Who’s Hot, Who’s Cold: Blue Jays Batters

Over the past two weeks, the Blue Jays have been 6-6. Our batters hit .235/.317/.357, averaging 3.4 runs per game.

Hot

Justin Turner: Started 10 games. Hit .433/.526/.600 with 5 doubles, 7 walks, 5 strikeouts, 4 RBI and 1 caught stealing.

He started a game at first and a game at third. There is little to complain about. He’s been terrific. I wasn’t thrilled with his signing, but he'll become a favourite if he continues like this.

Cavan Biggio: Played 10 games, starting 9, .333/.394/.400, with 2 doubles, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts (and 2 hit by pitch).

He started 8 games at second but also played right field twice and first base twice. Cavan's 9 to 1 strikeout to walk rate is very unusual. Beyond that, he’s been terrific. It is unusual for him to start the season hot, so this is a nice surprise. He always seems to have hot stretches. It is nice that he is starting the season hot. I have been enjoying watching his defense at second. He’s improved a ton.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Played in all 12 games, starting 10. He’s hit .286/.342/.457 with 1 home run, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts, 4 RBI, and 1 steal.

He’s played third in seven games, second in six games, center in one, and pitched an inning. It is kind of a hot-lite, but if he continues to hit like this and play terrific defense, we have little to complain about. I was set up not to like him, but I’m coming around.

Cold

Alejandro Kirk: Played in 11 games, starting 10. Hit .167/.268/.167 with 5 walks, 7 strikeouts and 3 RBI.

Yeah, he isn’t hitting at all, and on those rare times when it does make good contact, he finds a glove. He’s not had an extra-base hit yet this season. Behind the plate, he’s looked as good as always. And he’s thrown 33% of base stealers out. Spring training looked so good.

Kevin Kiermaier: Played in 11 games, starting 9. Hit .167/.219/.200 with 1 doubles, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts, 1 RBI, 2 steals.

He looks pretty lost at the plate. Last season, he started so well but didn’t do as well as the season went along. He won’t hit as poorly as this all season, but it will be nice to see some sign that he’s getting the bat going.

Vladimir Guerrero: Started all 12 games. Hit .163/.241/.327 with 2 home runs, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts and 5 RBI.

He DHed in one game and played first in all the others. He’s another one who had great spring training but didn’t carry it into the season. I hate trying to guess what’s happening, but sometimes, he seems over-anxious at the plate. I shouldn’t use myself as an example, but when I play doubles tennis at the net, I swing from overly aggressive to passive, rarely hitting that nice middle ground. It seems that Vlad is doing much the same. It has gone a long way when he has hit the ball hard.

Bo Bichette: Started 11 of 12 games. Hit .227/.292/.364 with 1 home run, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts and 3 RBI.

He’s had a couple of good games, but there have been more poor games. He has been dealing with neck spasms. We know he will end up near the top of the league in hits, and he’ll have an OPS of around 810 and an OPS+ in the 120s. He always seems to have hot and cold streaks but always ends up around the same. So we know there is a hot streak coming. He’s made a couple of errors, but the neck spasms might have contributed.

Daulton Varsho: Played in 12 games, starting 9. Hit .219/.242/.438 with 2 home runs, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts and 5 RBI.

He started three games in center, the rest in left. The past few games have been much better. He’s 3 for 8 with 2 home runs in his last two starts. I’m hoping this is a trend. He had a very good spring.

George Springer: Started all 12 games. He’s hit .234/.333/.277 with 2 doubles, 7 walks, 6 strikeouts, 2 RBI, 2 steals.

He started one game as DH, the rest in right. Springer has started to hit, going 5 (all singles) for 12 in his last 3 games

Inbetween

Ernie Clement: Played in 10 games, starting 6. Hit .240/.259/.440 with 2 doubles, 1 home runs, 2 RBI, 0 walks and 3 strikeouts.

Started 4 games at third, 1 at short, and 1 at second. Not hot, not cold.

Davis Schneider: Played in 12 games, starting 6. Hit .240/.321/.440, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, and 6 RBI.

In all the games he’s started, he has played left field. He’s played second three times but hasn’t started a game at the position. I like his defense in left. In his 33 at-bats, he’s hit RHP (.888 OPS) better than LHP (.769).

Also Played

Daniel Vogelbach: Played in 5 games, starting 2. He’s hit .143/.500/.286, with 1 double, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts and 1 RBI in 12 PA.

Both his starts were at DH.

Brian Serven: Played in 5 games, starting 2. Hit .143/.500/.286 with 5 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 RBI, in 12 PA.

He’s on his way to Buffalo at this moment.

IL

Danny Jansen has come off the IL today.