Guerrero Jr. has been placed on the day-to-day list after an MRI revealed his hamstring is only inflamed.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not start for the Blue Jays in today’s game against the Pirates, but the team got encouraging updates regarding the five-time All-Star.

An MRI indicated that Guerrero’s left hamstring is “just inflamed,” and the first baseman has been listed as day-to-day, manager John Schneider said prior to today’s contest.

Guerrero exited in the fifth inning of the Blue Jays’ 2-5 loss to the Pirates after sustaining an injury. The incident occurred in the bottom of the third when he made a remarkable stretch to catch Bo Bichette’s throw, ending the inning—a signature defensive play for Guerrero at first base. He immediately got up and jogged off the field.

“He’s truly day-to-day. Whether it’s tonight, tomorrow, or after Friday’s off day, we’ll make decisions based on how he feels,” Schneider said before the game. “I think today’s results brought peace of mind to both him and us.”

Guerrero later returned to play a few more innings, including making several throws to first base. One of Guerrero’s greatest strengths as a player is his near-perfect attendance, so his departure from the game signaled an unusual situation.

“He wanted to test things a bit and make sure he wasn’t risking further injury. I trust him—he knows his body well,” Schneider commented. “We can’t afford to lose him for an extended period, so this is also a precautionary move.”

Guerrero has been on a hot streak lately, regaining the explosive form we saw late last summer at just the right time. Entering this series against the Pirates, he was hitting .333 with a 1.012 OPS, nine home runs, and 24 RBIs over his last 40 games since early July. He’s always been close, but Vladimir has finally found that perfect balance between being a true hitter and a game-changing power threat—his greatest gift.