The Toronto Blue Jays badly need a response after Friday’s 16-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field snapped their three-game winning streak and dropped them to 37-39 on the season.
The game also brought an injury scare. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was removed as a precaution after experiencing back tightness on a swing, raising concern given that he already dealt with a similar issue recently. Guerrero’s back tightness forced him out of two games against the New York Yankees last weekend, and another flare-up is the last thing Toronto needs as it tries to climb up the American League East standings.
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On Saturday, however, Blue Jays fans got encouraging news as manager John Schneider named Guerrero in his starting lineup for the second game of the series.
After Friday’s game, Schneider told reporters that Guerrero’s removal from Friday’s game was precautionary.
“I just want to be careful,” Schneider said. “Just checked with him, he’s feeling better. Nothing like what it was when he missed a couple games” (via Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling).
Guerrero has not been at his best this season. He is currently posting the lowest OPS of his career (.731) and has performed well below the form he showed during Toronto’s 2025 postseason run, when he led the AL in OPS and won ALCS MVP honors. Guerrero went 0-for-3 in Friday’s loss and will hope to bounce back and help the Blue Jays even the series.
Toronto sends Patrick Corbin (2-3, 4.57 ERA) to the mound on Saturday against Cubs right-hander Colin Rea (5-5, 5.35 ERA). First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.
