The Toronto Blue Jays’ offensive struggles reached another low point Sunday as they fell 3-2 to the Texas Rangers, extending their losing streak to six games and dropping to 39-45 on the season.
The Blue Jays’ offense has failed to resemble the unit that powered the club to the World Series last season, entering Monday ranked 22nd in Major League Baseball in home runs (86) and 23rd in runs scored during June (99).
Much of that frustration has centered on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was expected to anchor Toronto’s lineup entering the season. Guerrero went 0-for-4 in Sunday’s loss and has now hit just 3-for-26 (.115) over his last six games with two RBIs and three runs scored.
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Through 80 games this season, Guerrero is batting .268 with 79 hits, four home runs, 34 RBIs and a .697 OPS, well below the standard expected from the face of the franchise.
Despite Guerrero’s continued slump, manager John Schneider made it clear after Sunday’s loss that benching his franchise first baseman is not under consideration.
Asked whether he had considered taking Guerrero out of the lineup, Schneider said, “not going to bench him. No, I think there’s always a time when a guy needs a little bit of a break, whether it’s physically, mentally or whatever it is… it’s no secret we’re going to need Vlad, if we want to be good” (h/t Hazel Mae of Sportsnet).
The Blue Jays continue to believe Guerrero can rediscover the form that made him one of baseball’s best players during the 2025 postseason. He had a batting average of .397 with 29 hits, eight home rus, 15 RBIs and a .1289 OPS in last year’s playoffs, won his first League Championship MVP award and helped the club reach its first World Series since 1993.
That version of Guerrero is what the organization remains convinced still exists, but with the Blue Jays now six games below .500 and 10.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East, the urgency continues to grow.
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Fan frustration has intensified as Toronto’s offense has stalled, with Guerrero becoming the focal point of much of the criticism. Schneider, however, appears committed to letting his star work through the struggles.
Time is quickly becoming the Blue Jays’ biggest opponent. If Toronto is going to climb back into the postseason race, it will almost certainly require Guerrero to regain the form that convinced the club to invest $500 million in him.
