Toronto’s late-season push is finally taking shape as the core pieces return and the new deadline adds settle in. Max Scherzer has logged nine healthy weeks, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. avoided a long-term hamstring issue, and Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez cleared the IL. The Jays also gained stability from Shane Bieber, Seranthony Domínguez, Louis Varland, and Ty France, while Anthony Santander remains the big unknown as he nears a September return with the club hoping for a power boost.

Santander’s return would force roster juggling: Springer at DH more often, with Lukes or Addison Barg er potentially losing plate appearances, and Santander offering switch-hitting pop in a lineup already powering the AL. If he’s close to peak form, he could be a decisive playoff X-factor, reconnecting the Jays to the elite-homer profile they’ve built this month.

The power-rich blueprint Santander represents—44 homers prior to 2025 and a proven right-handed thunder—gives Toronto a clear playoff upside. The question is how quickly he can regain live-pitch timing and whether usage can be optimized without destabilizing the current run rhythm as September looms.

Toronto welcomes Chicago in a pivotal three-game set as Giménez returns from ankle and quad woes, a 26-year-old defender with an almost $100M remaining on the deal. His activation could reshuffle the Jays’ middle-infield duties, nudging Ernie Clement into a platoon role against right-handers while Giménez handles righty pitching. Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes have seized regular reps in the meantime, and George Springer’s return compounds the scramble, with Loperfido cycling through infield and outfield spots as needed. The Cubs counter with a high-powered offense, making this a meaningful test for a Toronto club looking to rebound after nine losses in 14. Santander’s injury also opened additional at-bats, stretching Toronto’s depth and leaving a few regulars in flux for matchups. Toronto will try to kickstart a series win against an opponent outside Colorado for the first time in four tries.

The Toronto Blue Jays return home to open a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs after a tough three-game set in Los Angeles. The Cubs bring the league’s second-best offense (5.12 runs per game) into Toronto, while the Jays expect a key lineup jolt with Andrés Giménez likely to be activated off the injured list. Giménez, quietly maturing into a high-end defender, is coming off a rehab stint in Buffalo where he hit .389 in five Triple-A games and swiped a base. His $100 million-plus deal through 2029 underscores the Jays’ commitment to a middle-infield floor that could swing both defensive stability and offensive upside. Giménez was part of a blockbuster offseason swap that shipped Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell to Cleveland for him and Nick Sandlin, and he began with a splash of power before a prolonged drought that landed him on the IL.

Giménez’s presence should help Toronto in a lineup that’s been hit-or-miss, especially as Anthony Santander deals with an injury that opened the door for Addison Barger to seize a larger role. Barger has flourished in the short window since the Santander injury sparked a run of 15 wins in 24 games, while Ernie Clement has anchored the infield with Gold-Glove-caliber defense but has faced lefty and righty platoon questions. Clement’s right-handed splits aren’t as strong as his lefts, so a Giménez-Clement platoon at second could surface once the Jays face right-handed pitching. The juggling act could also push Joey Loperfido and Nathan Lukes into additional outfield/rotation duties as the team navigates George Springer’s return from a scary head injury.

Tuesday’s expected lineup against Cubs right-hander Ben Brown provides an early test of the new balance. Giménez is likely to slot back into the lineup, while Clement and Barger could share duties in various configurations. The roster could get even tighter once Springer is cleared to return, potentially sending Loperfido back to Buffalo for a spell and leaving room for a rotating DH/bench plan featuring Loperfido, Lukes, and Ty France in a best-fit approach. It’s a clever, if crowded, mix designed to sustain a hot offense while preserving elite defense across the infield.

The Toronto Blue Jays have surged to the top of the AL East with a stellar 12-3 record in July, surpassing the New York Yankees. As they navigate the season, the team is closely monitoring the recovery of outfielder Anthony Santander, who has been sidelined since May due to a shoulder injury. Despite his promising breakout year in 2024 with 44 home runs, his performance with the Blue Jays has been less than stellar, reflected in a dismal .179 batting average prior to his injury.

Manager John Schneider provided a week-to-week update on Santander’s progress, indicating he remains a couple of weeks away from swinging a bat. While the Blue Jays have coped without him, adding his switch-hitting prowess could significantly enhance their offensive output, as they currently rank 18th in the league for home runs this season. The expectation is for Santander to potentially rejoin the lineup in August, as Toronto aims to maintain its lead in the division.