Blue Jays’ Guerrero Jr. questionable for season finale vs. Rays

Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins sat down with Stephen Brunt to talk about everything the Blue Jays went through this season, from bringing in manager Charlie Montoyo to the introduction of young stars like Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.

TORONTO – A sore right knee led to a late scratch for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before the Blue Jays’ penultimate game of the season Saturday.

The 20-year-old third baseman was initially in the lineup playing third base, but the Blue Jays replaced him with Brandon Drury with about two hours remaining before first pitch. After Toronto’s 4-1 win against the Rays, manager Charlie Montoyo said Guerrero Jr. might still play in Sunday’s season finale but only if his knee improves overnight.

Earlier this week, Guerrero Jr. acknowledged he’s feeling some fatigue as his first full season in the major-league winds down. He said he intends to re-structure his off-season workout regimen with an eye toward feeling stronger in 2020.

"I’m going to change the entire program, the plan, because I understand now after being here that you’ve got to maintain all the strength for me to play 162 games," Guerrero Jr. said Monday. "Right now, for example, I don’t feel 100 per cent. I’m a little bit tired right now and based on that, I’m not going to change my routine that I did before, I’m just going to add the weight program plan. I’m going to do all that to come back to Spring Training strong, because I want to play 162 games."

An oblique injury sidelined Guerrero Jr. during spring training and an injury to his other knee forced him out of a game early on August 17. An MRI revealed no serious damage in that case and he was playing in games just three days later.

Meanwhile, Bo Bichette will remain on the sidelines for the final weekend of the season due to a concussion sustained on the Blue Jays’ last road trip. The 21-year-old shortstop’s now symptom free, so he has been fielding ground balls and running sprints with no issues. Still, the Blue Jays are understandably taking a cautious approach with his health while he recovers.

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