Davis

Schneider

It’s not uncommon for managers to try to get their bench players into the lineup at least once in the early stages of the season, which is presumably why Straw will get a shot to face Athletics lefty Jeffrey Springs in this one. Barger sat occasionally against southpaws last year and that figures to be the arrangement against this season with both Straw and Davis Schneider, who is in left field in place of Nathan Lukes on Saturday afternoon, on the bench as platoon options in right field.

Okamoto immediately slots into the heart of Toronto’s loaded lineup as the defending American League champions open their spring exhibition schedule. The 29-year-old infielder brings an extensive track record of success in Japan as a power-oriented bat with solid contact skills, a profile that should make his transition to the majors less volatile than most international imports. He’s been going outside the top 275 picks on average in NFBC drafts since early February, making him an intriguing late-round flyer for fantasy managers. Here is the full lineup: Ernie Clement (2B), Andrés Giménez (SS), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Addison Barger (RF, Okamoto (3B), Daulton Varsho (DH), Davis Schneider (LF), Nathan Lukes (CF).

It’s labrum surgery. The Jays had indicated that Santander would be healthy this year after last year’s shoulder issues, but obviously things didn’t respond as hoped after he resumed baseball activities. This opens things back up with a Blue Jays lineup that had seemed set with Kazuma Okamoto essentially replacing Bo Bichette as the one real change from last year. As things stand now, they’ll probably go back to using a Nathan Lukes/Davis Schneider platoon in left field, though maybe Joey Loperfido could enter the mix. Santander would probably return around the All-Star break in a best-case scenario.

Schneider got the start with left-hander Blake Snell on the mound, and he greeted Snell with a solo homer on the first pitch of the game. He also drew a walk while getting the start over Nathan Lukes. It’ll likely be Lukes back in the outfield against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 6 of the World Series on Friday, but Schneider will certainly be available off the bench against any southpaws.

Springer was able to run in the outfield and hit off a velocity machine, and Blue Jays manager John Schneider has insinuated that Springer will be available off the bench. The 36-year-old will sit with Bo Bichette the designated hitter, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base. Nathan Lukes will also sit against southpaw Blake Snell with Davis Schneider leading off in left field. The full lineup for Toronto: Davis Schneider LF, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B, Bo Bichette DH, Alejandro Kirk C, Daulton Varsho CF, Ernie Clement 3B, Addison Barger RF Kiner-Falefa 2B, and Andrés Giménez at SS.

Bichette makes his highly anticipated return to the Jays’ lineup and should provide a boost to an offense that was already firing on all cylinders heading into the fall classic. Here’s the full lineup that the Jays will roll out against left-hander Blake Snell on baseball’s biggest stage on Friday: George Springer (DH), Davis Schneider (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Bo Bichette (2B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Ernie Clement (3B), Myles Straw (RF) 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.

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.

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).

Toronto will roll with Nathan Lukes and Davis Schneider in the outfield corners with veteran George Springer occupying the DH spot in a pivotal showdown against the division-rival Rays. It’s unclear how much of a role Santander, who has gone 1-for-8 with four strikeouts in three games since returning from the injured list earlier this week, will have in the postseason since Bo Bichette (knee) is likely to be limited to DH once he returns. The Blue Jays enter the final weekend of the regular season in a tie with the Yankees for the AL East division crown.