After weeks of tinkering, Blue Jays may have finally found their leadoff man

MILWAUKEE — Forget Plan A, this wasn’t even Plan Z.

Batting first, the recent callup who’s been playing second base professionally for a month. Batting second, the catcher. Spencer Horwitz and Danny Jansen aren’t the duo anyone expected atop this lineup back when the season began, but that was a decade ago.

Horwitz is in the big leagues for a specific reason. He fits this lineup in a specific way, and whether he’s batting ahead of Jansen or behind Davis Schneider in that top two, it certainly feels like he’s there to stay. After weeks of tinkering as George Springer and Bo Bichette slipped down the ladder, the Blue Jays are settling into a new direction up top.

“We’re just trying to put something together where you’re getting guys on base for Vladdy, for Bo, for Turner,” said manager John Schneider prior to Toronto’s 3-0 win at American Family Field. “I do like guys who get on at a high rate at the top of the order. When it comes back around, too, hopefully there’s some traffic. He’s like [Schneider] when he swings at good pitches. We’ll see how it rolls.”

Everything we’re seeing with Horwitz signals a shift from the Blue Jays. This isn’t franchise shifting — they’re not exactly asking Vladdy to pitch the ninth here — but the decisions to slide Horwitz to second base and bat him at the top of the lineup point to a sense of urgency brought on by the club’s slow start. They’re not looking four years down the road here, they’re just trying to win tomorrow’s game.

Three runs will rarely be enough, but Tuesday they were. Yusei Kikuchi littered the bases with runners but danced through danger to give the Blue Jays five shutout innings, then handed off to the bullpen effort which was capped off by another dominant Yimi García performance.

This offense still needs to be better, which are words you’ve read 50 times already this season, but after Horwitz put together two hits, a walk and an RBI on Tuesday, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that he’s going to be at the front of the line for what comes next.

Matchups matter
In two games with Schneider in the lineup, the Blue Jays have gone Schneider-Horwitz at the top. In two games without Schneider in the lineup, they’ve gone with Horwitz-Jansen. You’ll see some more of those combinations going forward.

Schneider has been scuffling for the past few weeks, though, after a fantastic start to the season.

“I think he’s missing his pitches,” John Schneider said. “He’s played a lot and he works a lot. He’s probably a little tired. Honestly, the pitches he’s popping up or flying out on, he’s just a tick off. I think his at-bats have been good, but just a tick off. He’s always really close and when he’s swinging at good pitches, good things are going to happen.”

A day may come where Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slides back up to second and a turnaround from Bichette could change all of this, but for now, the door has swung open for this unlikely trio of Horwitz, Jansen and Schneider to land the first punch. Soon, John Schneider wants to find a more consistent batting order. He’s been saying for a month now that he likes to have a consistent top to his lineup, which has been easier said than done, but Horwitz would be happy to run with the job.

“I enjoy it. More at-bats and more time in the box, I definitely enjoy that,” Horwitz said. “In terms of approach, I think it’s pretty similar. I’m just looking to get on base and drive runs in when I can.”

The heart of the order
The one and two hitters can both put up a .400 on-base percentage, but it won’t matter much unless someone drives them in.

Vladdy has been on a great run at the plate — even if the home runs aren’t coming — but the stretch of Bichette, Justin Turner and George Springer, who typically fill some of the spots following Guerrero, have been inconsistent. None of this works unless it all works.

The Blue Jays are still tied for 26th in baseball with 55 home runs and rank 25th in slugging percentage (.366). This is why this organization has had to pivot away from Plan A, Plan B and Plan C, scrolling down their list to find a lineup topped by Horwitz, a pleasant surprise in a season that needs more of them.