Blue Jays make Vladimir Guerrero Jr. decision ahead of Marlins game

The Toronto Blue Jays received an important boost ahead of Wednesday’s MLB series finale against the Miami Marlins. Their first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with a right elbow injury.

Guerrero suffered the injury Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates when a 92.1 mph sinker from Mitch Keller struck his bare right elbow. The slugger immediately exited the game and later revealed he briefly lost feeling in parts of his hand after the pitch hit the ulnar nerve area.

Fortunately for Toronto, X-rays showed no fracture. The official diagnosis remained a right elbow contusion, and the organization avoided placing Guerrero on the injured list.

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Toronto announced its lineup on X with the message, “Let’s win the series! #BlueJays50,” confirming Guerrero would start at first base and bat second.

The decision to bring him back Wednesday reflects both medical progress and the Blue Jays’ current urgency. Toronto entered the game with a disappointing 26-29 record and continues trying to recover from a slow start in the competitive AL East.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s production still leaves questions for Toronto

Even before the injury, Guerrero’s season carried mixed reviews. His plate discipline has remained elite, but the power numbers have dropped sharply compared to his usual standards.

Through 53 games, Guerrero owns a solid .287 batting average and an impressive .386 on-base percentage. He has also walked more times than he has struck out, showing strong command of the strike zone.

However, the bigger concern is the lack of impact power. Guerrero entered Wednesday with only three home runs and a .372 slugging percentage, numbers far below expectations for one of baseball’s premier middle-of-the-order hitters.

His struggles became even more noticeable during May. Guerrero slashed just .187/.312/.227 for the month entering Wednesday’s matchup.

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Toronto’s offense looks incomplete when Guerrero is not driving the baseball consistently. The Blue Jays remain competitive because of contact hitting and solid situational offense, but the lineup still lacks the explosive production needed to consistently pressure top pitching staffs.

That reality places extra focus on Guerrero’s health moving forward. Even if the elbow injury appears minor, Toronto cannot afford a lingering issue that further impacts his power.