Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer is dealing with an illness and will not be in the starting lineup Friday against the Minnesota Twins.
The Blue Jays have moved Davis Schneider into Springer's leadoff spot with Cavan Biggio handling duties in right field.
Manager John Schneider appeared on Blair & Barker ahead of the game and discussed the changes to the order.
"We’re at the point in the year, I think, with everyone, not just George, where we have to find ways to score more runs consistently and whoever that shakes out is how it shakes out," he said. "So, I think right now, George, he’s not in the lineup tonight. He’s still kind of battling some sickness like a lot of guys are, myself included. We’re going to give Schneider a go at the one hole and see how it unfolds tonight against a good pitcher.
"I’ve been saying it for a long time, there’s nothing set in stone. You’re just trying to adjust and use your eyes and try to see how we can get more runs on the board consistently."
Springer, 34, has struggled to start the season with a .206/.278/.298 slash line including a .125 batting average with runners on base. Schneider doesn't see a difference with the way Springer has been hitting with or without runners on, though, and believes he's "been a little bit unlucky."
"I think we can all say that, whether it’s with guys on or not, and we’re talking about a really good player," he said. "We get the fact that, yeah, sure, he’s getting older. He and we hear the outside noise, but I don’t think his at-bats are drastically different whether our guys are on. He just hasn’t gotten the production either he or we hoped for at this point.
"Counting on him to continue to work on it, continue to understand how pitchers are attacking him right now and make the proper adjustments."
Meanwhile, Davis Schneider has avoided the sophomore jinx, getting out to a solid start with a .275/.383/.475 slash line, three home runs and 13 RBIs.
John Schneider gives credit to the 25-year-old for re-inventing himself year after year and not being afraid of making adjustments that continue to this day.
"He’s still doing it right now at the big-league level, whether it’s with his pitch selection, whether it’s with his stance, his setup, he’s still evolving with what he’s seeing right now," he said. "When you look at him, he’s a guy that came over to some big-league games in spring and we joked with him all camp this was the first big-league camp he got invited to officially. You love hearing, you love seeing those stories unfold, and then from that you love watching a player, a young player, really, trying to keep evolving with what’s happening in real time."
The Blue Jays will also get a boost to their bullpen as Yimi Garcia is expected to return from a back injury.
Garcia, who last pitched April 28, holds a 0.68 ERA with 16 strikeouts and has two saves over 13.1 innings in 13 games.
Toronto (17-20) hosts Minnesota (22-15) in the opener of a three-game series. Yusei Kikuchi (2-2, 2.72 ERA) will start on the mound for the Blue Jays while the Twins are sending Joe Ryan (1-2, 3.54) to the hill.
Watch live on Sportsnet One and Sportsnet+, starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
3:06
