Gausman’s game soars back, Guerrero struggles due to sore back

“I think he’s making progress (with his swing). He’s where we want him to be. He’s really, really close. So we didn’t want to set him back, and talking to him, he doesn’t want to miss (Wednesday) either. So I think he’ll be OK tomorrow.”

Veteran lefty Patrick Corbin (2-4) was slated to start on Canada Day against the Mets’ Freddy Peralta (5-6) in the matinee rubber match of the series and finale of a 10-game homestand that has seen the defending American League champs go 2-7 so far.

But Schneider and his staff decided to move Corbin to the bullpen. Instead, Schneider will employ reliever Braydon Fisher to open on Wednesday with Spencer Miles (3-1) to follow. It’s a combination that worked on occasion with the injuries to the starting rotation earlier this season.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays received a big boost from Gausman (4-7). He rebounded after clunkers in his past two starts against the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers.

He struck out seven in six innings, but one of his five hits was a solo homer from Francisco Alvarez in the fifth inning, a 415-foot shot to centre field that was the difference.

Gausman revealed after that pitching coach Pete Walker discovered a glitch in his delivery by watching video of the past two starts. Gausman’s shoulder angle reduced his velocity and increased his fatigue and soreness the next day. With the angle corrected, he felt like his old self.

“I could tell from the first fastball that it was better,” Gausman said. “Today was a good step.”

Gausman has not won since May 22. But he did toss his ninth quality start of the season, and he did throw a strike to 21 of the 25 batters he faced for the highest first-pitch strike percentage by a Blue Jays starter this season at 84 per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Gausman’s game soars back, Guerrero struggles due to sore back

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