Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. injures hamstring vs. Pirates
Guerrero was hurt in the third inning of the 5-2 setback Monday in Pittsburgh. He left the game in the fifth inning because of what the team called "left hamstring tightness."
"He's doing all right," manager John Schneider told reporters. "It was after that stretch, obviously. At this time of year, everyone is kind of grinding a little bit, and I think that just irritated his hammy. It's just tightness."
Schneider said Guerrero would have an MRI on Monday night and be evaluated Tuesday.
"He wanted to test it out a little bit and wanted to be sure that he wasn't going to really aggravate it," Schneider said. "I trust him, and he knows himself really well.
"We can't afford to lose him for an extended period of time, so it was partially precautionary, too. Hopefully, he's good to go in the next day or two. He's obviously really important to our lineup."
Center fielder Alexander Canario gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. Guerrero plated the Blue Jays' first run with an RBI ground out in the top of the third. Shortstop Bo Bichette brought in right fielder Addison Barger with an RBI single in the next at-bat.
The Pirates tied the score on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the inning. Second baseman Nick Gonzales then grounded into a double play.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman then walked designed hitter Andrew McCutchen, bringing Jared Triolo to the plate. The Pirates shortstop hit a ground ball to Bichette.
The Blue Jays shortstop then tossed to first base. Guerrero kept his right foot on the base while doing a full split toward the throw. He gloved the catch to retire Triolo and end the inning.
Guerrero, who jogged to the dugout, returned to the field in the bottom of the fourth, when he made two outs at first base. Pinch-hitter Ty France replaced Guerrero in the top of the fifth. France shifted to first base in the bottom of the inning.
Guerrero went 0 for 2 with an RBI and a strikeout. France went 0 for 2 with a strikeout. No Blue Jays hitter recorded more multiple hits against the Pirates.
Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Starting pitcher Paul Skenes allowed five hits and two runs over six innings, but was not on record for a decision. He also recorded eight strikeouts.
Gausman allowed five hits and two runs over five innings.
Guerrero hit .298 with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs over his first 124 games this season. The Blue Jays (73-53), who lost their last two games, still lead the American League East. The second-place New York Yankees (67-57) and Boston Red Sox (68-58) are five games behind the division leaders.
The Pirates (53-73) will host the Blue Jays in the second game of the series at 6:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
5 Cuban athletes defect during Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay
Athletes compete in the women's 100m athletics category at the II ASU 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Luque, Paraguay, on Tuesday. Five Cuban athletes have defected to Paraguay. Photo by Rodrigo Sepulveda/EPA Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Five athletes from Cuba's national youth delegation defected during the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, and said they intend to remain in the country. Paraguayan Interior Minister Enrique Riera confirmed at a national press conference that the case was a defection and that the athletes are adults. He added that, at that time, none had started the formal process of applying for political asylum. The athletes -- three rowers, a judo specialist and a handball player -- defected in two separate incidents. Four left their delegation during a sightseeing trip and later told Cuban officials they would not return, while the judoka fled Friday when his delegation let its guard down. The athletes' defection also drew attention on social media, where Cuban communities in Paraguay began organizing to support them. Content creators Harche Vlog and Yanet Jackson Leyet said on TikTok they have been in direct contact with the athletes and have formed support groups as the athletes work to complete refugee paperwork. Related Junior Pan American Games underway in Paraguay Harche Vlog, who said he risked his life crossing the Amazon to reach Paraguay, warned of the danger the young athletes would face if deported to Cuba. He said they would be subjected to government-organized "acts of repudiation" in which citizens are publicly harassed with insults and assaults. "They throw eggs and stones, they boo and shout 'traitors.' They've done it to thousands of Cubans," he said. He added that the harassment would continue with interrogations by state security about who the athletes spoke with and what they said about conditions on the island. The episode comes amid a growing Cuban exodus to South America. In Brazil alone, authorities recorded more than 19,000 Cuban asylum applications by mid-2025, surpassing Venezuelan cases for the first time. The surge is part of a broader migration wave: between 2021 and 2024, more than 850,000 Cubans arrived in the United States, according to Customs and Border Protection, in what is considered the island's largest exodus in recent history. Analysts attribute the trend to economic hardship, political discontent and the search for greater opportunities abroad. They say cases such as the young athletes in Asunción are the visible sign of migration shaped by economic instability and limited freedoms in Cuba. The defections came during the same week that Paraguay's National Commission for Stateless Persons and Refugees signed an agreement with the U.S. departments of State and Homeland Security to strengthen cooperation on migration, security, trade and investment. Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez called the agreement a step that reaffirms the alliance with Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it represents a close partnership to address migration and security issues. Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar said it will help channel legitimate asylum requests.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Blue Jays' John Schneider Has George Springer Message Amid Veteran's Resurgence
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tuesday night was just the latest impressive act in an incredible turnaround season for the Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer. Springer was hit by a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, perhaps as restitution for the two teams' bench-clearing incident on Monday. Instead of escalating the situation, Springer simply waited a couple of innings, then launched a home run off pitcher Mitch Keller his next time up. The blast was Springer's 20th of the season, and it set the tone for a 7-3 Blue Jays win. Toronto maintained its five-game lead atop the American League East with 35 games to play. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates his two-run home run during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 19, 2025 in Pittsburgh,... PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates his two-run home run during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 19, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by)Before the season, Springer looked like an ankle weight on the Blue Jays' payroll, with two more years on his deal valued at $50 million in total. Now, he's turned the clock all the way back to his prime, when he made three All-Star appearances in a row from 2017 to 2019. Blue Jays manager John Schneider made it clear on Tuesday night that Springer's resurgence has had a massive impact on Toronto's worst-to-first turnaround from last year to this year. "He sets the tone," said Schneider, per Keegan Matheson of "Whether it's hitting home runs, grinding out at-bats, advancing on a dirt ball, scoring from first, stealing a base, he's the epitome of what we're doing. "I can't speak highly enough of him, the way he's going about this and the way other guys are responding to what he's doing." Springer is slashing .292/.383/.514 in 105 games this season, his best OPS in a season of at least 100 games since 2019, when he finished seventh in American League Most Valuable Player voting. Suddenly, it doesn't look like there's any chance Toronto will try to salary dump him ahead of the final year on his contract. The 35-year-old is the only position player on the Blue Jays' roster with a World Series ring, and he undoubtedly has plans to lead them to another. More MLB: Phillies' Rob Thomson Has Telling Comment on Jordan Romano with Roster Spot Uncertain
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Tennis world can't help itself as Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz pair at US Open: ‘Love story'
The tennis world has gone into a frenzy after Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu teamed up at the US Open, as rumors continue to swirl that they may be the sport's newest power couple. In their first round match at the revamped US Open mixed doubles, Jack Draper and his partner, Jessica Pegula, overcame Raducanu and Alcaraz 4-2, 4-2 – with sets shortened for the new $1 million event. Advertisement Despite losing, Raducanu and Alcaraz kept spirits high, bumping fists, sharing embraces and laughs throughout. Raducanu and Alcaraz's pairing – dubbed Raducaraz by some fans – also fueled relationship rumors as fans speculated they may be more than just friends. 'Am I watching the start of a love story?' one person wrote on X. 'I think this could be tennis' hottest new couple,' another said. Advertisement 4 Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz paired together at the US Open on Aug. 19, 2025. Getty Images While a third wrote: 'That was so much fun to watch.' Rumors of the pair dating have swirled since the Brit was pictured cheering on the Spaniard at Wimbledon in June. Advertisement Since then, each of the pair's social media pages continue to be flooded with questions about a potential bubbling romance. Such is the interest in the pair that worldwide search interest in the pair is up 2.2% in the last three months. 4 Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz lost their first match. REUTERS 4 There have been romance rumors following the two tennis stars. John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock Advertisement However, the pair have denied being together and instead insist they are 'just good friends.' 'I guess I'm like, it comes with the territory, people being so curious,' Raducanu told The Guardian ahead of her doubles match with Alcaraz. 'I think they're more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news. But I just keep myself to myself, my private life to one side. It's always funny when people try to find something out, but I try not to read into it so much.' 4 Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz during US Open mixed doubles event. REUTERS The British No. 1 has returned to form in recent months, but she narrowly missed out on being a seed for the US Open singles event, which begins next week in New York. Alcaraz will enter the US Open draw as the second seed.
