The George Springer-hitting leadoff era is over.

At least for now.

Springer was returned to the leadoff spot for Friday’s series-opening game against the Tampa Bay Rays, but Toronto didn’t gain a single base until the bottom of the eighth inning, when a single to right-field from Danny Jansen broke up Tyler Alexander’s perfect game.

Davis Schneider took to the plate next, ripping a home run 394-feet into left centre field. The rally continued, with Daulton Varsho getting on base with a single, before Daniel Vogelbach reached first base on a fielders choice. With two outs on the board, Cavan Biggio got on base with a single of his own, and with the Jays down 4-3, Springer entered the box.

With runners on first and second and an ability for the Jays to take the lead, Springer swung on the first pitch he saw, an inside slider, grounding into a hard hit ball into a double play. The inning was over, and the momentum the Jays had was killed.

It was a near-perfect encapsulation of Springer’s season. Despite opportunity after opportunity, chance after chance, he hasn’t provided a morsel of what the team has needed. Now, ahead of Saturday’s second game against the Rays, he’s been dropped down to the sixth spot in the order, and Schneider has risen up the lineup again taking over that top spot.

The hope is that this will relieve some of Springer’s pressure, allowing him to find his game while bringing the best bats to the top of the order. It’s a shame it’s taken this long, but better late than never, I suppose.

The good news for Toronto is that this method has already helped one Jays hitter: Bo Bichette. Since he was dropped down the lineup on May 5th, he’s gone 10-for-35 at the plate, slashing .286/.359/.400 with a .795 OPS. Can Springer follow suit?

3:07 p.m. EST. TV & Radio: Sportsnet

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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.