The Toronto Blue Jays have reached the most important stretch of their season with almost no margin for mistakes.

On Monday, Toronto fell out of the American League playoff picture after a 6-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals, dropping to a losing record on the year as the regular season rapidly reaches its end. The fall highlighted the importance of every remaining game and even each remaining individual play, just as concerns are growing in left field.

Thanks largely to a nightmare game against the division rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, in which he lost one ball in the roof and another in the lights, patience is running thin for struggling Blue Jays outfielder Jesus Sanchez.

Those concerns surfaced again Sunday, when Sanchez dropped a routine fly ball in a loss against Kansas City. After the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider offered a blunt warning to Sanchez.

Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Schneider Sends Warning After Another Jesus Sanchez Error

Following the latest miscue, Schneider offered a blunt assessment on Sanchez while also attempting to defend the player.

“I think he was battling the sun a little bit, but it looked like he had a beat on it,” Schneider said, according to MLB.com ’s Keegan Matheson. “He kind of just missed it… We’ve got to make sure we’re playing tight. We’ve got to not give anyone extra outs.”

And the manager added a clear four-word warning about the remaining margin for errors like that.

“Got to get better,” Schneider added, per Matheson.

Sanchez’s latest mistake came despite limited opportunities in the outfield. The seven-year veteran has started only four games in the outfield since the Tampa Bay series, with Sunday marking his fourth.

But that was already Sánchez’s third error of the season, which leads all major league left fielders despite him playing only 44 games at the position.

Toronto acquired Sanchez from the Houston Astros during the offseason largely for his offensive upside But after a strong beginning to the season, his production has also cooled considerably.

Toronto Blue Jays Have Other Left-Field Options As Jesus Sanchez Struggles

With the postseason race tightening, Toronto has alternatives if Schneider decides Sanchez cannot be trusted defensively.

Myles Straw has increasingly handled left field and offers significantly stronger defense. His bat has also been productive recently, giving the Blue Jays a compelling option when they prioritize run prevention.

Josh Smith could provide another possibility. Acquired from the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline, Smith has produced an impressive offensive stretch since joining Toronto and has enough outfield experience to give the club another path.

Rookie Sean Keys is another intriguing possibility after hitting 28 home runs in the minors, although his limited outfield experience creates its own risk. And perhaps Anthony Santander will return from injury in time to take some reps in the outfield.