# Blue Jays keep Vlad third for must-win Tigers game

> After a late collapse against Detroit, Toronto rolls out a familiar lineup with its wild-card hopes tightening.
- Title: Blue Jays keep Vlad third for must-win Tigers game | Shortify
- Summary: After a late collapse against Detroit, Toronto rolls out a familiar lineup with its wild-card hopes tightening. Toronto’s playoff push depends on turning…
- Keywords: toronto blue jays, detroit tigers, vladimir guerrero jr., brett bateman, george springer, alejandro kirk, troy melton, louis varland, wild card race, starting lineup, mlb, playoff push
- Source: Toronto Blue Jays On SI — https://si.com/mlb/bluejays/onsi/blue-jays-set-starting-line-up-for-must-win-game-after-brutal-loss-monday
- Published: 2026-09-15T19:35:41+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: toronto blue jays, detroit tigers, vladimir guerrero jr., brett bateman, george springer, alejandro kirk, troy melton, louis varland, wild card race, starting lineup, mlb, playoff push
## A win got away
Toronto controlled most of Monday’s opener against Detroit, then watched it unravel late in a painful loss to a weaker American League opponent.

> it ended in a heartbreaker
## The race is messy
The Blue Jays are still chasing the final wild-card spot, but their inability to stay above .500 is turning every slip into a bigger problem.

> nobody really wants to play baseball next month
## Early chances vanished
Toronto put steady pressure on Troy Melton and forced him out after 2.2 innings, but two bases-loaded threats produced nothing.

> they never cashed in
## Detroit hung around
The Jays could have led 5-0 by the third. Instead, Detroit stayed close long enough for its offense to flip the game late.

> when a team can hang around
## The bullpen was thin
Missed scoring chances mattered more because Tyler Rogers and Mason Fluharty were unavailable after pitching on back-to-back days.

> key high-leverage relievers unavailable
## Time to answer
The loss left Toronto needing an immediate response Tuesday night, with little room for another flat finish.

> this team needs to bounce back Tuesday night
## Lineup stays steady
The top of the order remains mostly intact: Brett Bateman, George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, then Nathan Lukes.

> the top of the order has looked pretty dang strong
## Vlad stays third
Guerrero remains in the No. 3 spot despite a brutal Monday, when he repeatedly came up with runners on and failed to deliver.

> continues to kill rallies as the third man
## Everything turns on Vlad
Toronto’s path gets shaky if Guerrero does not find his swing fast. Even a playoff berth would feel fragile without his bat producing in big spots.

> Things have to turn around, and in a hurry.
## Key takeaway

Toronto’s playoff push depends on turning traffic into runs, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has to stop ending rallies from the No. 3 spot.