Blue Jays takeaways: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. snaps slump at the right time

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Hitting second in Toronto’s lineup for the first time this season, Guerrero’s deep drive kick-started a 4-1 Blue Jays win to earn a series victory over the Detroit Tigers. From Guerrero’s snapped slump to some confounding defence and a decision in Toronto’s fifth rotation spot, here are three takeaways from Toronto’s series in Detroit: Guerrero snapped his slump Sunday, registering just his third multi-hit game in May and his first homer since April 20. Now he’s got an opportunity to begin a hot streak. Before Sunday’s series finale, the first baseman said he’s putting too much pressure on himself lately in an attempt to carry Toronto’s struggling lineup. Ironically, a matchup with four strong New York Yankees starters in a pressure-packed Yankee Stadium could be exactly what he needs. The 27-year-old has always raised his game in New York, hitting .308 with a 1.002 OPS and 16 homers in 48 career games at Yankee Stadium. After Guerrero mocked the Yankees after Toronto’s American League Division Series win in the Bronx last year, the bleacher creatures will surely bring out the jeers this week. Those boos, Guerrero has said, fuel him. Hitting coach David Popkins said last week that the spotlight somehow clears the slugger’s mind. “When we go to New York or in the playoffs, it kind of gets him out of his own head,” Popkins said. “It’s not about getting certain numbers or getting certain home runs. It’s just ‘I’m going to compete. I’m built for these pressure moments.’ He just lets himself flow.” If Guerrero, especially after a three-hit final game in Detroit, can go from fighting himself to flourishing in New York, Toronto’s lineup will look a little more formidable. In the Jays’ first matchup against the Yankees this year, a dominant Guerrero would be more than welcome. The Jays entered Sunday’s contest ranked fourth in team fielding run value (plus-13), per Baseball Savant. It’s a respectable place to be, but not for a Jays team that expects league-leading defence. “There have been some games, I think, that you want to kind of just make a couple more plays, or play a little bit tighter, give yourself a chance to come back,” John Schneider said last week. “And there are games that we’ve just straight up gotten beat. But I think the expectation for this group is higher than what they’ve shown for sure.” Players like Brandon Valenzuela (plus-six FRV) and Andrés Giménez (plus-three) have looked predictably strong on defence. But two of Toronto’s best fielders from last year are struggling with the glove, at least relative to their standards. Ernie Clement was nominated for two Gold Gloves last season and ranked 26th among all infielders in FRV. This year, though, he’s been the worst-qualified defender on the Jays, according to FRV. Daulton Varsho has been worth at least plus-six FRV in each of the last four seasons. This year, though, he’s been merely a neutral defensive centre fielder. In Friday’s ninth inning, with the game tied at two, Detroit’s Matt Vierling lofted a shallow fly ball into centre. Varsho initially bounded to the right before crashing in on the ball. The hit had an expected batting average of .400 — it would have been an impressive catch if Varsho got there. But with those first two steps, the centre fielder cost himself any real shot at a play. The ball fell to the grass. Three batters later, Vierling came around to score as the Tigers’ walk-off run. Those sorts of almost unnoticeable defensive plays make a difference. In 2024 and 2025, Varsho had one of baseball’s best first steps on fly balls. He averaged 3.2 feet more than average, in the correct direction, during a fly ball’s first three seconds in the air. This year, he’s averaging just 0.3 feet compared to the average. The “why” here remains an unknown. Clement and Varsho are 30 or younger, unlikely to be diminishing in the field due to age. Neither is playing through known injuries. Maybe it’s the lingering impact of a World Series run and shortened offseason preparation time? Or maybe it’s just a small sample. A few bad plays could sabotage defensive metrics this early in the season. But for a team that’s built an identity around strong defence, it hasn’t been as strong as expected this year. Spencer Miles slammed his hand into his glove as he bounced off the Comerica Park mound after stranding the bases loaded in Saturday’s third inning. With 3 2/3 shutout innings, Miles carried the bulk of the pitching load in Toronto’s 2-1 bullpen game victory in Detroit. It was his second-straight lengthy shutout relief outing and the most outs he’s recorded in a game this year. With José Berríos heading for surgery and other rotation options still weeks away, Miles is making a case for Toronto’s final rotation spot. But that case may conflict with other concerns. The 2025 Rule 5 draft choice has exceeded expectations for Toronto, posting a 2.55 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. He was drafted as a starter out of Missouri and has the four-pitch mix needed to face lineups multiple times. But after three minor-league seasons filled with injuries, Miles doesn’t have much of an innings foundation to build on this year. Already this season, Miles has pitched more than in any year of his professional life. From 2022 through 2025, the 25-year-old combined for just 14 2/3 minor-league innings. Typically, teams don’t allow pitchers to jump 100 innings in a season as it may increase injury risk. Miles, with such a checkered past with ailments, is the exact sort of starter the Jays will be careful with. Even if Miles sticks in a multi-inning relief role the entire season, he will probably reach a dangerously high innings total by the All-Star break. As a starter, his workload would be even higher. That, likely, is why the Jays are hesitant to hand Miles the fifth starter spot. After the righty’s first bulk relief outing, Schneider acknowledged Miles’ strong performance but said he wasn’t a lock to join the rotation. Perhaps Miles is a short-term solution, carrying the load in bullpen games until Shane Bieber or Max Scherzer return. Or maybe, if a pitching prospect like CJ Van Eyk or Chad Dallas is promoted, Miles can slide back into his multi-inning relief role. Or the Jays could throw caution to the wind and let the righty reach an unprecedented workload. The more Miles dominates in bulk relief, the harder it will be for Toronto to keep him out of the rotation. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms