Toronto Blue Jays Get Positive Injury Update on Ace Pitcher, Top Slugger on Saturday
With less than three weeks to go until spring training, the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be getting healthier.
There are positive injury updates on both pitcher Kevin Gausman and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
First, with regards to Gausman, the following comes from Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet:
Kevin Gausman (right shoulder fatigue) is scheduled to throw a side session today at Blue Jays camp; his first time off a mound since experiencing the issue following a bullpen around a week ago
Gausman says he expects to be ready for Opening Day on March 28 but it will be close to have him ramped up in time to actually make the Opening Day start.
The 33-year-old is a fixture at the top of the Jays' rotation, having gone 12-9 last year with a 3.16 ERA. He also made the All-Star team for the second time in his career.
Lifetime, Gausman is 88-91 with a 3.84 ERA. He's pitched 11 years with the Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds. He'll pair with Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, Yusei Kikuchi and an unknown fifth starter in the rotation.
Speaking about Guerrero Jr., he jammed his finger on Tuesday but is back in the lineup on Saturday for Toronto.
While he had a down year by industry standards, Guerrero Jr.'s presence looms large in the Jays' order. He hit 26 homers last year to go along with a .264 batting average. He's already a three-time All-Star and is a lifetime .279 hitter.
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