X-rays come back negative on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s injured right hand, aiming to play Monday versus Astros

The Toronto Blue Jays seem to have avoided another devastating injury blow.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has likely dodged a bullet — only figuratively, unfortunately — as he’s feeling much better after being struck on the right hand by a 96.9-m.p.h. four-seamer from New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the third inning of Sunday’s 8-1 loss. He stayed in the game but departed once the score got out of hand, with Davis Schneider entering as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.

The 25-year-old first baseman underwent X-rays following the game, which returned negative, manager John Schneider told reporters, including Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. He also added the expectation is the three-time All-Star should be in the lineup on Canada Day for the series opener against the Houston Astros.

Toronto has been decimated by injuries this season, particularly on the pitching front, with closer Jordan Romano — shut down from his throwing program Saturday after elbow soreness continued — Yimi García and Alek Manoah currently on the injured list.

Potentially losing Guerrero for any amount of time would be further daunting given his recent power surge that’s led to six home runs and 20 RBIs over his last 10 games. He entered Sunday’s finale versus New York with an eye-popping 1.054 SLG since June 21.

In 84 games this season, the right-handed-hitting slugger — who’ll be a free agent after next season — is hitting .297/.376/.471 with 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and a 143 wRC+, his highest score since 2021. That year, of course, he finished as the runner-up to Shohei Ohtani for the American League MVP Award.

After splitting a four-game set with the Yankees, the Blue Jays will play host to the Astros for four before heading out West with stops in Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona ahead of the All-Star break.