Blue Jays fans shouldn't be surprised George Springer showed up just in time for the WC push

If there was ever a time for George Springer to remind everyone why the Toronto Blue Jays brought him here in the first place, this was it.

The Blue Jays are in gut-check territory as they try to secure the third and final American League Wild Card spot, and Springer is once again doing what he has built so much of his reputation on doing: showing up when the games feel like a pressure cooker.

Springer, who was just nominated for MLB's Roberto Clemente award, helped the Blue Jays to an 8-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday (Sept. 13) by providing four RBIs on the day. He raised his average to .359 over his last 22 games. He's also provided a 172 wRC+ with a .967 OPS, three home runs and 15 RBIs.

That kind of production is eye popping, but it should not come as much of a surprise to Blue Jays fans, or anyone who has followed his career. Springer has always been a "a rise-to-the-occasion" type of player, and the numbers back up the reputation. In 83 postseason games, he has slashed .271/.346/.534 with a 138 wRC+

Springer is also tied with Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber for third all-time with 23 playoff home runs. The only players ahead of him are his former Houston Astros teammate José Altuve, who has 37, and Manny Ramirez, who finished with 29.

He is a former World Series MVP, an honour he earned during Houston’s 2017 championship run, and MLB.com once made the case that Springer could be considered one of the best postseason performers the game has ever seen. Blue Jays fans do not need much convincing on that point after what happened last October.

No Blue Jays fan will forget his seventh-inning home run in Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS against the Seattle Mariners. In a season packed with memorable moments, that swing instantly became one of the defining images of Toronto’s run. It also added another chapter to the Springer October story.

But this is not only about postseason history. Springer has also saved some of his best regular-season work for the stretch run. For his career, his September and October regular-season numbers are among his best compared to any other month. In 287 games, he has hit .284/.359/.494 with 59 home runs and a career-high .853 OPS. The only month in which he has hit more regular-season home runs is in May, where he has 60.

Blue Jays need George Springer's hot bat to stay that way

That late-season track record is what the Blue Jays badly need right now. Toronto has spent the last few weeks trying to make up ground in a crowded Wild Card race. The Blue Jays entered this stretch chasing the Cleveland Guardians for the final playoff spot, with the Chicago White Sox and the AL Central picture also playing a major role in how Toronto’s path could unfold.

Having a veteran player like Springer heat up at the right time changes everything. It gives the Blue Jays another hitter opposing pitchers have to be worried about. It's also another veteran presence who has lived through this kind of pressure before and knows how to stay within themselves in the biggest moments.

Springer showing up just in time for the Wild Card push is not some surprising twist, but it is exactly the kind of thing the Blue Jays were desperate for, to ensure this season wasn't a waste.

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