Ernie Clement is sliding across the infield again for the Toronto Blue Jays. The 30-year-old utility man, hitting .305 with a .325 on-base percentage and a .463 slugging percentage, drew the start at shortstop for Sunday's series finale against the New York Yankees.
The move came after Andres Gimenez was pulled from the lineup hours before game time. The Blue Jays said Gimenez was scratched from Sunday's lineup with left wrist soreness, shifting Clement over from his everyday spot at second base. Davis Schneider stepped in at second to fill the opening.
The reshuffle is another example of how injuries have plagued the Blue Jays all season long, including those that began in spring training. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is out of the lineup for the second straight day with lower back tightness, leaving Charles McAdoo at first.
The Blue Jays also placed Daulton Varsho on the 10-day injured list on Friday with left wrist inflammation, with the only good news of the weekend being Alejandro Kirk's return to the team after a 62-game absence.
Clement has been Toronto's most reliable bat this season, finding ways to get on base. He ranks second in the American League in hits with 83, rarely striking out, with a 9.9 percent strikeout rate at the plate. His ability to play all over the field has only grown more valuable as the injuries mount.
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Prior to Sunday's series finale against the Yankees, they hold a 34-37 record, good enough for third place in the AL East, still chasing consistency after reaching the World Series last year. Should Gimenez's wrist linger the way Varsho's has, Clement's glove may be the piece that keeps the infield steady.
