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Stats

Vlad Jr. not in the lineup for Toronto on Wednesday

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR 1st Baseman #27

Player Stats

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not in the lineup for Toronto on Wednesday against the Astros.

It seems like a routine day off for the struggling first baseman, who is slashing .259/.338/.349 with six home runs and 44 RBI in 456 plate appearances. He has a career-low 6.7 percent barrel rate and 43.6 percent hard-hit rate on the season in what has been an incredibly disappointing year. Kazuma Okamoto will first start at first base and bat second, with Josh Smith starting at third base and batting sixth.

- Eric Samulski

Source: Toronto Blue Jays

More Vladimir Guerrero Jr. News

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Related Player News

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR 1st Baseman #27

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not in the lineup for the Blue Jays against the Cubs on Thursday.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said a few days ago that Guerrero is “tight, tired” and that “it’s nothing major.” But this is his second day off in a row and it seems likely that Guerrero, who has underperformed this year, is laboring through something undisclosed. Fantasy managers should have alternate plans available over the weekend just in case.
Josh Smith

TOR 2nd Baseman #8

Blue Jays acquired INF Josh Smith and RHP Josh Stephan from the Rangers in exchange for LHP Adam Macko.

It’s unclear if Smith will have a regular role in Toronto. As of now, it seems likely that he could back up at 2B, 3B, SS, and LF and hope to recoup some of his value heading into arbitration.
Josh Smith

TEX 2nd Baseman #8

Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant reports that the Rangers are trading Josh Smith to the Blue Jays for LHP Adam Macko.

Smith was a darling for the Rangers in 2025 as a utility player, but he hit .213/.299/.272 in 154 plate appearances this year and has spent most of the season in Triple-A. Macko is a 25-year-old left-handed pitcher who was moved to the bullpen this season. He has a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings for the Blue Jays, but he has shown strikeout upside in the minors as a starter before, so it remains to be seen how the Rangers want to use him.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR 1st Baseman #27

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled and scored a run against the Cardinals in his return to the lineup on Friday.

Guerrero was back in Toronto’s lineup after missing one game due to right hamstring tightness. The 27-year-old slugger has experienced an unexplained power outage this season, hitting just six big flies through 104 contests. Amazingly, none of them have been hit at the Rogers Centre. It’s one of the strangest outlier campaigns from an established fantasy star that any of us have witnessed.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR 1st Baseman #27

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) returned to the Blue Jays’ starting lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Cardinals.

The 27-year-old slugger was held out of Wednesday’s lineup due to tightness in his right hamstring, but he appears to be doing much better after a couple of days off. He’s back in there at first base and batting second against Cardinals’ right-hander Kyle Leahy on Friday evening in Toronto.
Josh Smith

TEX 2nd Baseman #8

Rangers optioned INF/OF Josh Smith to Triple-A Round Rock.

Smith has been out of the Rangers plans in 2026, playing just 45 games while hitting .213/.299/.272. The Rangers are operating as if the 2024-2025 version of Smith doesn’t appear to be coming back any time soon.
Kazuma Okamoto

TOR 3rd Baseman #7

Kazuma Okamoto went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored as the Blue Jays defeated the Nationals 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

Okamoto started at first base with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. not healthy enough to play. He’s been the most relevant fantasy option in a lineup that has regressed sharply from last year’s World Series run. Okamoto’s 24 homers are double the next-highest total on the team, while his 68 RBI clear Guerrero by 24. A strikeout rate over 30% and a lack of speed are the blemishes that fantasy managers must live with.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR 1st Baseman #27

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) is not in the lineup on Wednesday against the Nationals but is available off the bench.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Guerrero Jr. is “feeling better” and “probably available to pinch-hit” if needed. We would not expect to see Guerrero Jr. play today, but it seems like he’ll avoid the injured list. Kazuma Okamoto will start at first base with Ernie Clement at third base and Davis Schneider at second base.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR 1st Baseman #27

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was removed from Tuesday’s game against the Nationals with right hamstring tightness.

It feels like a precautionary move, but that’s purely speculation at this juncture. Guerrero will undergo further evaluation to determine the severity of the situation after being lifted for a defensive replacement in the fourth inning. He finished 1-for-2 at the plate. There should be an update on his status prior to Wednesday’s series finale at Nationals Park.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR 1st Baseman #27

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made an early exit from Tuesday’s game against the Nationals.

Not ideal. Guerrero was replaced by Kazuma Okamoto at first base in the fourth inning after going 1-for-2 at the plate. The 27-year-old has been battling a back issue throughout the entire season, so it’s possible that it flared up again on him. There should be an additional update on his status shortly.

Rotoworld

Wyatt Mills

WSH Relief Pitcher #41
Player Stats

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Nationals claimed RHP Wyatt Mills off waivers from the Dodgers; optioned him to Triple-A Rochester.

More bullpen depth for the bullpen that is nothing but. Mills had a 5.68 ERA in six appearances with the Dodgers this year.
- Rivers McCown

Transaction
Los Angeles Dodgers
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Gabe Speier

SEA Relief Pitcher #55
Player Stats

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MLB suspended LHP Gabe Speier three games for intentionally throwing at INF Gleyber Torres.

Speier will appeal the suspension. Mariners manager Dan Wilson also received a one-game suspension, which he cannot appeal. Manny Acta is in charge against the Tigers today.
- Rivers McCown

Source: Ryan Divish

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Zach Dezenzo

HOU Left Fielder #9
Player Stats

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Astros optioned OF Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land.

He’ll take the Metro to southwest Houston. Dezenzo received 31 plate appearances in his month of action on the roster and hit .250/.323/.250 with one stolen base. It sounds like Jake Meyers will be ready to be activated soon.
- Rivers McCown

Transaction
Jake Meyers
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Carlos Rodriguez

MIL Relief Pitcher #27
Player Stats

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Brewers sent RHP Carlos Rodriguez outright to Triple-A Nashville.

LHP Thomas Pannone joined him in clearing waivers and being sent to Nashville, though Pannone is old enough that he can refuse the assignment and become a free agent if he wishes.
- Rivers McCown

Transaction
Thomas Pannone
More Carlos Rodriguez News
Josh Naylor

SEA 1st Baseman #12
Player Stats

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Josh Naylor is not in Thursday’s starting lineup against the Tigers.

He’ll get a breather against Tigers LHP Framber Valdez. Naylor is hitting .267/.330/.314 since July — with zero homers — and .260/.323/.355 on the season. He’s still giving you the occasional steal, but it’s been a rough year for Naylor so far.
- Rivers McCown

More Josh Naylor News
Cal Raleigh

SEA Catcher #29
Player Stats

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Cal Raleigh is not in Seattle’s starting lineup for Thursday’s game against the Tigers.

Raleigh has been remarkably consistent this year, keeping his batting average between .160 and .170 since the start of May. Fantasy managers may welcome this off day, and definitely shouldn’t feel married to starting Raleigh down the stretch even if he is still giving the occasional dinger.
- Rivers McCown

Source: MLB Lineups

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Trey Yesavage

TOR Starting Pitcher #39
Player Stats

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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Trey Yesavage (knee) is dealing with a meniscus injury and will visit a specialist.

Surgery “is always a possibility,” when a player sees a specialist, said Schneider per Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. This is not a promising update for Yesavage’s chances of returning to the rotation any time soon. Given Toronto’s position in the standings, it would be surprising if they tried to push him to fight through this towards the end of the season if they had any doubt about it.
- Rivers McCown

Injury

Source: Shi Davidi

More Trey Yesavage News
Andrew Painter

PHI Starting Pitcher #24
Player Stats

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Andrew Painter (hamstring) said he’s “not too worried about” his injury and the Phillies won’t conduct imaging on it.

It sounds like Painter could have pushed forward on the hamstring had the Phillies wanted him to, but they opted to play it safe. Painter said he feels good about making his next start, which would figure to be against the Cardinals assuming nothing moves around.
- Rivers McCown

Injury

Source: The Athletic

More Andrew Painter News
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR 1st Baseman #27
Player Stats

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not in the lineup for the Blue Jays against the Cubs on Thursday.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said a few days ago that Guerrero is “tight, tired” and that “it’s nothing major.” But this is his second day off in a row and it seems likely that Guerrero, who has underperformed this year, is laboring through something undisclosed. Fantasy managers should have alternate plans available over the weekend just in case.
- Rivers McCown

Source: MLB Lineups

More Vladimir Guerrero Jr. News
Jake Bauers

MIL 1st Baseman #9
Player Stats

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Jake Bauers (abdomen) remains out of the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Pirates.

Andrew Vaughn is starting for the third straight game and batting cleanup against RHP Braxton Ashcraft. Bauers is considered day-to-day per Brewers manager Pat Murphy but has only tested his injury pre-game so far. Perhaps he’ll pinch-hit today if he’s up to it.
- Rivers McCown

Injury

Source: MLB Lineups

More Jake Bauers News