Guerrero Jr. Sits as Rays Vs Blue Jays Start April 6

The Blue Jays faced the Rays on April 6 with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. out of the lineup for the first time this year in rays vs blue jays. George Springer was back at the top of the batting order, giving Toronto a different look on a day that also brought injury updates around Jose Berrios and Shane Bieber.

Guerrero Jr. sits first time

Guerrero's absence was the sharpest change. He had been in the lineup every game before April 6, and this was the first time this year that Toronto played without him in the batting order.

Springer returned and hit at the top of the lineup. That shift put a familiar name in a different spot while Toronto adjusted around Guerrero's first day out.

Berrios and Bieber updates

Jose Berrios was feeling soreness after a stress fracture, a separate concern hanging over the same club. The soreness leaves Toronto tracking one pitcher already dealing with a fracture while another arm moves closer to a return.

Shane Bieber was close to being ready to face live batters, and if everything went well it would be about a month before he was back. For the Blue Jays, that gives the lineup note on Guerrero a larger frame: the club is also managing pitching health while trying to hold together its everyday core.

That makes April 6 more than a routine game-day note. Toronto had Springer back, Guerrero out, Berrios still dealing with soreness, and Bieber on a one-month path if his progression stayed on schedule.