ST. PETERSBURG -- The Blue Jays welcomed George Springer back to the top of their lineup for Tuesday’s 4-3 loss against the Rays at Tropicana Field. But the order was without its biggest bat.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was not in the starting lineup for the first time this season. Manager John Schneider said it was just a day off for the face of the franchise, who had started each of Toronto’s first 35 games in the No. 3 hole. That lineup spot was occupied by third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, while Lenyn Sosa manned first base with Vladdy on the bench.
"Hard to not put him in the lineup and probably even harder to not use him if we need him," Schneider said. "But everyone needs a day here and there.”
It ultimately wasn't a full day off for Vlad Jr., who stepped to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth and grounded out to third.
Guerrero is eighth in the Majors among qualified hitters in batting average (.328) and seventh in on-base percentage (.413). The team is still waiting for him to go on a power surge, however. Vlad has just two homers through 131 at-bats, and his .427 slugging percentage is 66 points below his career average.
Springer returned to the leadoff spot after he was hit by a pitch on his previously fractured left big toe during Saturday’s game against the Twins. The good news was that Springer didn’t suffer a new injury as X-rays came back negative.
Springer was in the on-deck circle in the ninth inning Monday with one on and no outs in a 5-1 game. But after Andrés Giménez grounded into a double play, he was pulled back. He went 0-for-4 with a walk on Tuesday. The veteran designated hitter is slashing an underwhelming .200/.300/.343 through 19 games this season, although he will bring an 18-game on-base streak into Wednesday's series finale.
His presence was a welcome sight for a Toronto offense that is tied for 24th in runs scored (147). And with Addison Barger expected to be activated from the injured list no later than Friday, the Blue Jays’ offense is starting to near full strength after a sluggish start to the year.