Why George Springer isn't playing tonight for Blue Jays with World Series injury lineup update

The Toronto Blue Jays wouldn't be in the World Series without George Springer.

But in Game 4 on Tuesday night, they'll have to play in the World Series without him.

Springer hit the go-ahead (and eventual game-winning) home run in Game 7 of the ALCS. Without that swing, the Blue Jays would be at home.

With that swing, Springer continued to cement himself as one of the best playoff baseball hitters ever, and he gave the Blue Jays a spot in their first World Series since 1993.

He started the first three games but isn't starting Game 4.

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Why isn't George Springer playing tonight?

George Springer isn't playing in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night due to injury.

Springer was injured in Game 3 when he took a swing that fouled a ball off and appeared to hurt his oblique.

The veteran had an MRI on Tuesday, although the Blue Jays wouldn't specify what exactly Springer hurt.

All that manager John Schneider would say at about 4 p.m. ET was that Springer was "hour to hour."

Schneider played very coy in his pregame media availability. He said that Springer would either be in the lineup or be on the bench.

Conceptually, that did at least rule out Springer being removed from the World Series roster entirely due to his injury.

With Springer not playing, left fielder Nathan Lukes leads off.

The lineup goes Lukes, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho, Ernie Clement, Andres Gimenez and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Bichette is the DH with no Springer, and IKF plays second base.

It's not clear whether Springer would be available off the bench, or if he'll have a chance to return for Game 5 or beyond.

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