Jays counting on Hernandez, Springer to spark offence

It has become Charlie Montoyo's go-to response when his powerpacked offence struggles: “I know we are going to hit,” the Toronto Blue Jays manager has said double-digit times this season.

It's a belief mostly rooted in fact, but lately the always positive manager sounds like he might just be trying to convince himself that it will happen.

And certainly until George Springer makes his debut and Teoscar Hernandez his return from his COVID-19 shutdown, it may continue to be a too familiar refrain.

Days like Sunday's two-hit effort in a 2-0 loss to the Royals (the Jays first shutout defeat of the season) aren't likely to happen too often with this deep group.

But if the Royals exposed the weaknesses in the Springer-free lineup, expect others to attempt the same.

One-game sample for sure, but after getting raked by Vlad Guerrero Jr. for the first three games of the four-game set, the Royals had no interest in pitching to one of baseball's hottest hitters in Sunday's finale.

Very little was offered in the zone for Guerrero and starter Brady Singer instead attacked cleanup man Randal Grichuk, who struck out four times.

With Hernandez and Springer in the lineup, the logic suggests that opposing pitchers won't have such luxury. Hernandez could return to his cleanup spot while Springer will bat first and surely provide an upgrade in production from the .182 Marcus Semien at leadoff.

“We're very close to adding Teo and George Springer to our lineup,” general manager Ross Atkins told MLB Radio on the weekend. “If you think about the difference that makes — the pitches that are thrown, the stress on a pitching staff is significant.

“What that means for Vladdy and Bo (Bichette) and Cavan (Biggio) and Marcus Semien is massive. Really excited to be adding those guys.”

The offence hasn't been entirely dormant, but any success has been mostly due to Bichette and Guerrero now that Grichuk has cooled off. Rowdy Tellez has shown some signs of life in recent days, but elsewhere there hasn't been much as the Jays have managed just 66 runs in 16 games — including 15 in one blowout win over the Angels.

“The lineup is changing around because of a lot of guys getting hurt,” Montoyo said. “The lineup is not the lineup we were expecting but that's how it goes. Maybe some guys are putting pressure on themselves because the lineup isn't as strong as it's supposed to be. But you're going to see it. It's going to feel good having Springer back.”

That isn't expected to happen in Boston, but after a second day off this week, the Jays are hopeful the centre-fielder will be ready for a weekend series at Tampa. And not a moment too soon.