A day after feeling "tight and tired" at the plate, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is taking a break.
The Toronto Blue Jays slugger is out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Houston Astros, the team announced before the game (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT).
According to manager John Schneider, it's "just a day off" for Guerrero Jr. amid an extended stretch of games. Schneider added that the first baseman is dealing with hamstring tightness and other stuff, but that “he wants to be out there, he wants to be contributing more than he is.”
Replacing him at first base is Kazuma Okamoto, who will start there for just the fourth time this season. Okamoto will also bat second, Guerrero Jr.'s usual spot in the order.
Josh Smith, whom the Blue Jays acquired at Monday's trade deadline from the Texas Rangers, will get his first start with his new ballclub at third base.
Guerrero Jr. went 0-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Houston Astros, his third straight game without a hit.
The frustration and pain were visible in the eighth inning, when he tried to beat out a grounder and then stood near first base bent over with his hands on his knees. He stayed in the game after a brief chat with first-base coach Mark Budzinski, and afterwards, Schneider said Guerrero was "just tight and tired."
"Nothing major," Schneider added after the game. “He's obviously frustrated, and it’s hot in here, and we're playing a lot of games in a row coming up, so we'll just see how he is tomorrow offensively."
Guerrero has posted the worst offensive numbers of his career so far in 2026, with just six home runs, 44 RBI and a .690 OPS entering Tuesday.
The 27-year-old is in the first season of a 14-year, $500-million contract that runs until he is 40 years old.
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