Not a good scene Monday night..
Blue Jays fans hold breath amid American League East pennant race originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Toronto Blue Jays got a scare on Monday night in Pittsburgh when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left their matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates with what the team later described as left hamstring tightness.
Blue Jays star leaves early in Pittsburgh
Cameras caught Guerrero pointing to the back of his leg before signaling to the dugout, and Ty France came in to pinch hit for him in the fifth inning.
The Blue Jays have not released details on the severity of the injury, leaving plenty of uncertainty about how long Guerrero might be sidelined.
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What the Blue Jays stand to lose
Guerrero is at the heart of Toronto’s lineup. He has been delivering one of the most consistent bats in the American League this season, hitting .298 with 30 doubles, 21 home runs, 69 runs batted in, and 83 runs scored. His OPS has hovered just under .900, making him a constant threat at the plate.
If Guerrero misses time, France could step in as the everyday first baseman, while utility man Ernie Clement is another option to cover the position. Depending on how his hamstring responds, this could range from a short-term absence to a stint on the injured list.
Timing could not be worse
Toronto entered the game with a five-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings, while the Yankees sat 5.5 games back. The Blue Jays are pushing for their first division title in a decade, and losing Guerrero for any length of time would make that climb much harder.
The Blue Jays have not had an AL East crown since 2015, and only one since 1993. With the stretch run heating up, all eyes will be on updates about Guerrero’s condition.
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Category: Baseball
