In a pivotal moment for the Toronto Blue Jays, manager John Schneider has made strategic adjustments to the batting lineup for Game 7 of the World Series. This crucial matchup will take place on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre.
Key Batting Order Changes
Addison Barger will ascend two spots to the fifth position in the batting order. This change follows his impressive performance in Game 6, where he recorded two hits despite a 3-1 defeat. Currently, Barger boasts a .357 batting average during the postseason, with three home runs and a 1.008 OPS.
Pre-Game Insights
Schneider expressed confidence in Barger’s abilities during a media availability session. He mentioned, “I think Barger is swinging it.” The rest of the lineup remains unchanged from the previous game, featuring:
- George Springer – 1st
- Nathan Lukes – 2nd
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 3rd
- Bo Bichette – 4th
- Addison Barger – 5th
- Alejandro Kirk – 6th
- Daulton Varsho – 7th
- Ernie Clement – 8th
- Andres Gimenez – 9th
Dodgers’ Adjustments
On the other side, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts also made minor tweaks to his batting order. Key changes include:
- Max Muncy – moved to 5th
- Tommy Edman – moved to 7th
- Teoscar Hernandez – dropped to 6th
- Kike Hernandez – dropped to 8th
Pre-Game Atmosphere
Players from both teams expressed enthusiasm and nerves ahead of this defining game. Ernie Clement shared his excitement, stating, “It’s a good mix of nerves and excitement…this is what it’s all about.”
Pitching Matchup
Starting on the mound for the Blue Jays will be right-hander Max Scherzer. He will face the exceptional Shohei Ohtani, who will lead off for the defending champion Dodgers.
Guerrero’s Game Day Tradition
Adding to the excitement, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. arrived at the stadium wearing a special hockey jersey. He donned a Team Canada jersey, featuring Marie-Philip Poulin’s name and number 29, celebrating her achievements as captain of the women’s national hockey team.
This marks a continuation of Guerrero’s pre-game tradition, as he previously wore a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey featuring Auston Matthews ahead of the American League Championship Series.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Jays are aiming for their first World Series title in 32 years, carrying the momentum from their playoff journey thus far. Fans are eager to see how these strategic adjustments will impact the outcome of this critical Game 7 against the Dodgers.
