Dylan Cease exited after striking out eight and allowing two earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. Frank Gunn / Associated PressMay 24, 2026 2:09 pm EDT Updated TORONTO — In the span of 25 minutes, two of the Toronto Blue Jays’ most important players left Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dylan Cease, after attempting to stay in the game, exited in the top of the fifth inning, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exited in the bottom half of the inning after he was hit on the right elbow by a pitch.Guerrero, despite early-season struggles, is the clear anchor of Toronto’s lineup. Cease, with a 2.98 ERA in his first 10 starts, was the jewel of the Jays’ offseason and an American League Cy Young Award candidate. While no update has been provided yet on either player, losing both would be a brutal blow to a team already embattled by injuries.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went directly to the dugout and left the game after being hit by a pitch. pic.twitter.com/jPWw5jGiTX
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 24, 2026The Jays, currently fighting to get back to .500, have already placed core players like Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger, Shane Bieber and Cody Ponce on the injured list this season. They had 10 players on the IL going into Sunday’s game against the Pirates.If Guerrero misses significant time, Kazuma Okamoto could slide over to first base. Infield prospect Charles McAdoo or Eloy Jiménez, who has re-signed with the Jays according to a league source, could also fill in at first. Replacing Cease, though, would be even more difficult for a team that’s already dipped deep into its rotation depth. A Triple-A pitching prospect like CJ Van Eyk or Chad Dallas could be called on to fill his spot, if needed.May 24, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
