Blue Jays slugger Brandon Belt has been on the shelf for the past two weeks with low back spasms, but could be nearing a return per MLB.com. The veteran has joined the club on their current road trip and has been progressing well. Toronto intends to “simulate game situations” today as a final step before his impending activation from the injured list.
It’s welcome news for the Blue Jays, as Belt’s 134 wRC+ this year is only bested by small-sample size efforts by Davis Schneider and Ernie Clement. In 382 trips to the plate this season, Belt has slashed a solid .251/.369/.470 in his shift to a part time role with Toronto. That production comes in spite of a career-high 35.1% strikeout rate, though his whiffs are offset somewhat by a 15.7% walk rate that’s excellent even by Belt’s own lofty standards. The return of Belt figures to push utility player Cavan Biggio back to the bench and could provide a spark for the Blue Jays as they find themselves in the second AL Wild Card spot with just seven games left in the regular season, one game up on the Astros and 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners.
More from around the AL East…
- Orioles manager Brandon Hyde indicated to reporters (including MASN’s Roch Kubatko) yesterday that first baseman Ryan Mountcastle is progressing well in his rehab from a shoulder injury that sidelined him just over a week ago. Mountcastle hasn’t returned to hitting yet but stood in the batter’s box to track pitches during injured closer Felix Bautista’s most recent bullpen session. Though Bautista’s timetable for return still appears to be up in the air, Mountcastle is expected to be ready to come off the injured list in time for Wednesday’s game against the Nationals. Mountcastle is hitting a respectable .269/.327/.453 in 459 trips to the plate this season and has been covered for by Ryan O’Hearn at first base in recent days.
- Rays reliever Jason Adam was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a strained oblique yesterday, just one day after returning from a three-week IL stint for a separate oblique strain. While Adam’s injury will sideline him into the postseason, the 31-year-old is nonetheless hopeful that he’ll be able to return this season if the Rays make a deep postseason run, as he told reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) that he wants to return despite being “more sore this time than last time.” Adam’s 2023 regular season comes to a close with a 2.98 ERA, 4.00 FIP and 31.1% strikeout rate over 56 appearances.
- Sticking with the Rays, outfielder Randy Arozarena is still day-to-day with tightness in his right quad. Despite manager Kevin Cash telling reporters (including MLB.com) that the 28-year-old could have been available off the bench during yesterday’s game against the Blue Jays, he didn’t make an appearance. Still, Arozarena told reporters through an interpreter that he was feeling “pretty good” and hoping to return in the near future. Arozarena’s return figures to provide a boost to the Rays lineup, as the first-time All Star has slashed .255/.363/.427 in 640 trips to the plate this year while acting as the club’s regular left fielder.
Why would Belt returning push Biggio back to the bench? He’s been one of their best hitters in the second half and can play multiple positions. It’s not like Belt is going to play 2B. Sure, Belt returning to the lineup will take some plate appearances away from some players, but I think it’s more of another guy sharing playing time with a bunch of others. Biggio seems to be the one guy consistently contributing and he’ll be in the lineup more often than not while that’s still the case.
Agreed. I suspect Merrifield will be benched more as will Espinal in order to get more PA for Biggio. Springer might be hurting too, as might Vlad so Biggio shouldn’t have any trouble getting PA’s.
Yeah. Merrifield isn’t good but is very useful situationally. He doesn’t need to get so many plate appearances. I’d like him as a bench bat though to be deployed when the situation calls for it. If you need a ball in play, Merrifield pinch hitting for any of the lefties is a good move but starting Merrifield against most right handed pitchers doesn’t make much sense to me. Pinch running and a little defensive versatility too. He’s run into a lot of outs on the basepaths this season, but that might be team decision more than his own. Eden is probably a better choice for strictly running and outfield defense, but Merrifield has a place.
They all do. I don’t think it’s useful or accurate to use language that suggests there are 9 starters and a bunch of lowly bench players. Utilizing everyone when the matchups favour their strengths is how most teams operate. Belt might start over Biggio in some games, but it’ll also be instead of Merrifield, Schneider, Varsho, Kiermaier at other times. The guy on the mound will dictate a lot of those decisions.
Because the Jays don’t have the guts to bench Varsho.
Varsho has been worth 3.5 WAR (#4 on the Jays), is leading all of MLB with 27 DRS, and has a 1.000 OPS the last three series.
He is a defensive replacement player. Let’s not overlook his .670 OPS, 84 OPS+, .221 batting average which includes some bunt singles to help his numbers. You can use the WAR argument while neglecting the fact that he has been an offensive liability from day 1.
He should not start over Merrifield or Biggio.
Davis Schneider, 10/64 with 26 K in September, and mired in an 0 for 30 stretch. The 9/13 start to his career was fun and he’s got some pop in the bat, but I’m not sure I want to see him in the lineup in any game that matters.
@KamKid & Ted
Agreed 100%. Davis Schneider’s offense has fallen off a cliff. He goes to the bench long before Biggio. Between Cavan’s surprisingly excellent defense and his current run of form at the plate, he’s an automatic start against righties for sure and maybe even against lefties as well.
0 for his last 30 with 12 K
I’ve been wondering how long a “hot start” keeps an ice-cold player like Schneider in the lineup. These days, it seems lots of young players are having “historical” hot starts, but when the pitching adjustments come they go ice cold.
I guess that depends on what “ice cold” means. Schneider’s surface results have faltered but when you watch him, he still seems to be having good at bats. As jnorthey suggests, there’s some bad luck at play. He has scorched some line drives into gloves in that stretch. I still think he’s a valuable profile as a right handed bat that is looking for pitches he can drive as the other right handed bats in the mix are quantity over quality of contact guys.
Would not be against Schneider facing left handed pitching.
Part of the problem is he keeps hitting line drives right at people. 21.1% line drive rate in Sept, 34.2% hard hit ball rate.. August 34.4% line drive, 37.5% hard hit ball rate. So fewer line drives but not so low as to account for that drastic a drop, from 1.420 OPS to nada.
You have to wonder what some of these writers are looking at when one of them suggests benching Biggio in favor of 0 for his last 30 Schneider. Over the same stretch Biggio is slashing .294/.400/.382. Even if there’s very little power in his bat, he’s playing solid defense and getting on base. What else do you need in a run toward the playoffs if you’re the Jays?
Swinging at the first pitch only works for so long and Schneider should definitely be the one benched, not Biggio.
With Belt returning it has Merrifield probably going to 2B because the Jays and every WAR fanatic want the offensive liability that is Varsho starting in LF. Biggio should start over Varsho. At 2B, Merrifield LF, Varsho can pinch run and play LF or CF late in games.
Blue Jays have a hitting issue. Stack the best lineup. Varsho does not make the top 9 in that regard.
Citing Mountcastle’s season long numbers and referring to them as “respectable” missed the entire point of his injury. In the first half – while suffering from vertigo and after returning from a month on the IL he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball.
That’s the guy the Os miss right now – not the average of the two.
@Tuck2, When he’s on, Ryan’s a beast at the plate for sure.
Hope he gets healthy and shows up big time for the rest of 2023. For 2 reasons. One. Os will go far in playoffs with him on. Two … and unfortunately… he’s the guy that is the centerpiece in an off season trade for adding a TOR SP type. Young … and cheap … still has all 3 arb years ahead of him.
I think Davis Schneider’s comment about MLB pitchers being human (make mistakes) has kinda turned on him! His unreal debut has now turned into his reality that he’s human as well!
Keep Biggio in the lineup while he’s playing like he is! Ride that train as long as you can! Merryfield has cooled right off so deserves to ride the pine a bit. Coaches need to deal the hot hand with only 6 games left in the regular season. Do or die time folks! It’s going to be a long cold winter if the Jays don’t make the postseason this year.