Schneider: Early-season struggles won't 'define' Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider admits the team has fallen short of expectations during a rough start to the season, but he doesn't think it's time to panic.

"I feel like at times I'm over-positive in times like this, where it's no secret it's not working right now," Schneider said after Monday's 14-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to MLB.com. "Better now than in July or August. ... We're 10 games into the season."

The lopsided defeat in a rematch of last season's thrilling World Series dropped the Blue Jays to 4-6. They've lost five in a row, and their minus-20 run differential is second worst in the American League.

"There's been bases loaded in almost every game with two outs, I feel like," Schneider said. "You need someone to get the big hit. You can't rely on Vlad (Guerrero Jr.) or George (Springer), or whoever it is. You gotta get that hit."

Only three teams are leaving more runners on base per game than Toronto. The Blue Jays also rank in MLB's bottom 10 for errors per game and ERA.

"I'm not going to say that we're playing bad defense," Schneider said. "This is going to happen over the course of the year. Bad offense, bad defense, bad pitching, giving up homers - it's going to happen. It just seems like, right now, the baseball world is trying to throw it all at us at once. If we back down from that, we're in trouble.

"If it was something that was a glaring weakness of ours, I'd be a little bit worried. But it's something that's been a glaring strength of ours for a lot of years, and I'm not going to let how today, or the last couple of games, define how we do it."

Injuries have been a big factor for the Blue Jays so far, and a flu is also going around the clubhouse. Pitcher Cody Ponce is expected to miss six months after suffering an ACL sprain in his Toronto debut, while starters Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and Trey Yesavage are still working their way back from injuries. Two-time All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk underwent thumb surgery and won't be available for around six weeks. Right-hander Max Scherzer left Monday's game after two innings because of forearm tendinitis. Outfielder Addison Barger didn't face the Dodgers due to an ankle issue and was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday.