BOSTON – The Toronto Blue Jays are taking a look at left-fielder Michael Saunders in the leadoff spot, making the change Sunday with Kevin Pillar off to a slow start and much of the rest of the lineup slumping also.
Manager John Gibbons had been kicking around the switch in recent days and says the team is “going to ride it out” with its new look for the foreseeable future.
“You’ve got to give it some time, too,” he said, adding later: “Maybe this will jump-start us a little bit.”
Saunders’ on-base percentage through the season’s first 12 games was .343 compared to .235 for Pillar, preventing the Blue Jays from maximizing the current hot streaks of Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.
Pillar, batting .188, was in the eighth spot Sunday.
“You can’t pin our offensive struggles on that,” said Gibbons. “But it is important while the guys are hitting 2-3-4 to try get as many guys on for those guys as possible.”
Saunders has started games in the leadoff spot 42 times previously in his career, all with the Seattle Mariners, posting a .321 OBP in those contests. He posted a career-best OBP of .341 in 2014, his last healthy season.
“My approach isn’t going to change,” he said of the switch. “I feel like the moment you try to change to where you are in the lineup, whether it’s first, fourth, whatever, that’s when you get yourself into trouble. You’ve got to understand what you do well, and try to stick to your approach.”
Even with Donaldson now hitting behind him, Saunders doesn’t expect to be pitched differently.
“I know the MVP is behind me, arguably the most feared hitter in the league,” he said. “But when pitchers realize how to get you out, they’re going to know how to attack you, and until you change or make the adjustment, they’re going to continue to pitch you that way, and make you be the one to make the adjustment.”
