The Toronto Blue Jays continued to build momentum on Friday night, defeating the Seattle Mariners 2-0 to earn their second consecutive victory and improve to 42-46 on the season.
Despite the recent upswing, Toronto remains third in the American League East, sitting 11.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays and outside the American League wild card picture. With time beginning to run short, every win is now of added significance as the Blue Jays try to climb back into the postseason race.
Toronto’s winning streak has come without one of its veteran leaders. George Springer first left the club before the series finale against the New York Mets after he and his wife welcomed their son, remaining on the paternity list through Friday’s opener in Seattle.
© Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Ahead of Saturday’s game, manager John Schneider provided the latest update on Springer’s status.
Schneider said Springer’s paternity leave expired Saturday, but the outfielder has now been placed on the Family Medical Emergency list in what he described as a purely transactional move. Springer is simply “tying up some loose ends,” Schneider said, and he is expected to rejoin the team when the Blue Jays travel to California to face the San Francisco Giants (h/t Hazel Mae of Sportsnet).
When Springer does return, Toronto will be hoping he can rediscover the form that made him one of the club’s most valuable players last season. After finishing seventh in American League MVP voting in 2025, the veteran has endured a difficult start to 2026, batting .221 with eight home runs, 21 RBIs, a .308 on-base percentage and a .681 OPS through 63 games. Those numbers are well below the standard he established a year ago, making a second-half turnaround even more important.
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In Springer’s absence, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will serve as the designated hitter on Saturday after showing encouraging signs in Friday’s victory over Seattle.
As the Blue Jays attempt to work their way back into the playoff picture, they’ll need Springer to regain his 2025 form once he returns to the lineup.
