Kevin Gausman pitched 8 shutout innings as the Blue Jays beat the Guardians 6-0 on June 26. Get the full recap and an injury update on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
On a day that could have been defined by a scary moment, Kevin Gausman made sure it would be remembered for sheer dominance. The Blue Jays' ace was virtually unhittable on Thursday, firing eight shutout innings to lead Toronto to a 6-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. The win not only clinched the series but also provided a massive sigh of relief after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was forced to leave the game early.
8 Innings, 2 Hits, 1 Walk, 6 Strikeouts. Kevin Gausman on 104 pitches was the definition of an ace.
From the first pitch, it was clear Kevin Gausman was on another level. He carved through the Guardians lineup with precision, allowing just two hits and a single walk over eight masterful innings. Throwing 104 pitches, Gausman never seemed to tire, keeping Cleveland completely off balance and improving his season record to 6-6. It was the kind of shutdown performance the Jays needed to secure a crucial road series win, a true ace-like effort that left no doubt who was in control.
The collective breath of Blue Jays fans was held in the third inning when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was drilled on the forearm by a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Bibee. Vladdy immediately went down in pain and was removed from the game, sparking fears of a serious injury. Thankfully, the post-game news brought a massive wave of relief: X-rays were negative, and the diagnosis is a forearm contusion. While he's considered day-to-day, the Jays appear to have avoided a catastrophic blow to their lineup.
While Gausman handled the pitching, the offense played a smart, opportunistic game. The Jays broke through in the third inning, aided by some truly sloppy defense from Cleveland. The Guardians committed four errors on the day, and Toronto made them pay. Nathan Lukes delivered the big blow in the third with a two-run single that opened the scoring. Later, in the ninth, Alejandro Kirk provided the insurance with a two-run single of his own after Addison Barger and Ernie Clement worked their way on base. It wasn't a home run parade, but it was a perfect example of manufacturing runs and punishing mistakes.
With Gausman's brilliant day done, Chad Green entered for the ninth inning to slam the door. He made quick work of the Guardians, retiring the side in order to lock down the victory and complete the combined shutout. It marked the Blue Jays' fifth team shutout of the 2025 season, a testament to a pitching staff that is rounding into form at the right time.
The Blue Jays leave Cleveland with a series win, a dominant performance from their ace, and a healthy (albeit bruised) superstar first baseman. It's the kind of momentum-building victory that can propel a team forward. With Vladdy hopefully avoiding any time on the IL, the Jays can roll into their next series with confidence, looking to build on a complete team effort that showcased stellar pitching and timely, opportunistic hitting.
