LOS ANGELES — George Springer tried and tried, but he’s not ready to return to the World Series just yet.
After leaving Game 3 of the World Series with “right oblique discomfort,” Springer was held out of the Blue Jays’ starting lineup for Game 4 against the Dodgers on Tuesday but tried to ramp things up again Wednesday afternoon to play in Game 5.
His day was a slow progression; he first took swings before running in the outfield. Springer ran straight lines in the Dodger Stadium outfield first while the Blue Jays’ training staff watched on, then began running in curved patterns, closer to simulating baserunning. The final test for Springer was hitting off a machine, which would have tested his injury more with the rotational movement of a swing. Ultimately, that will be what Springer needs to be comfortable with to play.
In Springer’s place, Bo Bichette takes the DH spot for Game 5, while Davis Schneider leads off and plays left field. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bichette will also jump up one spot in the order to bat second and third, which they’re each familiar with.
While manager John Schneider said that pinch-hitting or even pinch-running are possibilities for Springer in Game 5, it feels much likelier that the Blue Jays will push this back to Game 6 to give Springer another chance. This would give Springer Thursday’s off-day and much of Friday to continue rehabbing, then take another run at max-effort swings pregame on Friday.
There’s no replacing Springer. Fresh off a renaissance season at 36 in which Springer hit 32 home runs with a .959 OPS, he carried that right into October with four homers and an .884 OPS as the Blue Jays’ leadoff man. This included his three-run shot in Game 7 of the ALCS, which took its place behind Joe Carter’s walk-off in the 1993 World Series as one of the biggest hits in franchise history.
One player will not step in and provide what Springer has, but the Blue Jays’ dream season has been built on collective efforts and pleasant surprises. It’s easy to shift the spotlight to Guerrero, but Vladdy is already having a postseason for the ages. Alejandro Kirk and Ernie Clement are already playing the best ball of their careers, too. There’s never been a better time for a star performance from Bichette, who is still hobbled with a left knee sprain and can now focus on hitting alone while he occupies Springer’s DH spot.
The optimism here lives in the fact that the Blue Jays have not said anything publicly about considering a roster move for Springer. They have the option to add another pitcher to the roster or even swap in Joey Loperfido, who could be used off the bench, but they’re holding out hope that Springer can still be part of this.
