Here's the latest on Andres Gimenez, Josh Smith, Jameson Taillon and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Ahead of Friday night's American League East divisional clash in New York, the Toronto Blue Jays provided solid injury updates, almost across the board.
Toronto enters play at 63-66 at just 0.5 games back in the battle for the third and final wild card spot. They've won seven of their last 10 games en route to getting back into the race.
Furthermore, once the Jays get through these three games in New York, the schedule opens up in a very favorable way over the final five weeks of the season.
Here's what you need to know on the health and recovery front:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
As noted by Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet, Guerrero is back with the team in New York and is expected to be activated on Saturday. He's been on the injured list since last week with concussion symptoms but returned to a minor league rehab game on Thursday, going 1-for-1 with a double and two walks at High-A Dunedin.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts to striking out during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre. Kevin Sousa-Imagn ImagesAndres Gimenez
Gimenez left Thursday's game with a right hamstring issue, but is feeling better on Friday. He's out of the lineup but isn't expected to need an MRI. One of the best defensive players in the game, he's hitting .240 with 49 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
Jameson Taillon
The right-hander, who is out with an elbow issue, threw a bullpen in Tampa Bay and will throw another in New York. While speculative, it sounds like he could go on a rehab assignment if things are OK in that 'pen.
He was acquired right around the trade deadline from the Chicago Cubs, in a deal that was separate from the Kevin Gausman-to Cubs trade.
Josh Smith
Smith was the one Blue Jays player that got a worse outlook, as he was put on the injured with a left hamstring issue. He's headed back to Toronto for an MRI, but the team expects it to be a short stay.
As for the matchup at hand...
First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PT as left-hander Mason Fluharty opens for Toronto. He's gone 5-1 this season with a 3.71 ERA.
On the other side is right-hander Cam Schlittler, who is one of the favorites for the American League Cy Young Award, along with Dylan Cease.
Schlittler is 10-6 with a 2.19 ERA. He's closing in on the 200-strikeout mark, as he is just 11 shy. Cease has already hit that mark, making history as he did.
