A SCARY GROUP OF STARTERS?

Today, Blue Jays postseason baseball is back in Toronto for the first time since 2016. The Jays have home field advantage for the postseason and are now looking ahead towards their upcoming Wild Card series. As we all know, the Blue Jays offence is what makes their team so scary, so let’s try and predict the Lineup for game one.

1. George Springer CF

This is an obvious one. Springer has basically spent his entire career as a leadoff hitter and since joining Toronto he has almost always hit leadoff. Springer is a tremendous leadoff hitter and in the postseason he takes his game to another level.

A big factor that originally attracted the Jays to him in free agency was his postseason play, the 2017 World Series MVP has 19 career postseason home runs as well as 38 RBIs. The Jays expect nothing less from Springer this postseason.

2. Bo Bichette SS

Bo is extremely hot going into the postseason. He set a new Blue Jays franchise record of most hits in any month with 48 hits in September. For the last couple of weeks Bo has been hitting in the 2 spot and I don’t expect that to change in the postseason. Bo is definitely someone you want getting more at bats, especially because of the way he is swinging the bat as of late.

3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B

Vladdy will be hitting either 2 or 3. I believe it is more likely that he hits 3 as recently he has been slotted into the lineup behind Bo. Vladdy has had an overwhelming season in the sense that he hasn’t quite looked like the Vladdy of last season.

Nonetheless, he is an extremely important part to this team and during the postseason he needs to show up. I believe that Vladdy hits the best from the 3 spot which is why I have him hitting behind Bo.

4. Alejandro Kirk C

For most of the season Kirk has hit cleanup. I think this is the best spot to have him in the lineup as he brings that calming presence to the plate and he never lets the moment get too big for him. With his excellent contact skills he is able to hit the fastball and breaking ball while using the whole field which poses a threat to the opposing team.

Kirk will also be catching as Alek Manoah will most likely be starting game 1 and they work really well together during Manoah’s starts. Kirk will be looking to continue his good season in his first stint in the postseason.

5. Teoscar Hernandez RF

In my eyes you can have Teoscar hitting 5 or Matt Chapman as most of the year each of them have spent time in this spot. I would give the edge to Teo as he has been on a hot streak to end the season.

Teo would also be playing in Right field which is pretty standard for him and the Blue Jays. Teoscar presents a big bat in the middle of the order and sometimes he gets lost in the shuffle. If he gets the bat going in the postseason, he will be a problem for the opposition.

6. Matt Chapman 3B

Matt Chapman will be hitting 6th and playing 3rd base. Chapman has been a great pickup this offseason, his hitting has been good and his defence has been as advertised. Chapman is an important player on this team both on and off the field and he will undoubtedly have a big role during the postseason. Chapman will be looking to be more consistent at the plate as he hasn’t particularly swung the bat well to finish the season.

7. Danny Jansen DH

Jansen will be hitting 7th and DHing. Jansen has found his stroke at the plate this season, and as it has gone on he has seen some time at DH. The Blue Jays this season have constantly played both Jansen and Kirk in the lineup depending on the starting pitcher.

I think Danny has earned a spot in the everyday lineup as either catcher or DH and I think come postseason it will be no different. Let’s also not forget that in the Jays brief postseason appearance in 2020 Jansen had 2 home runs in game 2 against the Rays.

8. Raimel Tapia LF

While it sounds like Gurriel will not be 100% for game 1 Tapia will need to step in and bat 7th and play LF. Tapia has played well as of late and he is a fine replacement for Gurriel in LF. The big question is will he be able to play defense at a high enough level in order for the Jays to have confidence in him.

9. Whit Merrifield 2B

A month ago there was no way that Whit Merrifield would be the Blue Jays second baseman come playoff time. Yet here we are and Whit has earned every right to be the Jays second baseman. He has been on absolute fire at the plate in the last couple of weeks and with Espinal not ready to go the second baseman will be completely Whit Merrifield’s.

Whit has looked like he has settled in after a rough start and more and more he seems like that All-Star player from Kansas City. I think Merrifield will be an excellent number 9 hitter as he will act as a second leadoff hitter as his job is to get on base for the big boys at the top of the order.

Overall, the Jays lineup is very good and no pitcher should have an easy time working through their lineup. With the postseason right around the corner it's now time to see this movie!