#lineup-optimization

#lineup-optimization

The Blue Jays used Nathan Lukes in the two-hole for much of 2025, and that strategy worked well until the World Series, where his OPS sank to .457 against the Dodgers' elite pitching staff. Would that exceptionally tight series have unfolded differently had Guerrero been up instead in a few of those crucial spots? George Springer will presumably bat leadoff again for the Blue Jays in 2026, especially if Bo Bichette doesn't return this winter.

An optimized lineup can yield an extra four or five wins during a season, which is particularly beneficial for a team with a streaky performance.