Charles McAdoo is in John Schneider's lineup tonight, and the Blue Jays are leaning into a different infield look in Baltimore.
That is the first thing that jumps off Toronto's card. This is not a fully standard setup, even with George Springer back in the leadoff spot as the designated hitter.
Ernie Clement moves into the two-hole and plays shortstop, which gives Schneider a contact bat right in front of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base.
That top three matters because the Blue Jays are trying to keep traffic on the bases early against left-hander Trevor Rogers. Toronto enters the night at 28-29, while Baltimore sits at 26-31.
Kazuma Okamoto stays in the cleanup spot at third base, and Daulton Varsho follows him in center field. That gives Toronto a middle of the order with real thump even before the lower half starts moving.
Then comes the lineup twist. McAdoo is in at second base and bats sixth, which puts him in a meaningful offensive spot instead of hiding him at the bottom of the order.
Myles Straw handles left field from the seven spot, while Yohendrick Piñango starts in right and hits eighth. Brandon Valenzuela catches and rounds out the card in the nine-hole.
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Why this Blue Jays lineup looks different
The biggest change is how Schneider spread the order out behind Guerrero. Okamoto, Varsho, and McAdoo give Toronto three straight hitters with very different looks for Rogers to deal with.
Clement batting second is worth watching, too. It is a spot built for table-setting, and it tells you Schneider wants the inning moving before Guerrero gets his first real chance to do damage.
McAdoo's placement matters for another reason. Hitting sixth means the Blue Jays are not treating him like a throw-in start. They want his at-bats to count in the middle frames. That is an inference from where he is slotted on the card.
Straw and Piñango also give Toronto a more flexible outfield around Varsho. It is not a pure power alignment, but it does give Schneider some range and a little more speed deeper in the lineup. That is an inference from the defensive assignments.
There is also a cleaner shape to the whole card. Springer sets the tone, Clement and Guerrero drive the top, Okamoto and Varsho hold the middle, and McAdoo gets a real chance to matter instead of waiting for one late plate appearance.
That is why this lineup stands out. The Blue Jays did not just post nine names against the Orioles. They gave Charles McAdoo a real role, pushed Ernie Clement up, and built a card that looks a little sharper than a routine road-night lineup.
Did John Schneider make the right call putting Charles McAdoo in a key lineup spot?
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