Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Blue Jays Provide Injury Updates on Star Pitchers, Vlad Guerrero Jr.

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Sam Connon | Last updated Mar 12, 2024 11:33 AM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays, who are juggling a handful of injuries to key players with Opening Day two weeks away, provided a handful of status updates on Tuesday.

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is temporarily out of the lineup with a left knee contusion. As manager John Schneider told Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, however, Guerrero has not been sent for imaging and will go through a full workout and the team’s player development complex in Dunedin, Florida.

Guerrero was banged up late last week as well, suffering a jammed finger.

The MLB The Show 24 cover athlete made his third consecutive All-Star appearance last year. He finished 2023 with 26 home runs, 94 RBI, a .264 batting average, a .788 OPS, a 2.0 WAR and a Home Run Derby crown.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (left knee contusion) will go through a full workout today at the Blue Jays player development complex.

Guerrero hasn't been sent for imaging and manager John Schneider says there's "nothing new with him — just being cautious right now."
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) March 12, 2024

On the mound, a trio of Blue Jays pitchers are trying to return from injuries of their own.

Kevin Gausman, who has been dealing with shoulder fatigue, is scheduled to throw a side session Tuesday. Up next will either be live batting practice or a Grapefruit League game, depending on how his bullpen session goes.

Yariel Rodriguez, meanwhile, is set to throw a live batting practice Tuesday as he continues to work his way back from back spasms. He will throw roughly 40 pitches, and Schneider hopes the 26-year-old Cuban hurler will next take the mound for his Spring Training debut.

Schneider’s update on Alek Manoah wasn’t as concrete, as he did not provide a timetable for his return. The right-hander, who is also dealing with shoulder soreness, is still playing catch, though.

Kevin Gausman (shoulder fatigue) will throw a side session today at Blue Jays camp; club will determine next steps afterwards. Options include a live BP or straight into a game.

Alek Manoah (shoulder soreness) continues to play catch; no timeline for his return to a mound.
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) March 12, 2024

Yariel Rodriguez (back) will throw two innings of live BP today at Blue Jays camp, aiming for around 40 pitches. Club's hope is his next time off a mound will be in a game.
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) March 12, 2024

Gausman ranks third in all of baseball with 95 starts over the last three seasons, placing top-10 in Cy Young voting all three years while making two All-Star appearances. Manoah looked like he would join Gausman as a true ace following his standout rookie campaign in 2021 and All-Star appearance in 2022, but his production dropped off a cliff in 2023.

Rodriguez was one of Toronto’s top free agent additions this winter, and he has a few weeks left of Spring Training to prove he is worth a big league roster spot right off the bat.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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