Blue Jays Get MVP Performance from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at Rogers Center

[Box Score]
[Toronto Star]

When they needed him most, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got off the mat and answered the bell. Struggling a little of late, some might have theorized that Guerrero Jr. is wearing down a little bit and puttering to the finish line. However, he hit a home run in the fourth inning to tie the score at 1-1. It was his 37th blast of the season.

Then later on, another blast in the seventh inning that put Toronto ahead for good.

Once again, Robbie Ray was completely dominant for Toronto with 10 strikeouts.

Surely, it was just the Baltimore Orioles. Still, the Blue Jays need every win that they can tally of the final month. And Guerrero Jr. has to scratch and claw to get past Shohei Ohtani (who hit his 42nd home run on Monday night in his own right) and Salvador Perez to lead baseball in home runs.

Guerrero Jr. might not lead baseball in home runs, or win the triple crown, or even the Most Valuable Player award this season. Toronto is looking like they’re going to fall just short of the playoffs in what has been a wild and entertaining upstart season.

But Guerrero Jr. put together a game at the dish on Monday night in front of his home crowd that had them leaving the yard saying he’s the MVP, and this is the type of performance where a guy simply puts his team on his back and wills them to a victory. He’s been phenomenal to watch this season.