Davis

Schneider

The Jays are taking a look at Nathan Lukes in the outfield, leaving no room in left for Schneider of late. Schneider started seven straight games from Sept. 14-21, including four games in left, but he’s played just once, that at second base, this week.

It’s likely a typical rest day for the veteran. Joey Loperfido will move to center field and Davis Schneider will make yet another start in left field. Schneider has been hot of late and can be scooped up in leagues if people are trying to capture lightning in a bottle over the final days of the season.

It’s too late for Schneider to salvage his season, but a late outburst might make another team want to take a flier on him this winter. The Jays certainly don’t have to move him — he’ll make essentially the minimum again next year — but it doesn’t seem like he’s a part of their long-term plans. He’s hitting .203/.291/.366 with 13 homers in 422 plate appearances.

Schneider got the start against a right-hander on Saturday and rewarded the Blue Jays at the plate, going yard for a solo homer off Kyle Gibson in the third inning. He knocked a base hit in the sixth to drive in another run and collected his third hit of the game in the eighth with a single. The 25-year-old is hitting .197/.287/.346 with 11 homers, 43 runs scored, 42 RBI, and six steals across 414 plate appearances.

Billy’s son will get his first opportunity in the majors two weeks after being acquired from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi deal. Wagner was 10-for-25 for Buffalo since the move, putting him at .315/.432/.444 overall in Triple-A this year. Upside is a question mark here, but he should be able to hold his own after major league pitching. The Blue Jays figure to give him steady playing time against righties, which will cut into the at-bats of Davis Schneider and maybe Ernie Clement. It’s notable that the Jays had him start five games at second and just one at third for Buffalo.

Varsho was removed from Wednesday night’s game with a left knee contusion after an awkward play at first base where he tried to lunge to avoid a tag from Logan Webb. There is no word yet on the severity of the injury, but Varsho has not been playing well enough to be in fantasy starting lineups anyway. Davis Schneider will take his place in the outfield and bat seventh on Thursday.

Despite Schneider not being a full-time player, this will be his fourth start in the team’s last six games. However, he is coming off a rough month of June in which he hit .163/.227/.300 in 26 games with a 28.4 percent strikeout rate to go along with three home runs. He no longer needs to be held on fantasy rosters outside of the deepest formats.

Schneider’s home run was his ninth. He took Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta deep in the seventh inning. Schneider continues to hit for power with a .201 ISO on the year, but his average is just .225 this season.

Schneider took Brewers starter Tobias Myers deep in the opening frame to supply Toronto’s lone run of the contest until he helped spark a furious ninth-inning rally that came up just short. It was the first time he’s gone deep since May 31. He’s given up some leadoff opportunities to rookie Spencer Horwitz over the last few days, but appears likely to continue batting near the top of the Blue Jays’ lineup.

Horwitz gets an opportunity in the leadoff spot for the second time in Toronto’s last four contests over a slumping Davis Schneider, who is battiong .175 (10-for-57) over his last 15 games. Horwitz has compiled three hits in 10 at-bats over three games since arriving in the majors last week.