Blue Jays expect George Springer to return after family leave; Max Scherzer set for another rehab outing

Toronto’s lineup planning got a clearer timeline on Monday as Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated designated hitter George Springer is on track to return after time away for a family medical emergency tied to the birth of his third child. Springer had been placed on the paternity list before the Blue Jays moved him to the family medical emergency list once that leave period ended, a procedural move Schneider described as a way to provide the team’s leadoff hitter additional time.

Schneider said the tentative plan was for Springer to travel with the club and, barring any change, make his return during the team’s next stretch of games. After Toronto’s 4-0 loss to Seattle, Schneider told reporters that he expected Springer “to travel tomorrow,” then added that the team would confirm with him before finalizing the next steps. The point was not a medical red flag, but a scheduling and availability decision built around personal circumstances and recovery time.

The Blue Jays’ timing matters because Springer is a central presence in Toronto’s top-of-the-order approach. As a habitual table-setter, his readiness affects everything from early-inning run creation to how the rest of the batting order fits together. While Toronto has options to plug a replacement into the leadoff role, the club’s offensive rhythm is often steadier when the lineup anchors return.

In parallel with Springer’s situation, Toronto is continuing to work through Max Scherzer’s rehab plan for back spasms. The 41-year-old right-hander was in Seattle for the next chapter of his return, following a rehab start with High-A Vancouver. Schneider confirmed Scherzer would make another rehab start or two before being activated off the 15-day injured list, with the back condition described as the reason he has been sidelined since June 17.

Scherzer’s rehab schedule also has to align with workload management. The team is effectively balancing competitive urgency with the reality that a pitcher returning from back spasms typically needs multiple checkpoints to ensure the issue does not flare during normal throwing intensity. The Blue Jays, at least through Schneider’s comments, are not looking for a single “test” start, but a stepped sequence before activation.

The immediate calendar provides additional urgency. According to reporting that included Schneider’s remarks, Springer was expected to be available to join the Blue Jays on Monday in San Francisco, where Toronto opens a three-game series against the Giants. A return aligned with that trip would allow the Blue Jays to stabilize their lineup heading into the first contest of the set, rather than forcing another round of late-inning and substitution adjustments.

For both storylines, the next practical question is simple: will each player move cleanly from the travel phase into active availability without setbacks. Springer’s return will likely be watched through his readiness to resume leadoff responsibilities, while Scherzer’s progression will hinge on how the next rehab start(s) go and whether his back responds as expected during and after pitching.