Andrés

Giménez

Giménez came down a little awkwardly on what turned out to be an infield single and was checked on by the trainer. He was going to be lifted for a pinch-hitter in a tie game in the ninth, but after the preceding batter, Nathan Lukes, gave the Jays the lead, the team changed its mind about going to Alejandro Kirk and let Giménez pop out against Aroldis Chapman. Giménez will probably be fine, but if he’s not in Friday’s lineup, his shoulder will likely be the reason.

Giménez, 27, was scratched from Sunday’s lineup due to soreness in his left wrist. The veteran infielder is good to go with Davis Schneider on the bench to open Tuesday’s tilt against the Red Sox.

Giménez suffered the injury while sliding back into first base during Saturday’s battle against the Yankees. He’s considered day-to-day. Davis Schneider will start in his place at second base against Will Warren and the Yankees on Sunday afternoon.

Giménez got the scoring started in this one with a 412-foot (102.0 mph EV) solo shot to center in the third inning. That would be his only hit in four plate appearances on the day. The dynamic 27-year-old has struggled at the dish over the past few weeks and is now slashing just .223/.260/.370 with six homers, 28 RBI and six stolen bases on the season.

The 27-year-old infielder opened the scoring in the ballgame with a two-run double off of Brant Hurter in the second inning. That would prove to be the extent of the Jays’ offense in the ballgame. Giménez is having a solid season at the dish, slashing .250/.276/.417 with five homers, 25 RBI and five stolen bases in his first 153 plate appearances.

Giménez took Rays starter Drew Rasmussen deep for a three-run homer in the second inning before repeating the feat against reliever Ian Seymour in the seventh to record the first multi-homer performance of his career. The 27-year-old infielder was one of the few bright spots in this one as he was responsible for all five of Toronto’s runs in a losing effort. He’s up to five round-trippers already through 38 games after mustering only seven across 101 contests last year in his Blue Jays debut.

This is now the second straight game that Giménez has sat against a left-handed pitcher. Ernie Clement will start at shortstop and Lenyn Sosa will play second base. It’s a bit concerning that Sosa, who also hits left-handed, is in the lineup while Giménez is not. Giménez has enjoyed a better season this year than last season, but he’s in a strong side platoon and lacks power, which limits him to deeper formats.

It looks to be a regular day of rest for the 27-year-old infielder. Ernie Clement will cover shortstop and bat leadoff in his absence while Davis Schneider will make a start at second base and bat eighth for the Jays against Guardians’ right-hander Slade Cecconi.

Giménez is now hitting .292 with an .825 OPS in the early going, and we’re a little surprised he hasn’t been moved up Toronto’s batting order further. He hit seventh today for the second day in a row. Nobody’s rushing out to the waiver wire to claim this is a Giménez renaissance year or anything, but he’s been playable in deeper mixed leagues.

A day after collecting two hits, Giménez doubled it with a four-hit day against the Athletics on Saturday. He knocked base hits in the third and seventh innings before driving in a key run with a single in the eighth. With the game in extras, he got on with his fourth hit in the tenth and stole second for his first steal of the season. The 27-year-old shortstop is now 6-for-8 at the dish through a pair of games.