Blue Jays’ George Springer trending toward return vs. Red Sox

Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer (4) hits a single during first inning Game 7 World Series playoff MLB baseball action against the Los Angeles Dodgers, in Toronto, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

The Toronto Blue Jays could have George Springer back in the lineup Wednesday afternoon for the rubber match of their three-game series with the visiting Boston Red Sox.

The Blue Jays ended Boston’s three-game winning streak with a 3-0 victory on Tuesday.

Springer has been on the injured list with a broken left big toe. The injury was sustained when he fouled off a pitch on April 11 vs. Minnesota.

Springer hit and ran again on Tuesday, and manager John Schneider said if all goes well he could be reinstated from the IL on Wednesday. He would stabilize the leadoff spot in the lineup as designated hitter.

Springer said he expects to still feel some pain in the toe for the next few weeks.

“I know it’s going to be there, and it is what it is,” he said. “My swing was in a good place, not bad for not being out there for a while. So I’ll take it for sure.”

Springer was batting .185 with two homers and six RBIs at the time of his injury. He was a major factor in Toronto’s success last season when he batted .309 with 32 homers, 84 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. He hit .284 with four homers and 10 RBIs in the postseason.

Boston is scheduled to start right-hander Brayan Bello (1-3, 9.00 ERA) on Wednesday. He is 3-6 with a 5.20 ERA in 11 career starts vs. the Blue Jays, including 0-2 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against them in 2025.

With Max Scherzer on the injured list with forearm and ankle issues, left-hander Eric Lauer (1-3, 6.75 ERA) is scheduled to start for Toronto. He is 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA in four career games (two starts) against Boston.

Springer would be the second Blue Jay to return from the IL in two days. Right-hander Trey Yesavage pitched 5 1/3 innings on Tuesday to earn the win after starting the season on the IL with an impingement in his right shoulder.

“When you’re missing some key guys, it’s hard to form an identity on the fly or to try not to do too much on the fly,” Schneider said. “So as we get these guys back, you get a little bit back to normal and you get back to just what you’re used to doing.”

Boston stranded a runner at third base in both the first and second innings Tuesday and did not have a hit in the game after the fourth.

“I thought our best opportunities were early in the game,” said Chad Tracy, who lost for the first time in three games as the Red Sox’s interim manager.

“The at-bats the first couple of innings against Yesavage were pretty good. We had base runners, and it’s a spot against a guy like that where you’re looking to see if you can pop a two-out hit. After about the midway point of the third, he kind of settled in. And we didn’t do a whole lot after that.”

The Red Sox have been shut out three times this season.

Boston second baseman Marcelo Mayer went 1-for-3 Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to a career-best seven games. He is batting .429 (9-for-21) with three doubles and four RBIs during the streak.