The Toronto Blue Jays got a much-needed jolt of good news Tuesday afternoon. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is back.
After missing two games with back tightness, the four-time All-Star first baseman has been activated for Tuesday night’s road matchup against the Boston Red Sox. The team confirmed the move via Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, who reported that Guerrero and second baseman Andrés Giménez (wrist) are both back in the lineup, with right-hander Dylan Cease set to oppose Boston rookie lefty Payton Tolle.
This isn’t just a routine return. For a Blue Jays team sitting at 34-38 and already 8.5 games out of the AL East lead, every game feels pivotal. Toronto has been a walking bruise report all season, and Guerrero’s absence last weekend only added to the frustration.
He last played in Friday’s series opener against the Yankees — a 5-2 win that briefly quieted critics. But without him the next two days, the Blue Jays dropped both games, including a crushing extra-inning loss Sunday afternoon. The margin for error is basically gone.
Another Strong Year, But the Wins Aren’t Following
Guerrero has quietly pieced together another solid campaign. Through 65 games, he’s slashing .289/.374/.513 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs. The exit velocities are still elite, the barrel rate is top-tier, and he remains one of the most dangerous hitters in the sport when healthy. But individual numbers haven’t translated into team success. The Blue Jays have hovered around .500 all season, and the ghosts of last October — when they lost a brutal Game 7 at home to the Dodgers in extra innings — still seem to linger in the clubhouse.
Manager John Schneider has publicly stressed patience, but the fan base is growing restless. Toronto hasn’t made a deep postseason run since 2016, and a roster built to win now has consistently underdelivered. The return of Guerrero and Giménez at least gives the lineup some stability, but the pitching staff has also been spotty, outside of Cease and Kevin Gausman.
What This Means for the Red Sox Series
Boston comes into Tuesday’s game with momentum, sitting just a few games above .500 and fighting for wild-card positioning. The matchup with Cease versus Tolle is an intriguing one — Cease has been electric this year (2.78 ERA, 98 strikeouts in 87 innings), while Tolle is still finding his footing in the majors. The Blue Jays will need their offense to jump on the rookie early if they want to avoid another series loss.
First pitch is set for 6:45 PM ET at Fenway Park.
For now, Toronto gets its lineup anchor back. Whether it’s enough to salvage the season remains the open question.
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