Is Toronto Blue Jays skipper John Schneider a contender for AL Manager of the Year?
WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Long Ball, Postmedia's Rob Wong chats with Toronto Sun Blue Jays writer Rob Longley about what has impressed him the most during the Blue Jays eight-game win streak and if John Schneider belongs in the AL Manager of the Year conversations with his team currently in first place.
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Second baseman Ernie Clement and centre fielder Nathan Lukes, -- the Blue Jays leadoff platoon -- celebrate after their win over the Tigers on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Detroit. Photo by Ryan Sun / AP photo 'Best in baseball' are three words no one would have dared utter when describing a Blue Jays team that ended last season dead last in the AL East. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But following Friday night's 6-2 win over the host Detroit Tigers, the Jays can officially lay claim to Major League Baseball's best record. At 62-42, the Jays have not been atop MLB's overall standings this late into a season since 1992 — the year they won their first World Series. Friday's win pushed Toronto ahead of the 61-42 Milwaukee Brewers, who lost to Miami earlier in the day. It also expanded their lead atop the AL East to 51/2 games over the New York Yankees, losers again to the visiting Phillies. Many more games await, but the Jays continue to find ways to win with everyone in the lineup producing. What they don't do is beat themselves, which can't be said about their opponents. The following are three takeaways from Comerica Park, where the Jays went homerless, but did record 13 hits, including four for extra bases. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While it's true the Jays could use more thump from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and coming through in the big moment with a game at stake, it's also true that the half-billion dollar man in waiting has been swinging it well. Vladdy went 2-for-5, with both hits being doubles. With the Jays down 1-0, he led off the fourth with a two-bagger and scored on Addison Barger's double. The hit extended Guerrero's streak to seven games. Next time up, in the fifth — yet another four-run inning for the team — his double plated Nathan Lukes and gave him 10 hits in his past four games. Vlad's swing is as smooth as ever. That being said, he'll have to provide some consistent power at some point where he carries the team offensively. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Following a brilliant outing by lefty Eric Lauer in the series opener, Jose Berrios was tasked with keeping the ball rolling Friday night. Mission accomplished. Despite giving up the game's first run on an RBI double in the second inning, then a Spencer Torkelson homer in the sixth, Berrios looked solid, allowing just five hits and two walks in his six innings while striking out six. Of note, Berrios twice faced Tigers veteran Javier Baez — his brother-in-law — and struck him out both times. Baez, who is enjoying a renaissance season for Detroit, has only one hit in his career off Berrios. 3. Leader of the pack A veritable hodge podge of players have been slotted in the leadoff spot for the Jays this season, beginning with Bo Bichette. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Recently, the Jays have gone with a platoon approach that has seen Lukes hit leadoff when opponents throw a right-hander at the Jays. Ernie Clement was used against left-handers until he began to struggle at the plate. And when the Yankees were in town and had southpaw Max Fried on the mound, it was Davis Schneider who hit leadoff. Pretty difficult to quibble with this plan of attack when so much has gone right for the Jays. Against Detroit's Keider Montero, a right-hander, Lukes went the other way on the game's first pitch to reach base on a single. He actually led off three different innings on Friday and went 2-for-3. The profile of a leadoff hitter varies from team to team, but in the case of Lukes and Clement, each has excellent bat control, allowing both to consistently put the ball in play. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Schneider is more of a free swinger in the mold of Bichette. In the third inning, it was Will Wagner leading off and grounding out. Wagner will be taking a leave to head to Cooperstown where he'll join his family when his dad, reliever Billy Wagner, is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame induction this weekend. Will Wagner will rejoin the Jays for their four-game series in Baltimore, which begins Monday. Up next The Jays haven't faced LHP Tarik Skubal since the 2023 season, but they will Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m.. The reigning Cy Young Award winner started for the AL in the all-star game. Recently reinstated from the paternity list, Skubal is one of baseball's premier pitchers recording 164 strikeouts, while compiling a 10-3 record and boasting a 2.19 ERA. RHP Kevin Gausman (7-7, 4.01 ERA, 112 Ks) will start for the Jays. Columnists Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Celebrity Toronto & GTA
