Vlad undergoes MRI after late scratch due to knee discomfort
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NEW YORK -- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was a late scratch for Wednesday’s game against the Yankees, as he deals with right knee discomfort, the Blue Jays announced roughly 40 minutes before first pitch.
Guerrero started at DH in Tuesday’s opener, which was curious given Toronto’s off-day on Monday, but it soon became clear that he was not running at 100%. In the ninth inning of the 7-1 win at Yankee Stadium, Guerrero looked awkward running through first base as he reached on an error. He was then removed for a pinch-runner.
Instead of playing in Wednesday night’s 6-1 win, Guerrero went for an MRI on that knee to give the Blue Jays a clearer picture of what he’s dealing with. Manager John Schneider didn’t have those results after the win, but the club is expecting to have them late Wednesday or early Thursday before its series finale in the Bronx.
“He’s grinding. His knee is barking a little bit,” Schneider said prior to the move being made. “It’s nothing with the patellar [tendon] or anything, he’s just feeling the length of the season.”
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Guerrero is coming off an excellent homestand in which he homered in three consecutive games, but he went 0-for-5 on Tuesday and took some uncharacteristic swings. Given that his right knee is the leg that loads the power for his swing, this discomfort can’t be helping.
“It hasn’t been terribly long that he’s been feeling the effects of the season,” Schneider said. “But I don’t think that has anything to do with it.”
There was no specific play that aggravated the injury, and Schneider said that there is nothing structurally wrong with Guerrero’s knee, but the timing of this couldn’t be worse, as the Blue Jays navigate through a tight American League Wild Card race. Guerrero has mashed at Yankee Stadium, too, hitting 12 home runs with a .934 OPS over 35 career games.
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In Guerrero’s place, Cavan Biggio returned to first base and Spencer Horwitz slid in as the DH. Both found success, including Biggio’s two walks and some strong defensive play, continuing what has been a resurgence for the 28-year-old at the best possible time.
The Blue Jays have Brandon Belt working to return from a back injury, and the veteran recently started to progress through hitting drills with the hope of returning at some point before the end of the regular season.