The Toronto Blue Jays had to shuffle their infield minutes before Tuesday night’s game against the Mets. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was pulled from the lineup with back tightness, a late scratch that forced some quick adjustments.
Sean Keys slid over to first base to cover for Guerrero. Ernie Clement moved from wherever he was to third base. Luis Urías got the call to enter the lineup at second base. It’s the kind of domino effect managers hate dealing with right before first pitch.
The team hasn’t said much beyond the initial announcement. Guerrero’s back issue is listed as tightness, which could be anything from a minor tweak to something that keeps him out a few days. The Blue Jays didn’t offer a timeline or any indication of severity. That’s usually not a great sign, but it’s also standard procedure to play things close to the vest this early.
Guerrero has been the heart of Toronto’s lineup this season. When he’s out, the offense loses its biggest threat. The Blue Jays are already fighting to stay relevant in a crowded AL East, so any absence from their cleanup hitter is going to sting.
This all went down on a day Toronto sports fans were already buzzing about something else. Earlier Tuesday, the Raptors made a splash by trading for Kawhi Leonard. Yes, that Kawhi Leonard. The same guy who led them to a championship in 2019 and then left in free agency. Bringing him back is a huge deal for the city, especially since it’s been a rough few years for the Raptors since that title run.
So while Raptors fans were celebrating the return of a Finals MVP, Blue Jays fans were left refreshing their phones to see if Guerrero would be back in the lineup tomorrow. That’s Toronto sports in a nutshell. One minute you’re reminiscing about a championship parade, the next you’re hoping your first baseman’s back spasms aren’t serious.
Guerrero is listed as day-to-day for now. The Blue Jays have a game Wednesday afternoon before heading on the road. They might decide to give him another day off just to be safe, especially if the tightness hasn’t loosened up by morning.
As for game two against the Mets, Toronto’s patchwork infield held its own. Clement has been solid defensively wherever he’s played. Keys is no stranger to first base. And Urías can handle the bat well enough. But nobody’s pretending they’re better off without Vlad Jr. in the lineup.
The Mets took the series opener, so this game already had some weight to it. Now the Blue Jays have to grind it out without their best hitter. We’ll see how long this back issue sticks around.
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