Exciting News: Blue Jays Activate Daulton Varsho, Sending Will Wagner to Minors

The Toronto Blue Jays are getting a boost. Daulton Varsho is back after a month on the injured list. He had been recovering from surgery for a torn rotator cuff. To make room for him, infielder Will Wagner has been sent to Triple-A Buffalo. Additionally, the Jays activated pitcher Casey Lawrence, who was recently claimed from the Mariners. Right-hander Paxton Schultz is also heading to Buffalo.

Despite Varsho’s absence, the Jays’ center fielders have held their own. They are batting a combined .311 with a solid on-base percentage. Players like Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes, and George Springer have contributed significantly in center. However, left field has been a struggle, with a poor combined batting average of .180. Alan Roden, Anthony Santander, and Davis Schneider have had particular difficulties in that position.

With Varsho back, he is expected to reclaim his regular spot in center. His defensive skills are impressive, boasting 39 Defensive Runs Saved and 25 Outs Above Average in about 1,824 innings. This allows Springer to focus on right field while left fielders rotate among Roden, Lukes, Santander, Straw, and Addison Barger.

On the third base front, Barger may see more time due to Wagner’s demotion. Wagner didn’t perform well, posting a .186 average this season. His strikeouts were typical, and while he had a decent walk rate, he struggled with consistent contact. His early stats are disappointing compared to last year’s performance of .305.

This season, Blue Jays third basemen have a combined batting average of just .204, the lowest in the league. Tonight, Ernie Clement is set to play third base against the Red Sox, with a substantial advantage against lefties. Clement’s numbers against left-handed pitchers are much better than his overall stats.

Interestingly, the Jays might consider moving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to third base temporarily, like they did last season. However, this shift would leave a gap at first base. The Jays need one of their infield players to step up. Alongside Wagner and Clement, former prospect Orelvis Martinez is struggling in Buffalo, but he’s recently begun hitting better with eight hits in his last eight games, raising hopes for improvement.

In today’s game, the team’s collective struggles illustrate the need for offensive consistency. As they navigate roster changes, every player will need to rise to the occasion for the Jays to succeed.

For further details on player statistics, check out [MLB.com’s player section](https://www.mlb.com/stats).

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daulton varsho,will wagner