Anthony

Santander

If Santander is healthy, the Blue Jays will almost assuredly give the 30-year-old a spot in their starting lineup after signing him to a five-year, $92.5 million deal last year. However, he won’t have a long leash. With George Springer locked in at designated hitter, Santander would need to start in right field, but the Blue Jays also have Myles Straw, Davis Schneider, and are firmly in the mix for Kyle Tucker. The key for Santander will be getting healthy in time for spring training, and then the team can go from there.

The move has been made official by Major League Baseball, which approves all injury-related transactions during the postseason. The decision eliminates Santander from consideration for the World Series, if Toronto manages to advance. The switch-hitting 30-year-old slugger has been dealing with a lingering back issue throughout the playoffs. It’ll be Joey Loperfido taking his place on Toronto’s roster for the remainder of the best-of-seven series.

Santander, who went 0-for-2 with a walk during Wednesday’s Game 3 rout in Seattle, continues to deal with a lingering back issue, according to Blue Jays manager John Schneider. The switch-hitting 30-year-old slugger takes a seat with Addison Barger getting the nod in right field and Isiah Kiner-Falefa drawing into the lineup at second base for the first time in the series. Here’s the full lineup: George Springer (DH), Nathan Lukes (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Ernie Clement (3B), Barger (RF), Kiner-Falefa (2B) and Andrés Giménez (SS).

Santander was scratched from the lineup for Game 2, but he’s well enough to hit in the middle of the lineup against George Kirby and the Mariners in a must-win contest. Davis Schneider retreats to the bench with Santander back. The full lineup for Toronto: George Springer CF, Nathan Lukes RF, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B, Santander RF, Alejandro Kirk C, Dalton Varsho CF, Addison Barger 3B, Ernie Clement 2B, and Andres Gimenez SS.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed Santander was available to pinch-hit during Monday’s lopsided Game 2 loss in Toronto after being scratched from the lineup with lower back tightness. The switch-hitting veteran slugger figures to be ready to get back in the lineup for Game 3 on Wednesday evening out in Seattle.

Davis Schneider, who went 2-for-6 with a double and two walks in the series against the Yankees, is replacing him in left field. Santander is likely day-to-day.

The Jays had Nathan Lukes in left field and Santander in right on Wednesday, but those two have swapped spots tonight. Other than that, the one change in the lineup is that Santander has been dropped one spot behind Ernie Clement. The full lineup: George Springer (DH), Lukes (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Addison Barger (3B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Clement (2B), Anthony Santander (LF) and Andrés Giménez (SS).

George Springer is DHing for the fourth straight game, Santander had a big misplay on a Cody Bellinger double last night, but he did go 2-for-4 with a double and an intentional walk. The Jays have made a couple of changes today with the Yankees throwing a right-hander for the first time since Saturday, but just the expected ones; they’re playing Nathan Lukes over Davis Schneider in left and Addison Barger over Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the infield.

Santander sat against fellow lefty Max Fried on Sunday, but he’s getting the nod over Myles Straw tonight. That’s the only change for the Jays, who are sticking with Isiah Kiner-Falefa over Addison Barger and David Schneider over Nathan Lukes against the southpaw.

Schneider gets an opportunity near the top of Toronto’s lineup with lefty Max Fried on the mound for New York. The versatile 26-year-old was left on the bench for Game 1 in favor of veteran Anthony Santander, who is out of the lineup entirely to open this one, with righty Luis Gil toeing the rubber. He figures to continue splitting time with Santander for the remainder of the postseason. Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes are also on the bench to open this one. Here’s the full lineup: George Springer (DH), Schneider (LF), Guerrero Jr. (1B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Ernie Clement (3B), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B), Andrés Giménez (SS) and Myles Straw (RF).