TORONTO — In the span of 25 minutes, two of the Toronto Blue Jays’ most important players left during Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dylan Cease, after attempting to stay in the game, exited in the top of the fifth inning, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exited in the bottom half of the inning after he was hit on the right elbow by a pitch.
It appeared like a disastrous day for a Blue Jays team already embattled by injuries. But after initial examinations, the Jays may be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
“You know the updates were gonna come at some point,” Schneider said after the game. “And they were both pretty positive in-game.”
Cease, who shook out his legs before his exit, was removed with “mild left hamstring discomfort,” the Jays announced. While initial tests “seemed pretty positive,” Schneider said, Cease will still go for an MRI after the game. Entering his Sunday outing with a 2.98 ERA over 10 starts, he was the jewel of the Jays’ offseason and an American League Cy Young Award candidate. The fact that it’s not a significant strain or an arm injury can be considered a positive, for now.
“He said he wants to make his next start,” Schneider said, “so just see how he is the next couple days.”
Guerrero, the club said, went for X-rays on his right elbow, which returned negative for a fracture. The initial diagnosis is a right elbow contusion, and Schneider said there is a chance he plays for the Jays on Monday. Despite early-season struggles, Guerrero is still the clear anchor of Toronto’s lineup. While a contusion could still keep him out for a few days, avoiding a fracture or more significant injury is another exhale for the Jays.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went directly to the dugout and left the game after being hit by a pitch. pic.twitter.com/jPWw5jGiTX
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 24, 2026
The Jays, fighting to get back to .500, have already placed core players like Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger, Shane Bieber and Cody Ponce on the injured list this season. They had 10 players on the IL going into Sunday’s game against the Pirates.
“It’s in the back of your head a little bit when you get a couple star players coming out in the fifth inning,” Schneider said, “but I always say the game doesn’t really wait for anyone.”
If Guerrero misses significant time, Kazuma Okamoto could slide over to first base. Infield prospect Charles McAdoo or Eloy Jiménez, who has re-signed with the Jays according to a league source, could also fill in at first. If the Jays need to cover a couple of starts for Cease, it would be difficult given how deep the team has already dipped into rotation depth. A Triple-A pitching prospect like CJ Van Eyk or Chad Dallas could be called on to fill his spot, if needed.
