The Toronto Blue Jays have built their future around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The club made that commitment official in March 2025 when it signed him to a 14-year, $500 million extension. The expectation was that the five-time All-Star would continue to anchor Toronto’s lineup for years to come.
Guerrero rewarded that faith with a standout campaign, hitting a .292 with 172 hits, 23 homers, 84 RBIs and 96 runs scored in 156 games in 2025. He led MLB in OPS, total bases and RBIs during the postseason, highlighted by a go-ahead two-run homer off Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani in Game 4 of the World Series.
However, his production has looked very different this season. Guerrero is still batting .280 with a .372 on-base percentage, but the power numbers have fallen off dramatically. His slugging percentage sits at .366, a drop from the .467 mark he recorded last season.
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Through 68 games, he has managed just three home runs, an alarming total for a first baseman expected to drive the offense. Toronto’s struggles at the plate have reflected that reality, with the club entering Saturday ranked 22nd in baseball with a .701 team OPS.
Friday night’s 8-5 victory over the Yankees offered a glimpse of what the Blue Jays needed from their franchise star. Guerrero finished 1-for-5 but delivered an RBI double off Jake Bird that stretched Toronto’s lead to 7-3 as the Blue Jays snapped New York’s four-game winning streak.
The Blue Jays will hope to build on their impressive win when the two clubs meet again at Rogers Centre on Saturday. However, Guerrero will have no say on the field as he was notably absent from the Blue Jays lineup released hours ahead of the matchup.
According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Guerrero revealed that his lower back tightened up during Friday night’s win over the Yankees and that the discomfort was enough to keep him out of Saturday’s lineup. While the club has not indicated that the issue is serious, manager John Schneider opted to start Charles McAdoo at first base in his place.
The Blue Jays will also be without Alejandro Kirk, who returned from a 62-game absence and collected three hits with two RBIs on Friday.
Without Guerrero and Kirk, the Blue Jays face an uphill task against arguably the hottest pitcher in baseball right now. Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler enters Saturday with a 7-3 record, a 1.87 ERA and 89 strikeouts through 15 starts this season.
Kevin Gausman (4-4, 3.60 ERA) gets the ball for Toronto in the middle game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 3:07 p.m. ET. The Blue Jays enter play at 34-36, third in the AL East and eight games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
