The Toronto Blue Jays are back in action Saturday looking to build on Friday’s 3-1 victory over the New York Yankees. It was Toronto’s seventh win in its last 10 games and moved the club to 60-64. The impressive stretch has brought the Blue Jays closer to an American League wild card spot with 38 games left in the regular season.
Despite having an uncharacteristically quiet night, designated hitter George Springer played a notable role in Toronto’s biggest offensive sequence Friday. Springer went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, but his grounder in the sixth inning set off the defensive chaos that allowed first basemanVladimir Guerrero Jr. to score the tying run. The four-time All-Star then got on the scoreboard with the go-ahead run moments later.
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Blue Jays will look to secure their second straight win and clinch the series against New York. However, they have to do it without Springer in the starting lineup.
The club announced its lineup to face the Yankees, with Springer absent and veteran catcher Alejandro Kirk taking his place as Toronto’s designated hitter.
The Blue Jays have not provided a reason for Springer’s absence as of this writing.
The decision comes after Springer recently returned from an absence earlier this month. He was scratched from Toronto’s Aug. 8 game against the Philadelphia Phillies before playing all four games against the Boston Red Sox. He also missed significant time earlier this season after suffering a fractured left big toe in April.
Springer has endured a difficult offensive season after producing one of the best years of his career in 2025. He entered Saturday batting .231/.312/.386, with his production well below last season’s .309/.399/.560 slash line.
Still, Toronto continues to value what the veteran brings, particularly his experience and ability to work at the top of the order. The Blue Jays also need to manage his workload carefully as they attempt to stay in the playoff race.
