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Adjustments in Toronto Blue Jays Lineup
Following a hitless performance on Tuesday night, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider opted to once again shift shortstop Bo Bichette down the batting lineup in preparation for Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
With the series finale on the horizon, Toronto made notable alterations to its lineup configuration. Outfielder Daulton Varsho found himself elevated to the two-hole, a position he has occupied a mere 16 times previously in his career. On the other hand, Bichette was relegated to the six-spot, while catcher Danny Jansen was placed in the fifth slot.
Bichette’s batting position fluctuated in recent games, having been demoted to fifth in the lineup during the contest against the Washington Nationals last Saturday. Subsequently, he was reinstated as the cleanup hitter in the subsequent two matchups. Notably, the two-time All-Star had not seen himself positioned lower than fifth in the Blue Jays lineup since August 26, 2022, when he batted seventh versus the Los Angeles Angels.
Notwithstanding, Bichette’s performance in the early stages of the 2024 season has been underwhelming, reflected in his slash line of .189/.246/.268 and a mere seven extra-base hits across 33 games. Conversely, Jansen displayed a solid outing by going 2-for-3 with a double in Tuesday’s 10-1 defeat to the Phillies, elevating his season batting average to .325 and OPS to 1.126.
In terms of their lineup adjustments, Varsho has been assigned the second spot only once in his Blue Jays tenure, a game in which he went 0-for-3 against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 25, 2023.
Upcoming Matchup
The Blue Jays are poised to showcase their performance as they entrust Chris Bassitt with the pitching responsibilities, seeking to rebound against Aaron Nola and the Phillies. Catch the action live on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+ with coverage scheduled to commence at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.
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