The Toronto Blue Jays finally got a win against the Yankees on Friday, snapping a rough stretch and giving the club a much-needed jolt. But the good vibes didn’t last long. Hours before Saturday’s first pitch, the team revealed that slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is dealing with a back injury that’s kept him out of the starting lineup.
According to Sportsnet, Guerrero’s lower back tightened up during Friday’s game. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet posted on X that the first baseman himself confirmed the issue: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said his lower back tightened up during yesterday’s game and is keeping him out of the lineup today.
This isn’t an isolated problem. The Blue Jays have been running an unofficial injury rotation all season. Catcher Alejandro Kirk just returned from a thumb fracture. Starting pitcher Dylan Cease has missed time. Now Guerrero — the team’s most dangerous bat — is sidelined with back tightness, and that raises real questions about how Toronto plans to climb out of its offensive slump.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Guerrero is hitting .280 this season, but the power numbers are alarming. In 246 at-bats, he has just three home runs. For a guy who hit 48 homers in 2021 and has been the face of Toronto’s lineup, that’s a major red flag. Back in May, Guerrero told reporters, I’m not feeling right, and you guys can tell that. I’m just looking to hit one ball very hard. It will stay in my head and my mind. I know things are going to change.
The problem is that change hasn’t come. And now a back injury makes it harder to swing freely.
It’s Not Just Vlad
The Blue Jays’ entire offense has gone cold. After ranking fourth in runs per game in 2025 (4.93), they’ve dropped to 22nd this season (4.07), according to ESPN. That kind of fall-off explains why Toronto sits at 34-36, stuck under .500 for most of the year. Fans expected far more after the team captured the AL pennant last season.
If the Jays want to make the postseason, they need Guerrero healthy and producing. He’s not just a cleanup hitter — he’s the guy opposing pitchers fear. Without him at full strength, the lineup becomes a lot easier to navigate.
Toronto currently sits third in the AL East. The Yankees are rolling. The Orioles aren’t going anywhere. Every game matters, and Saturday’s loss of Guerrero — even for one day — is a blow the Blue Jays can’t afford to absorb lightly.
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