The Toronto Blue Jays seem to be finding it again after a July slide and trade deadline sell-off. The club is 62-65, fourth place in the American League East and 14 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.
They are in the midst of a grueling portion of the schedule, all against division rivals. They hosted the red-hot Boston Red Sox last week, taking three of four. They hosted the New York Yankees over the weekend and took two of three.
They are currently in a three-game set at the Tampa Bay Rays, concluding on Thursday. The Blue Jays won Tuesday 10-5, picking up a game on the first-place Rays and hoping to do so again Wednesday and Thursday.
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They have done a lot of that damage without star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He was injured Friday against the Yankees while colliding with New York’s rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr.
Guerrero was subsequently placed on the 7-day concussion injured list Saturday. He has now missed a total of three games, and will remain out for the rest of the current series at Tampa Bay.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game, it was reported by Shi Davidi of Sportsnet that Guerrero is going through a full workout at Tropicana Field. Manager John Schneider said he could play in rehab games later this week and be activated Saturday.
That would put him in line to return in the middle of the club’s next series at Yankee Stadium. In what has been a strange down year for Guerrero, a series against the Yankees may be just what he needs to get going.
In 115 games this season, the 27-year-old is slashing .263/.337/.356 (.693 OPS) with seven home runs and 46 RBIs. Weirdly enough, none of those seven long balls have come at home.
The Blue Jays are counting on Guerrero to produce once he comes off the IL, especially as they are only a half-game back of the last Wild Card spot. Their offense has been the thing holding them back the most this season, and his hot hitting could change that narrative.
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