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Blue Jays' successful move of Guerrero Jr. to third base leads to victory against Pirates
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    Blue Jays’ successful move of Guerrero Jr. to third base leads to victory against Pirates

    TORONTO — Who knew a key to unlocking the Blue Jays offence would lie in moving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off his position?

    Manager John Schneider installed Guerrero Jr. at third base on Sunday in what was the regular first baseman’s first MLB start there since late September of his rookie season in 2019. The move created space for both Justin Turner and Daniel Vogelbach in the lineup, with the former playing first and the latter occupying the designated hitter spot.

    It turned out to be a crafty bit of lineup juggling as Vogelbach produced a pivotal double in the fifth inning to cash in two runs that helped the Blue Jays come from behind to secure a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in front of 34,887 at Rogers Centre.

    If Guerrero Jr. doesn’t move over to third on the day, Vogelbach likely doesn’t make it into the lineup.

    The left-handed slugger collected five hits and four RBIs in the three-game series against the Pirates and has looked much better at the plate over the last two weeks. He’s increased his OPS from .384 on May 12 to .681 following Sunday’s game.

    Guerrero Jr. didn’t see any action at the hot corner until the seventh inning, when he snared a sharp grounder from Nick Gonzales and made a clean throw to first. In the next frame, positioned more toward the six hole, Guerrero Jr. ranged to his left to slickly field a grounder before retiring Yasmani Grandal.

    Blue Jays left fielder Davis Schneider added a needed insurance run in the sixth inning when his RBI double cashed in Daulton Varsho.

    The Blue Jays bullpen made that two-run lead stand with Chad Green, Trevor Richards, Nate Pearson each contributing one scoreless frame. Yimi Garcia allowed an RBI single to Rowdy Tellez but escaped any further damage to collect his third save of the season.

    Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt allowed three runs on eight hits over five innings, walking one and striking out seven. He tossed 100 pitches (63 strikes) and was erratic at times, evidenced by his three hit batters. The right-hander registered 11 whiffs from Pirates hitters while relying on his sinker — which topped out at 95.3 m.p.h. — cutter and curveball.

    Sunday’s win concludes a 13-game stretch for the Blue Jays against the White Sox, Tigers and Pirates — all clubs that were supposed to be weaker competition. That portion of the schedule was supposed to allow them to fatten up their record and bank some wins and the Blue Jays largely accomplished that, going 8-5.

    The club has now won five of its past six games to improve to 28-30 on the season as the powerhouse Baltimore Orioles are set to visit for a four-game stretch.

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    Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ‘ready for everything’ in return to third base

    In a strategic move that paid off big time, the Toronto Blue Jays decided to shift top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to third base for their recent game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This decision proved to be a game-changer as Guerrero Jr.’s defensive skills at the hot corner helped lead the Blue Jays to a decisive victory.

    Guerrero Jr., who is primarily known for his powerful bat, has been working on improving his defense at third base since making his MLB debut in 2019. The young slugger showed off his hard work and dedication in the game against the Pirates, making several key plays at third base that helped keep the Pirates’ offense in check.

    Not only did Guerrero Jr.’s defensive prowess shine in the game, but his offensive skills were also on full display. The 22-year-old phenom went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and three RBIs, leading the Blue Jays to a 7-2 victory over the Pirates.

    The successful move of Guerrero Jr. to third base not only showcased his versatility as a player but also highlighted the Blue Jays’ ability to adapt and make strategic decisions to secure wins. With Guerrero Jr. excelling at both offense and defense, the Blue Jays have a formidable weapon in their lineup that can help propel them to more victories in the future.

    Overall, the Blue Jays’ decision to move Guerrero Jr. to third base proved to be a winning move that paid off in a big way. With Guerrero Jr.’s all-around performance leading the charge, the Blue Jays were able to secure a convincing victory over the Pirates and continue their push towards playoff contention.