Kevin Gausman gets the ball Tuesday as the Blue Jays open their Milwaukee series with a mostly familiar lineup behind him.
The biggest thing on Toronto's card is what did not change. Ernie Clement stays in the leadoff spot, Daulton Varsho hits second, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains parked in the three-hole.
That says Schneider wants continuity more than a full shake-up. George Springer is still on the injured list, so the Blue Jays are trying to keep the top of the order stable while they sort through the rest.
Jesús Sánchez is slotted cleanup again, with Kazuma Okamoto batting fifth. Nathan Lukes follows in left field, which keeps another left-handed bat in the middle third against Milwaukee right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.
Eloy Jiménez stays in at designated hitter after his call-up, while Andrés Giménez hits eighth. Tyler Heineman is back behind the plate, a notable shift after Brandon Valenzuela had handled the last game.
There is also one quiet clue in this lineup after Toronto's latest roster churn. Lenyn Sosa is active, but he is not in the starting nine for this opener, so Schneider is easing the new infielder into the mix instead of forcing him right into first pitch.
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Why this Blue Jays lineup is built around Gausman
This card is really about giving Gausman a chance to settle the series. Toronto enters at 6-9, Milwaukee at 8-7, and the Blue Jays need their steadiest starter to calm a club that has been hit by injuries and short outings.
Gausman's line is still the strongest on Toronto's probable board. He brings a 2.08 ERA and 26 strikeouts into the opener, which is why Schneider can afford to prioritize lineup balance over desperation.
The top of the order gives Toronto its best on-base look. Clement has hit .311, Varsho has an .770 OPS, and Guerrero owns an .880 OPS, so the Blue Jays are clearly betting that traffic ahead of the middle can finally turn into crooked numbers.
Heineman's return matters, too. He is hitting .353 and gives Toronto a veteran catcher back in the ninth spot, which can help lengthen the lineup more than a rookie fill-in can on a road night.
The visual of this lineup is simple enough. Schneider kept the top three intact, left Jiménez in the order, held Sosa back for now, and handed the game to Gausman.
That makes the Blue Jays' plan pretty plain for Milwaukee. Let Kevin Gausman set the tone, let the top of the lineup create pressure early, and hope the first game of this road trip looks cleaner than the last series did.
Should John Schneider keep Ernie Clement in the leadoff spot against Milwaukee?
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