Are tempers boiling over for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., slow-starting Blue Jays?
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Are tempers boiling over for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., slow-starting Blue Jays? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Frustrated after striking out and a big swing and miss in the eighth inning Thursday, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. didn't want to stop talking. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill walked off the mound and toward the home dugout, hearing the one-sided conversation. He turned and brushed off the Toronto Blue Jays star.
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Attempting to make up for injuries to several key teammates, including George Springs and Alejandro Kirk, Guerrero entered Friday slashing .328/.446/.443, highlighted by six multi-hit games. He's not getting much help, especially from expected contributors like Nathan Lukes and Kazuma Okamoto.
Frustrations are mounting.
Hampered Blue Jays seek contributors
Scheduled to open a weekend series at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, the Blue Jays' brass could be losing patience with both Lukes and Okamoto.
A postseason sensation last fall, Luke generated 17 hits and eight RBI as the Blue Jays qualified for the World Series. In his opening 13 appearances this season, Luke slashed .065/.118/.065.
His square-up rate dipped from 30.3 percent in 2025 to over 16 percent this season.
In April, he was 0-for-23.
He was not listed in the starting lineup at Chase Field on Friday.
Okamoto, who signed a four-year, $60 million contract last offseason, was in the starting lineup against the Diamondbacks, batting seventh.
Known as a hitter who controlled the strike zone in NPB, Okamoto's free-swinging MLB style made for a difficult transition, as he whiffed on nearly 35 percent of his swings.
Through 17 games, he slashed .200/.278/.308 with 24 strikeouts.
If the Guerrero is forced to carry the offense with little secondary support, look for the team's frustrations to continue to grow.