Instead of having what was supposed to be an off day on Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays played a make-up game with the Chicago Cubs and lost heartbreakingly. After holding a 2-0 lead in the later innings, the Jays wasted a gem of an outing by Dylan Cease and lost 3-2 in extras.
Despite the loss in extras, the Jays are still alive in the AL Wild Card race, and they begin a weekend series (on the road) against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday evening. Toronto is sending Jose Soriano to the mound for the first time in a Blue Jays uniform, but Toronto will be without Vladimir Guerrero Jr. again…
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Absent From Blue Jays Order Again
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 03: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 and Kazuma Okamoto #7 of the Toronto Blue Jays embrace after a win against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on August 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
For a third straight game, the Toronto Blue Jays will be without Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might be headed for an IL stint if he does not return to the Blue Jays batting order on Saturday.
Here is the full Blue Jays batting order for 8/7:
Blue Jays 8/7: “N. Lukes RF A. Kirk C J. Sánchez LF G. Springer DH K. Okamoto 1B A. Giménez SS E. Clement 2B J. Smith 3B B. Bateman CF J. Soriano SP”
N. Lukes RF A. Kirk C J. Sánchez LF G. Springer DH K. Okamoto 1B A. Giménez SS E. Clement 2B J. Smith 3B B. Bateman CF
J. Soriano SP
Although Thursday’s loss was heartbreaking, the Jays are technically coming off a series win against the Houston Astros, which could be used as momentum.
However, it will be hard to climb into an AL playoff spot without Vlad Jr., even though he has struggled this season.
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Inside Vlad Jr.’s Struggles This Season
GettyTORONTO, ON – JULY 31: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays runs home to score a run on an RBI double by Kazuma Okamoto #7 in the sixth inning during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rogers Centre on July 31, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
There is absolutely no sugarcoating it: the Blue Jays need a lot more offensive production from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final two months of the season.
He’s batted .259 over 401 ABs this season, but has just six home runs, which is hard to believe.
On top of that, he’s driven in just 44 runs and has a below-league-average OPS+ of 90.
Toronto remains four games back in the AL Wild Card hunt, but if it is to claw back, Vald Jr. will have to come up with a few key swings.
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