Should the Blue Jays be putting Espinal higher in the batting lineup?

Santiago Espinal has been red hot in May. When the Blue Jays offense is struggling, Espinal is a crucial player in the Jays’ lineup that has kept the line moving. Should the Blue Jays be putting Espinal higher in the batting lineup?

When things aren’t going well, as a manager, you need to make some tough decisions and make better adjustments. In the last seven games, Espinal is batting .333 with eight hits, 3 RBI, and three runs and is currently on a 10-game hitting streak. His batting average is going up compared to the 15-30 games ago. The Jays have won three of their last four games and manager Charlie Montoyo should try putting Espinal in the 2nd spot in the starting lineup. You have to test the waters and see if this will work out.

Espinal leads the team in batting average, hitting .289. Vladimir Guerrero Jr, the Jays’ best hitter, is right behind him, hitting .284. Ain’t that a surprise, huh? Espinal should be hitting either 2nd or 4th in the lineup in my opinion. Also, guys like Gurriel Jr. and Hernandez are struggling and still trying to find their groove. Espinal is playing better than those guys. The Dominican product is also hitting better than Bo Bichette, but it’s conflicting to take out Bichette at the No. 2 spot in the lineup. At the same time, it doesn’t kill to tweak the lineup a bit. Here’s what the lineup can look like from 1-4:

Santiago Espinal is one of the hottest bats on the Blue Jays, manager Charlie Montoyo should consider putting him higher up in the batting order.

George Springer
Bo Bichette
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Santiago Espinal

OR

George Springer
Santiago Espinal
Vladimir Guerrero Jr
Bo Bichette

Weather conditions might play a factor in the Blue Jays’ plate performance. Many players or teams don’t perform so well in April and May, but once June and the summer months come around, players start to feel good and produce runs. Something about warm weather gives teams the confidence to hit well and go on a winning streak. This could be the case for the Blue Jays.

During the end of August and the month of September, the Blue Jays were playing terrific baseball and were one of the hottest teams down the stretch. History could repeat itself, but the difference could be the Jays’ returning to the postseason for the first time in since 2016.

Jays are currently in third place in the American League East Division with a 20-18 record – they are three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for second place. On Friday, Blue Jays will start a three-game home series against the Cincinnati Reds.