Sad News: Blue Jays’ fear the worst as star dealt another unfortunate injury blow

TORONTO (AP) – Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched from the lineup for Monday afternoon´s Canada Day game against the Houston Astros because of pain in his right hand.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, an infielder, was scratched about an hour after Guerrero due to a sore left knee.

Spencer Horwitz replaced Guerrero at first base, while Ernie Clement was inserted to the lineup at third base.

Davis Schneider moved from left field to second base to replace Kiner-Falefa. Daulton Varsho switched from center field to left, and Kevin Kiermaier started in center.

Guerrero was struck on the fingers of his hand by a 96-mph fastball from Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole in the third inning of Sunday’s loss to New York.

Guerrero grounded out in the sixth inning and was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the eighth.

A three-time All-Star and the 2021 MLB home run champion, Guerrero is batting .297 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs in 83 games. He has six homers in his past nine games.

Guerrero went 0 for 2 Sunday, ending a six-game, team-record streak of multi-RBI games.