Blue Jays Lineup Takes Shape, Gausman Sharp in Final Spring Test
BRADENTON, Fla. – As spring training nears its conclusion, the Toronto Blue Jays are beginning to solidify their plans for the upcoming season, with a recent lineup configuration offering a glimpse into manager John Schneider’s thinking. In a Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, the Blue Jays showcased a lineup that, while subject to change, signaled a preferred arrangement as they prepare for Opening Day, .
The lineup featured George Springer leading off, followed by Nathan Lukes, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Batting third – a spot the star first baseman reportedly prefers. Addison Barger occupied the four-hole, with Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho, Kazuma Okamoto, Ernie Clement, and Andres Gimenez rounding out the batting order. Schneider acknowledged the lineup provided a strong indication of his intentions, emphasizing the importance of flow and strategic matchups against Pirates’ starter Paul Skenes.
“It’s a pretty solid idea of how I’m thinking about it, how we’re thinking about it,” Schneider said. “We’re not looking at results, but at how the lineup flows. And how we start may not be how we finish.”
Despite the intention behind the lineup, the Blue Jays struggled to generate offense against Skenes, who allowed only one hit and three walks over four scoreless innings, striking out five batters. Guerrero Jr. Came close to a three-run home run in the third inning, launching a ball at 108.3 mph, but it landed just foul. He subsequently struck out on a fastball.
The primary value of the at-bats, Schneider emphasized, lay in the opportunity to face high-caliber pitching as the team fine-tunes its timing before the regular season begins. Clement echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of facing the competition they’ll encounter throughout the year.
“Absolutely,” Clement said. “Those are the guys we’re going to be facing during the season, so as good as the competition can be, that’s welcomed.”
The Blue Jays’ offensive approach is expected to be dynamic throughout the season, building on a trend of adaptability established last year. In , the team utilized 146 different batting orders, demonstrating a willingness to adjust based on matchups and player performance. They too increased their emphasis on platoon advantages – strategically deploying hitters based on the opposing pitcher’s handedness – for the first time since .
Last year, the Cleveland Guardians led MLB in utilizing platoon advantages, taking 78.6 percent of their plate appearances with that strategy, while the Houston Astros were last at 35.2 percent. The two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers were second-to-last at 38.3 percent. Schneider explained that the Blue Jays are now layering in a more nuanced approach, considering not only handedness but also specific swing and pitch profiles to optimize matchups.
“Going back a couple years, we learned that, for the most part, it’s pretty advantageous to secure the handedness advantage and then, within that, last year we dove into more swing/pitch specifics and how we can combat whatever is on the mound,” Schneider said. “There’s also the human element that goes into it, too. If a guy is working on something and getting better at something and obviously having success, that’s where it’s on me to trust my eyes and see what’s going on and grab that route, as well.”
Clement highlighted the team’s overall offensive philosophy, emphasizing the unselfishness of the players and their commitment to contributing in various ways. “You saw it at the end of last year with how it was one through nine,” he said. “How at the bottom we’re going to be really, really pesky and tough at-bats, move runners over and do all the little things. Obviously, George and Vladdy and Lukey and all those guys at the top, they’ll do their thing. And, everybody’s very unselfish in our lineup. So, that helps things flow. We’re going to try to push as many runs across in as many different ways as possible.”
Bullpen Competition Heats Up
The competition for the final spots in the Blue Jays’ bullpen continues, with several candidates vying for a limited number of openings. Connor Seabold was released after being in camp on a minor-league deal, and Lazaro Estrada was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, narrowing the field. The remaining contenders include optionable players Chase Lee and Adam Macko, off-the-roster free agent Yariel Rodriguez, and Rule 5 draft picks Spencer Miles and Angel Bastardo.
Lee threw 1.2 innings Friday, while Macko allowed three runs in an inning Saturday, but performed well in two World Baseball Classic outings for Canada. Rodriguez offers the potential for multi-inning relief, while Miles must be kept on the roster all season for the Blue Jays to retain his rights. Bastardo, who spent last season on the 60-day injured list, only needs 90 days of active service time to remain with the team.
Gausman Prepares for Season
Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman has focused on maintaining his strength and conditioning throughout spring training. He reported to camp weighing around 220 pounds and has been prioritizing nutrition, including overnight oats with fruit, to maintain his physical condition. Gausman feels he is in a similar position to where he was at the start of last season.
Gausman capped off his spring with five-plus innings and 78 pitches against the Pirates, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts. He consistently hit 94 mph with his fastball, reaching 97.2 mph when needed, and generated 10 whiffs, including four on his heater and five on his split-finger pitch.
“I sense good,” Gausman said. “To be honest, I thought I’d feel a lot worse than I do, so it’s always nice when you surprise yourself when you’re 35. More than anything now, it’s about getting used to sitting down and getting back up and doing it six, seven, eight times every five days.”
Gausman also expressed his appreciation for Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, a fellow LSU alumnus. “LSU, Go Tigers. I appreciate the national championship that he brought to LSU. I understand Paul a little bit. He’s about as pro as it gets. He really embodies that military persona of being as prepared as you possibly can for every situation. Really beyond his years and has really only been pitching for a handful of years. The sky’s the limit with him, hopefully he can just stay healthy and keep doing what he’s been doing.”