Blue Jays' Cease, Guerrero leave game with minor injuries

The Toronto Blue Jays lost both starting pitcher Dylan Cease and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to injuries during the fifth inning of Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, though initial tests suggested neither injury is serious.

Cease exited with two outs in the top of the fifth inning due to what the team described as mild left hamstring discomfort. The righthander began cramping during the inning, and manager John Schneider and head athletic trainer Jose Ministral visited him on the mound with one out. Cease threw a few test pitches and initially remained in the game, but one batter later he was removed. “A guy with his track record, he understands how he feels and what feels like what, so felt OK leaving him in,” Schneider said. “But then the second time just didn’t want to take any chances.”

Cease allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and one walk over 4 2/3 innings. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI after the game, but Schneider said initial testing on his leg was positive. The manager added that Cease wants to make his next start and will be reevaluated by the medical staff in the coming days. “He’s obviously very, very valuable to us, so we’ll...