TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease left Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth inning because of a sore left hamstring.
First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left in the bottom half after being hit on the right elbow by a pitch from Mitch Keller. Lenyn Sosa came in to run for Guerrero and took over at first base.
The Blue Jays said an X-ray of Guerrero’s elbow did not reveal a fracture.
Manager John Schneider said Guerrero reported feeling numbness in his arm and hand after being hit, but said the slugger could return Monday against Miami.
“It’s sore, obviously, but I think it was probably best possible news,” Schneider said. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Schneider and head athletic trainer Jose Ministral came to the mound in the top half of the inning after Cease shook his leg several times between pitches. Cease stayed in to retire Spencer Horwitz but was replaced by left-hander Mason Fluharty.
After Toronto’s 4-1 loss, Schneider said Cease was going for an MRI.
“He said he wants to make his next start,” Schneider said. “Just see how he is the next couple of days, and just hoping for good news. He’s obviously very, very valuable to us, so we’ll make the decision in the next couple of days.”
Cease allowed two runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out eight. It’s just the second time in 11 starts this season that Cease has failed to finish five innings.
Cease has made at least 30 starts in each of the past five seasons, one of just four big league pitchers to do so. The others are also Blue Jays starters: José Berríos, Patrick Corbin and Kevin Gausman.
Cease joined the reigning AL champions last December, signing a $210 million, seven-year contract.
Horwitz homered on Cease’s first pitch of the game Sunday, and Oneil Cruz made it 2-0 with a leadoff homer in the second.
The Blue Jays currently have 13 players on the injured list, including starting pitchers Shane Bieber (elbow), Berríos (elbow), Bowden Francis (elbow), Cody Ponce (right knee) and Max Scherzer (forearm).
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