Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gave John Schneider something to think about after Sunday's win, and the Blue Jays manager is not rushing his next lineup call.
Asked whether Guerrero will stay in the 2-hole for Monday's opener in the Bronx, Schneider said he has «a flight» to think about it.
He also pointed to the matchup. Ryan Weathers is lined up to start for the Yankees on Monday, so Schneider made clear the lefty-righty angle will be part of the decision.
That answer matters because moving Guerrero up was not a small tweak. It was a real change for a hitter who had been pressing and searching for something to click.
Sunday finally gave Toronto a reason to breathe. Guerrero went 2-for-4 with an RBI, 2 runs scored, and his 3rd home run of the season in a 4-1 win over Detroit.
That is exactly the kind of game that can make a manager hesitate before changing anything again. Guerrero did not just look better. He looked more involved in the game from the start.
Piñango set the table in front of him, Guerrero got to hit earlier, and the Blue Jays got one of their cleaner offensive nights of the week.
Schneider now has a real lineup decision to make
This is why Monday's card matters more than it usually would in mid-May. Schneider is not just deciding where to write a name. He is deciding whether Sunday gave him a usable spark.
The matchup adds some edge to it. Toronto opens in New York at 21-25, while the Yankees enter the series at 28-19, with Patrick Corbin scheduled to face Weathers in the opener.
Against a left-hander, Schneider could decide to reshuffle again. That part of his answer sounded honest. He is clearly still weighing whether the 2-hole is a 1-game look or something worth extending.
But Sunday gave Guerrero a real case to stay there. After a rough stretch in which his at-bats had looked heavy, he finally gave the Blue Jays a louder offensive line and a little more life.
That does not mean 1 game solves everything. Guerrero still has to stack better swings and prove the reset is real.
Still, this is the first time in a while Schneider has a good reason to pause before moving him back. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gave the manager a big swing, a better box score, and a lineup question that suddenly feels much more interesting heading into the Bronx.
Should Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stay in the No. 2 spot for Monday's game in New York?
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