Vladimir Guerrero Jr. escaped a hamstring scare with a clean MRI, leaving the Blue Jays hopeful he can return for the series finale in Pittsburgh. Toronto is opting for caution to avoid a longer absence, with Guerrero not in the lineup as the team tries to balance risk and reward in a tight fantasy window.

Guerrero Jr. sits at .298 with 21 homers and 69 RBIs across 124 games, a cornerstone in fantasy lineups when healthy. Bo Bichette flashed his usual defensive instincts, while Toronto shuffled in Ty France at first base on Tuesday. The Pirates rode Paul Skenes to a 5-2 win as Toronto’s miscues opened the door for a Pittsburgh victory and a reminder that health, not the slate, will drive the Jays’ upside this week.

Jared Triolo’s long-throw highlight and the Jays’ defensive lapses created the game’s swing, underscoring how small edges matter in fantasy stacking. In the end, Guerrero’s health is the dominant storyline, and a quick, clean return would lock in Toronto’s potency for the next stretch of fantasy schedules.

Fantasy takeaway: monitor Guerrero’s status daily; if he plays Wednesday, he remains a top-tier asset. If the timetable shifts, consider temporary pivots or targeting the Jays’ supporting cast who could pick up extra RBIs in the short term, with Bichette and the depth pieces offering upside once Guerrero is back in uniform.

Paul Skenes is a numbers nerd who treats data as the map to his best performances. He reads velocity, drop and movement off the ribbon boards after every pitch to learn what’s working and what isn’t, yet he publicly shrugs at his win-loss tally. The Pirates’ ace streams six innings of solid work against Toronto, punching out eight while yielding five hits, leaving with a no-decision as Pittsburgh finally grabs the lead late. The night shines a light on the enduring debate: is pitcher wins a meaningful stat at all?

While Skenes dominates (2.16 ERA, elite innings and strikeouts), Pittsburgh’s offense struggles, ranking near the bottom in most major categories. That gap between talent and results fuels the fantasy story: imagine a pitcher who can produce quality starts and strikeouts but can’t always snag wins in a win-starved lineup. The piece also celebrates bullpen milestones—Evan Sisk earns his first big-league win after seven years in the minors, backed by Kyle Nicolas and Dennis Santana as the final outs. Off the field, Skenes stays the consummate professional—sleep routines, diet on the road and a relentless focus on routine—because that discipline could sustain him for years.

Two of MLB’s brightest stars anchor the 2025 season as the All-Star Game in Atlanta approaches, with Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal set to start. Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year, and Skubal, last season’s AL Cy Young winner, embody a new wave of dominance that blends precision, pace, and relentless attack. Spun from modest beginnings, both have carved paths to historic eras, and their teams ride their performances into pennant races and playoff chatter.

Their mound presence alters the rhythm of games. Skubal presses hitters early, leads with strike-foot discipline, and consumes counts with surgical efficiency, often flipping patience into power. Skenes counters with a diverse seven-pitch arsenal that flummoxes the toughest lineups and keeps hitters guessing well after the first strike. Teammates describe a charged atmosphere on their starts—Comerica Park and the opposing dugout feel the shift in energy as they take the mound.

The contrast between them fuels debates among fantasy lovers: Skubal’s aggression and full-throttle strike-first mentality maximize innings and strikeout upside, while Skenes’ cerebral, numbers-driven approach creates a foundation for long, consistent outings. Their routines — from routine bullpen sessions to meticulous pregame plans — demonstrate a professional maturity beyond their years, reinforcing why they’re frontrunners for season-long hardware and elite fantasy value.

In a sport built on narratives, Skenes and Skubal are writing a shared one: elite excellence arriving from unconventional starts, thriving in high-leverage moments, and bending the game to their will as they push toward more Cy Young chatter and All-Star glory. Health permitting, the next chapters should be as compelling as the first.

Paul Skenes blunted the AL’s best club over six innings, fanning eight while allowing only two runs as the Pirates pulled away 5-2. Pittsburgh benefited from three Toronto errors and Brendon Little’s wild pitch, flipping a tight game in the seventh when Henry Davis doubled to start the rally and Spencer Horwitz added two hits for insurance.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plated a run with a fielder’s choice and Bo Bichette delivered a run-scoring single in the third, but Guerrero exited with left hamstring tightness after a long split, tempering Toronto’s push. The benches briefly cleared when Tommy Pham jawed with Tyler Heineman after a walk. Dennis Santana earned the save; Evan Sisk the victory as Pittsburgh snapped a rough stretch. Up next, Scherzer faces Keller in a marquee duel.