, why he was left off originally or why he was added back before first pitch.

Given his recent history with lower back tightness, any late scratch or addition involving Guerrero draws real attention right now.

Batting second is also a notable placement, a shift from where he's spent most of the season in Toronto's order.

Why every roster decision carries extra weight right now

With the Blue Jays down to their final handful of games and elimination hanging over nearly every outcome around the league, having their franchise player available matters enormously today.

A last-minute addition suggests something changed quickly between the initial lineup release and first pitch, whether that's continued progress on the back issue or simply a change in the day's plan.

Toronto's offense has needed every version of Guerrero it can get all season, and getting him into the lineup, even after initially being left off, is a positive sign regardless of the reasoning.

There's no indication yet of any lingering concern attached to this move, and his placement in the two-hole suggests the club expects him to be a full participant today.

Whether this ends up being a simple planning adjustment or reveals something more about his health status should become clearer as the game unfolds.

For a team with almost no games left to work with, having Guerrero back in the lineup, wherever he's batting, is exactly the kind of news Toronto needed today.