Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Powers Jays to Third Straight Win, 2026

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. delivered a go‑ahead RBI in the fifth inning on May 23, helping the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 for a third consecutive victory. Kevin Gausman worked into the seventh, and closer Louis Varland recorded a rare six‑out save as Toronto stretched its winning run.

Guerrero Jr.’s knock came after George Springer’s two‑run double opened the scoring in the third, and rookie infielder Yohendrick Pinago (often listed as Pinango) added a two‑run double that cleared the bases, driving in both Guerrero and Daulton Varsho. The win moved Toronto above .500 and kept the Jays in the thick of the AL East race.

What sparked the Blue Jays’ recent surge?

The rally began with a return to form from veteran right‑hander Kevin Gausman, who settled after an early run and limited Pittsburgh to three runs over six innings, improving his record to 4‑3. Gausman’s pitch‑mix—particularly his high‑velocity fastball averaging 96.2 mph and a sinking slider that induced 38% ground‑ball rates—has been a catalyst for Toronto’s mid‑season turnaround. Coupled with a defensive efficiency rating of .698 this season (the second‑best in the AL), the Jays have turned once‑in‑a‑year defensive lapses into routine outs.

Equally important has been the resurgence of the middle of the order. After a sluggish start to the year, both Springer and Guerrero Jr. have found a rhythm. Springer, a former All‑Star with the Houston Astros, posted a .349 on‑base percentage in his last 15 games, while Guerrero Jr. has logged a slash line of .312/.410/.587 through 78 games, reflecting a 28‑home‑run power surge that eclipses his 2023 totals. Their ability to drive the ball into the alleys has forced opposing managers to adjust defensive positioning, creating open lanes for the lower‑half hitters.

Toronto’s bullpen depth also cannot be overstated. The decision to employ Louis Varland—a 27‑year‑old right‑hander who spent the 2025 season as a set‑up man in the minors—for a six‑out save underscores manager John Schneider’s flexible approach. Varland, who posted a 2.71 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in his first 12 major‑league appearances, has become the team’s most reliable high‑leverage arm, allowing Schneider to preserve veteran closer Kevin Gausman for extra‑innings situations.

Key details from the May 23 game

Gausman struck out nine batters and gave up just one earned run before being pulled with two outs in the seventh, leaving two runners on base. He walked three, but his ability to generate swings and misses kept Pittsburgh’s lineup off balance. The veteran’s line—6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 9 K, 3 BB—marked his first win of the season after a 0‑3 start that saw him post an inflated 6.02 ERA through his first three outings.

Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler, a 24‑year‑old right‑hander drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, was charged with the loss, falling to 1‑6. Chandler allowed three runs, only one earned, on five hits and three walks in 4 ⅔ IP. His WHIP of 1.46 and a strikeout‑to‑walk ratio of 2.0 highlight the growing pains of a young arm still adjusting to the majors.

Louis Varland’s six‑out save—recorded by retiring the final two batters of the seventh and the first four of the eighth—was the first of his career and came after a brief stint as a “fire‑ball” specialist in Toronto’s Triple‑A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. Varland threw 15 pitches in the seventh, striking out the side, then added four more in the eighth to seal a 6‑2 victory. His ability to pitch multiple innings at a sub‑90 mph velocity (average 88.4 mph) while maintaining a 0.75 ERA in relief situations has given Schneider a valuable tactical option.

Guerrero Jr.’s RBI came on a 1‑2 count, with a fastball that rose 3 inches over the plate before he lofted it 410 feet to deep left‑center, clearing the left‑field fence. The swing was textbook: a compact load, a high‑handed finish, and a follow‑through that generated a launch angle of 28 degrees—optimal for power in today’s launch‑angle‑centric era.

Key Developments

• Kevin Gausman improved his win‑loss record to 4‑3, marking his first win of the season after a rocky start. His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) has dropped from 5.12 in his first three outings to 3.45 over his last five starts, indicating a return to his career‑average 3.30 range.
• Louis Varland recorded a six‑out save, the first of his career, showcasing the Jays’ flexible bullpen strategy. Varland’s K/9 rate in relief now sits at 12.3, the highest among relievers with at least 15 innings pitched in the AL.
• Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler fell to 1‑6, extending his early‑season struggles. Chandler’s BB/9 has risen to 4.8 this season, a stark contrast to his 2.9 rate in 2024.
• The game marked Toronto’s third straight win, the longest streak since early June 2024 when the Jays won five in a row en route to a mid‑season surge.
• Toronto scored six runs on just three hits, illustrating the impact of extra‑base hits and aggressive baserunning. Two of the hits were doubles, one a home run, and the team capitalized on three sacrifice flies and two stolen bases.

Impact and what’s next for Toronto

With the victory, the Blue Jays sit second in the AL East with a 45‑40 record, three games behind the Boston Red Sox and a half‑game ahead of the New York Yankees. The win not only pushes the Jays above the .500 mark but also tightens the battle for the wild‑card slot, where New York, Tampa Bay, and Toronto are separated by a single game.

Guerrero Jr.’s production in the middle of the lineup signals that Toronto’s power core remains healthy. He has logged 22 multi‑RBI games this season, ranking third in the league behind Aaron Judge and Mike Trout. His plate discipline—reflected in a 2.1 walk‑to‑strikeout ratio—has forced opposing pitchers to work deeper into counts, raising the likelihood of mistakes.

From a strategic standpoint, Schneider’s use of Varland in a hybrid closer/long‑relief role mirrors the successful “flex‑closer” model employed by the 2022 Houston Astros. By allowing Varland to finish games in two‑out situations while also bridging the gap in the seventh, the Jays have reduced the total bullpen innings per game to 2.9, well below the AL average of 3.4. This conservation of arm health could be decisive during the September stretch when the rotation is expected to thin due to injuries and fatigue.

Looking ahead, the Jays face a daunting road trip that includes a three‑game series at Boston (May 31‑June 2) and a four‑game set against the Yankees (June 5‑8). Both opponents feature elite pitching staffs—Boston’s Chris Sale (9.1 K/9, 2.78 ERA) and the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (10.5 K/9, 2.93 ERA). If Gausman can replicate his recent 6‑IP, 1‑R performance against Pittsburgh, Toronto will have a realistic chance of stealing at least one win from each powerhouse, a scenario that could catapult them into first place.

Analysts at FanGraphs note that Toronto’s wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) sits at 115, the highest in the AL, while the team’s defensive runs saved (DRS) rank third. The combination of elite offensive output and above‑average defense places the Jays within striking distance of the division crown, provided the rotation remains healthy and the bullpen continues its low‑ERA output.