Barger is not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup against the Athletics on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

With left-hander Jeffrey Springs taking the mound for the Athletics on Saturday, Barger will open the contest in the dugout while the Blue Jays go with Davis Schneider, Daulton Varsho and Myles Straw in the outfield from left to right. Barger went 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Opening Day on Friday.

Barger went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old got hold of a hanging splitter from minor-leaguer Patrick Halligan for his first homer of the spring. Barger is expected to spend most of his time in right field this season while Kazuma Okamoto handles third base, and defensive stability could allow him to build on his 2025 breakout at the plate, when he slashed .243/.301/.454 in 135 games with 21 home runs.

Barger will see most of his playing time in right field this season, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old might have bounced between right field and third base once again if the Blue Jays had headed into 2026 fully healthy, but with Anthony Santander (shoulder) set for another long absence, Barger will be needed more in the outfield. He could still wind up on the strong side of a platoon after slashing just .217/.270/.337 against left-handed pitching in 2025, but Toronto doesn't have an obvious candidate to pair him with in right field aside from the light-hitting Myles Straw. Maintaining his stamina in a full-time role will be Barger's biggest task, however -- he held a .264/.318/.512 slash line at the end of July last year, but managed just a .205/.270/.360 line the rest of the way in the regular season.

Barger went 2-for-2 with a grand slam during Toronto's 11-4 victory in Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Having already scored three runs in the sixth inning, Toronto was on the verge of taking full control of Friday's contest when Barger entered the game to hit for Davis Schneider. With the bases loaded, Barger slugged a 413-foot home run into center field off Anthony Banda, marking the first pinch hit grand slam in World Series history. The 25-year-old has now gone deep in two of his last three games and is slashing .324/.405/.622 through 42 plate appearances in the postseason.

Barger went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI in Sunday's 6-2 win over Seattle in Game 6 of the ALCS.

EDGE Analysis

Barger got the scoring started in bottom of the second inning, driving in Daulton Varsho on a single. The 25-year-old would later add a two-run home run off Logan Gilbert in the fourth inning, notching his second long ball of the playoffs. Barger is now batting .281 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored over 32 at-bats in nine games during the postseason.

Barger is out of the lineup Sunday for Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

The left-handed-hitting Barger will dodge a matchup with southpaw Max Fried in Game 2. Ernie Clement will slide to third base while Isiah Kiner-Falefa plays second base Sunday.

Barger is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

The Blue Jays haven't faced many left-handers lately, but the left-handed-hitting Barger has been out of the lineup each of the last three times they've gone up against a southpaw. George Springer will be in right field and Ernie Clement will play third base Friday versus Trevor Rogers and the Orioles.

Barger is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

After starting the last three contests, Barger will hit the bench while the Yankees send southpaw Max Fried to the hill. Barger is slashing just .230/.278/.351 over 79 plate appearances versus lefties on the season.

Barger went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Wednesday's win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

The 25-year-old chased Zack Littell from the game with a two-run blast in the fifth inning, tying the game at 5-5 after the Blue Jays had fallen into an early 5-0 hole. It was Barger's 19th homer of the season but his first since Aug. 10, snapping an 18-game drought in which he'd limped to a .148/.200/.180 slash line with only two RBI.

Barger is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Barger started the previous six games but will take a seat Tuesday after going 4-for-22 with a double, two RBI and eight strikeouts during that span. Nathan Lukes will shift to right field, which opens up left field for Davis Schneider.