The Toronto Blue Jays, who played without Vladimir Guerrero Jr. while losing the series opener against the visiting Miami Marlins on Monday, hope the first baseman will be back in action as the three-game set continues on Tuesday.

Guerero was hit by a pitch on the right elbow on Sunday in Toronto’s defeat against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he exited for a pinch runner. He was considered a possibility to pinch-hit a day later against Miami but wasn’t used in the Blue Jays’ 8-2 loss.

“He’s sore,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “He’s just day-to-day.”

The Blue Jays, who have dropped two straight after winning four in a row, did get another player back from an injury absence on Monday.

Outfielder Nathan Lukes, back from a month-long stint on the injured list caused by a strained left hamstring, finished 3-for-4 on Monday and was hit by a pitch on the helmet.

“Great to have him back and to have that presence there,” Schneider said. “Crazy that he got hit in the head. First game back, you don’t like seeing that, but glad he’s OK.”

Davis Schneider was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for Lukes.

Outfielder/second baseman John Schneider said the team wants Davis Schneider to have consistent at-bats at Buffalo. He has a .127 average with one homer and eight RBIs in 38 games for Toronto this year.

“He’s a part of our team, and he’ll continue to be a part of our team,” the manager said. “You trust him and just want him to get back to doing what he’s good at.”

Going on the injured list with a minor left hamstring strain was Toronto right-hander Dylan Cease, who exited his start in the fifth inning on Sunday with the ailment.

“Mild is the key word, I think, so hopefully it’s not too long,” John Schneider said. “He was encouraged with how he felt after the MRI showed just a mild to moderate strain.”

Cease is 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA and an American League-leading 92 strikeouts in 62 innings.

“He wants to pitch,” Schneider said. “I think he’s being smart about it, too. The risk-reward of losing him for a long time as opposed to two (outings) kind of outweighed that.”

Tanner Andrews was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo in the corresponding move and pitched a perfect ninth in his major league debut. At 30, he is the third-oldest pitcher in team history to make his big-league debut behind Shun Yamaguchi, 33, and Murphy Smith, 31.

The Marlins, who are on a season-best four-game winning streak, took the series opener in part due to contributions from their Canadian contingent.

Toronto native Liam Hicks had a hit, a walk and two runs. Owen Caissie from nearby Burlington, Ontario, had two hits and two RBIs, and Montreal-raised Otto Lopez had a first-inning sacrifice fly and later drew a walk. It was solid support for Miami starter Janson Junk, who allowed one run in five innings.

“It was tough, but big to get one early and give Junk a run to work with,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said. “Then we just put together some good at-bats there. We just did some little things very well when given some opportunities to put a crooked number up (in a three-run sixth).”

The Marlins will send out Sandy Alcantara (3-3, 4.00 ERA) on Tuesday as they go for a series victory. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.

In his latest start, Alcantara took a loss against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday after he permitted six runs on nine hits in six innings.

The Blue Jays are expected to use right-hander Braydon Fisher (2-1, 2.73) as an opener. In his two other stints as an opener this year, he pitched a combined 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Fisher, 25, has never faced Miami.

–Field Level Media