Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Injury Puts AL East On Alert
Any prolonged absence of the Toronto slugger could change the AL East race
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exited Monday’s game with left hamstring tightness.
The Toronto Blue Jays first baseman was removed in the fifth inning of a 5-2 loss to the Pirates, a surprising sight for one of baseball’s most durable players. Guerrero already had driven in a run before the discomfort forced him out.
“He’s doing all right,” manager John Schneider said, as transcribed by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. “We can’t afford to lose him for an extended period of time.”
Earlier in the game, Guerrero pointed at his leg and muttered “malo” toward the dugout, Spanish for “bad,” according to Matheson. He tried to play through the issue with several routine throws across the diamond, but the decision was made to end his night early.
An MRI was scheduled for Tuesday morning to confirm the initial diagnosis, and Toronto is hopeful it avoided anything severe.
The Blue Jays sit at 73-53, holding the top spot in the American League East. Toronto has a five-game lead over both the second-place Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Boston and Toronto will meet for one more three-game series this season from September 23-25 at Fenway Park. Toronto has controlled the season series so far, winning seven of the first 10 games.
How Guerrero responds will shape not only Toronto’s immediate outlook, but also Boston’s path. If he misses significant time, the division race could open wider for the Red Sox. With September approaching, every edge matters, and one injury could alter the balance.
