Blue Jays News: Daulton Varsho makes his return from the injured list

Daulton Varsho's back.

And not a moment too soon.

It's no secret that the Blue Jays' offense is mired in a deep, deep slump. And while one person can't change that, the Blue Jays' lineup suddenly looks a bit longer with Varsho in the fold.

Daulton Varsho makes his return from the injured list

The Blue Jays officially activated Varsho from the injured list on Tuesday and optioned Paxton Schultz and Will Wagner to Triple-A.

The Blue Jays also added reliever Casey Lawrence to the roster after they acquired him earlier in the week.

While Varsho isn't the perfect offensive player, his spring training performance could serve as a good omen for his regular season performance.

Varsho mashed four home runs in 12 spring training games despite only being able to serve as designated hitter while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery,

While Varsho was able to swing, he didn't make the team out of spring training because of how his recovery was limiting him in the field.

The 2024 Gold Glove winner was still working his way up to throwing the ball 120 feet at the end of spring training, and he spent the first month of the season rehabbing in Dunedin to get his arm up to full strength before moving to Triple-A.

He played in seven minor league games in his rehab assignment and hit .120, and, perhaps most importantly, looked healthy in the field.

Varsho hit .214 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI in 136 games last year. His best season came in 2022 when he hit 27 home runs in 151 games with the Diamondbacks.

Varsho's addition to the roster came at the expense of Wagner, who will now head to Triple-A.

It's interesting that the Blue Jays elected to send Wagner down to Triple-A instead of an left-handed outfielder like Nathan Lukes or Addison Barger.

The Blue Jays now have seven outfielders on their roster (Varsho, Barger, Lukes, Anthony Santander, Myles Straw, George Springer and Alan Roden).

Here's how the rest of the Blue Jays will line up with Varsho in his season debut.

Toronto Blue Jays probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. Boston Red Sox, April 29

Probable starting pitchers

Bowden Francis (2-3, 3.58 ERA ERA, 22 K) vs. Garrett Crochet (2-2, 1.95 ERA, 44 K)

Francis put together two good starts at the beginning of April before struggling a bit over the past couple weeks. He allowed three runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Astros his last time out. He's now allowed 2+ runs in four of his five starts.

He's been electric against the Red Sox in his career, as he's tossed 14 2/3 scoreless innings against Boston in his career.

He made two starts against the Red Sox last year. He threw seven scoreless innings against the Red Sox at the end of August, and ended the season with five scoreless innings against them in his last start of the year.

Crochet has staked his claim to win the American League CY Young Award with a stellar start to the season.

While he's coming off his worst start of the season (four earned runs allowed in five innings against the Mariners), his 1.95 ERA and 44 strikeouts are among the leaders in the AL.

He's already faced the Blue Jays once this season, where he allowed four runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings in a Blue Jays win. The lone extra-base hit he allowed was a home run to George Springer.

Crochet is in the 88th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 84th percentile in strikeout rate.

Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup, April 29

• 1. SS Bo Bichette
• 2. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• 3. RF Anthony Santander
• 4. DH George Springer
• 5. C Alejandro Kirk
• 6. CF Daulton Varsho
• 7. 3B Ernie Clement
• 8. 2B Andrés Giménez
• 9. LF Myles Straw

Varsho is in center field and hitting sixth in his season debut. Straw is now is in left field due to Varsho's presence in left field. while Varsho's presence in the lineup has moved Giménez to the No. 8 spot in the order.

That's the lowest he's hit in the order since being acquired by the Blue Jays. Varsho hit in numerous spots in the order last year, so it's not a huge surprise to see him in the No. 5 spot.