NEW YORK -- That’s not a Superman logo peeking out from underneath Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s uniform, it’s an “I Love New York” T-shirt.
There’s just something about the Bronx that brings out the biggest, boldest version of Guerrero. This is the Guerrero who doesn’t just accept the spotlight, he stomps into it, spreads his arms wide and lets the boos rain down.
The boos came early and often for Guerrero in Friday’s 7-1 win over the Yankees, a constant, droning compliment from the fans who packed into Yankee Stadium to watch the biggest series of the season in the American League East. That title has been slapped on a dozen Blue Jays series already this year, but at this point, they all are.
The win moves the Blue Jays four games up on the Yankees in the division, and with the tiebreaker already comfortably in hand, they’re in the driver’s seat here. The Red Sox also loom -- 4 1/2 games back after their loss to the D-backs -- but the Blue Jays have been waiting for another moment like the one they found two months ago against this same Yankees team when they took over the division lead.
“That’s our dream,” Guerrero said through a club interpreter. “That’s our dream and everyone in there is on the same page. There’s still 21 games and a lot to do, but we’ve got to come together. We’ve got to keep competing and playing hard.”
It’s time to step on the gas again, and no one does that like Vladdy.
Guerrero’s home run in the fifth was the 22nd of his career against the Yankees and the 16th he’s hit here at Yankee Stadium, more than any other road ballpark. Overall, he went 4-for-5 with three runs scored.
There’s some history here, too. Even before signing his 14-year, $500 million extension, Guerrero said that he would never play for the Yankees and would “never change that,” which didn’t sit well with a city and fan base accustomed to being and feeling chosen.
Vladdy loves to take big swings at the king, though, and that’s what the Blue Jays are trying to do here. The mighty Yankees, who have long reigned over this stacked division, need to fall first if the Blue Jays plan on going deep into October. Whether it’s this weekend at Yankee Stadium or in early October, when these two teams could meet again, it feels like there’s a magnetic pull between these two teams in 2025.
Toronto manager John Schneider likes to remind us of that old Reggie Jackson quote -- they don’t boo nobodies -- and this just keeps happening in New York. There’s not enough real bad blood to call this a rivalry, at least nothing more than a typical division rival, but Guerrero vs. Aaron Judge and the Bronx Bombers has been must-watch TV for years now.
“He has a little bit of an extra pep of his step, even in batting practice,” Schneider said. “I think he likes playing here and he’s comfortable, whether it’s that he sees the ball here better or not. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence any more.”
Toronto’s lineup is always at its best when Guerrero is the star of the show, but all of his co-stars put together a fantastic opening act, too. Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler had dominated lineups through his first nine Major League starts, but the Blue Jays wore him out with an approach that just looks so exhausting for the opposing pitcher. The Blue Jays dragged 40 pitches out of Schlittler in the first inning alone. By the time he walked off the mound after just 1 2/3 innings, he’d thrown 66 and the Blue Jays had fouled off 24 of them.
“That’s huge to score early, of course, but we try to score every inning,” Guerrero said. “We’re trying to get the starter out of the game as soon as possible.”
Kevin Gausman’s best-timed start of the season didn’t hurt, either, with eight innings of one-run ball to tame a Yankees lineup that can erupt with power at any moment. This was the total team effort -- pitching, hitting and defense -- that the Blue Jays used to surge to the top of the AL East, and it’s the only recipe to stay there.
These are the games the Blue Jays need to win if they want to rewrite their reputation. Vladdy, starring in his home away from home, looks like the player who can make that happen.