Guerrero, Kirk Sit as Yankees – Blue Jays Series Goes On

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk were both out of the Blue Jays lineup for yankees – blue jays on Saturday as Toronto tried to clinch the series after an 8-5 win on Friday night. Guerrero sat because of back tightness, and the move forced Toronto to replace two lineup regulars in a divisional game.

Guerrero’s Back Tightness

John Schneider said Guerrero was being held out with back tightness, and the manager framed the decision as caution after the first baseman felt the issue during Friday’s win. Guerrero said his back tightened up in that game, when Toronto opened the series with an 8-5 victory.

“Back was a little tight yesterday, and been kind of grinding, so just wanted to give him a blow. Talked to him after the game, but he’s feeling a little bit better today,” Schneider said Saturday.

Charles McAdoo started at first base in Guerrero’s place and batted eighth. Guerrero’s absence came with some production already in the bank for Toronto, but also with a clear cost: one of its most dangerous bats was unavailable while the club was trying to finish the series in one more game.

Kirk Returns, Then Sits

Kirk also began on the bench after playing Friday for the first time since suffering a fractured thumb in early April. He made that return count immediately, lining an RBI double in his first plate appearance before adding two more hits later in the game. Brandon Valenzuela took over behind the plate and batted sixth in Kirk’s spot.

The Blue Jays entered Saturday with the Yankees still missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, which had already thinned New York’s middle order. Toronto still had to manage its own lineup without Guerrero and Kirk, two players tied to the core of the offense and the catching plan.

Gausman Against Schlittler

Kevin Gausman started for Toronto against Cam Schlittler, who had been a tough matchup for the Blue Jays. Gausman came in with a 3.60 ERA through 14 starts, but he had allowed four earned runs in each of his last two outings.

Schlittler brought a 1.87 ERA and 89 strikeouts through 14 starts, and Toronto had already beaten him once this season. The Blue Jays won 2-1 on May 20 despite his strong outing, then followed with Friday’s 8-5 win as they pushed for another series result over the Yankees.

Gausman had not pitched against New York this season, though he entered with two wins against the Yankees in 2025, a 3.97 ERA and 18 strikeouts in four appearances. That left Toronto facing Saturday’s game with a shortened lineup, a rested catcher situation in flux, and another chance to keep control of the series without two key hitters in the order.