Schneider helps Blue Jays end three-game skid

Davis Schneider will be in the Toronto Blue Jays lineup for the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, even though a right-handed pitcher in Noah Syndergaard will start for the visitors.

TORONTO – Davis Schneider will be in the Toronto Blue Jays lineup for the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, even though a right-handed pitcher in Noah Syndergaard will start for the visitors.

The right-handed hitting Schneider belted three hits, including a two-run homer, and knocked in three runs in the Blue Jays’ 8-3 win against the Guardians (61-69) on Saturday.

The red-hot rookie infielder also scored three times to help the home side end a three-game slide before 41,924 at a closed-roof Rogers Centre. For some dessert, Schneider snared a Gabriel Arias line drive for the second out in the ninth inning.

All this brilliant play came after a week of sitting on the bench because the Blue Jays (71-59) faced five straight starting right-handed pitchers since the 24-year-old Schneider smacked the game-winning homer in the fifth inning in Cincinnati on Aug. 19.

“Yes sir,” Toronto manager John Schneider answered when asked if his rookie will start Sunday. “I’ve been saying the whole year we try to find the right spots for everyone. With 32 games left now, performance definitely matters within that equation as well.

“So yeah, it’s not too tough (of a decision) when you’re doing when he’s doing.”

Only Carlos Delgado has hit more home runs with five in Blue Jays history in his first 10 Major League Baseball games than Schneider’s four.

The New Jersey native also ranks second in times on base (21), tied for third in RBIs (nine), tied for third in runs scored (eight) and fourth in hits (14) through the first 10 MLB career games in Blue Jays history.