Gausman’s game soars back, Guerrero struggles due to sore back

By: Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press Posted: 10:12 PM CDT Tuesday, Jun. 30, 2026

TORONTO - As their late-June swoon continued, the Toronto Blue Jays witnessed a return to form from starter Kevin Gausman, a rotation adjustment, and some troubling news for slumping slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

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TORONTO – As their late-June swoon continued, the Toronto Blue Jays witnessed a return to form from starter Kevin Gausman, a rotation adjustment, and some troubling news for slumping slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Guerrero was a late scratch with back tightness for the fifth time in recent weeks before the Blue Jays (40-46) were blanked 3-0 by the equally struggling New York Mets (36-50) on Tuesday for Toronto’s seventh loss in eight outings.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider wondered if Guerrero’s troublesome back was the result of the heavy workload he’s put himself through in trying to rediscover his slugging ways. Guerrero has belted only four homers in 2026, none at Rogers Centre.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) gestures to a teammate against the New York Mets during first inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

“He’s been working a lot,” Schneider said. “I think that plays into kind of how he’s feeling. He’s taken a lot of swings over the past week, week-and-a-half.

“I think he’s making progress (with his swing). He’s where we want him to be. He’s really, really close. So we didn’t want to set him back, and talking to him, he doesn’t want to miss (Wednesday) either. So I think he’ll be OK tomorrow.”

Veteran lefty Patrick Corbin (2-4) was slated to start on Canada Day against the Mets’ Freddy Peralta (5-6) in the matinee rubber match of the series and finale of a 10-game homestand that has seen the defending American League champs go 2-7 so far.

But Schneider and his staff decided to move Corbin to the bullpen. Instead, Schneider will employ reliever Braydon Fisher to open on Wednesday with Spencer Miles (3-1) to follow. It’s a combination that worked on occasion with the injuries to the starting rotation earlier this season.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays received a big boost from Gausman (4-7). He rebounded after clunkers in his past two starts against the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers.

He struck out seven in six innings, but one of his five hits was a solo homer from Francisco Alvarez in the fifth inning, a 415-foot shot to centre field that was the difference.

Gausman revealed after that pitching coach Pete Walker discovered a glitch in his delivery by watching video of the past two starts. Gausman’s shoulder angle reduced his velocity and increased his fatigue and soreness the next day. With the angle corrected, he felt like his old self.

“I could tell from the first fastball that it was better,” Gausman said. “Today was a good step.”

Gausman has not won since May 22. But he did toss his ninth quality start of the season, and he did throw a strike to 21 of the 25 batters he faced for the highest first-pitch strike percentage by a Blue Jays starter this season at 84 per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.