BOSTON – The first of 16 games in 16 days for the Toronto Blue Jays began with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andres Gimenez returning to the lineup, the possibility of more help on the horizon and more messaging on hitting with runners in scoring position.

As welcome as the former is for a team working to find consistency, the latter is essential to get there. Final at-bat losses to the New York Yankees on Saturday and Sunday, during which the Blue Jays went a combined 3-for-19 with runners in scoring position, highlighted the urgency of the problem, as two more 50-50 games slipped through their fingers.

A simple correction there – they headed into Tuesday’s play 25th in average and 28th in slug in such situations – would drastically alter their trajectory, especially with Yimi Garcia, Shane Bieber, Daulton Varsho and Addison Barger progressing toward returns.

The messaging from manager John Schneider and the coaching staff centred on “shrinking the zone a little bit,” as “we have capable guys up there that are probably chasing a........

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