Tuesday’s “First Call” has some fallout from that Pirates-Blue Jays scrum Monday night. We have an update on Vlad Guerrero’s injury from that game. An ex-Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back is now a Baltimore Raven.
And we continue to watch the developments in Cincinnati regarding Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation.
Discussing the dust-up
There were some tense moments during the Pirates-Blue Jays game Monday night.
Pittsburgh outfielder Tommy Pham and Toronto catcher Tyler Heineman got into a shouting match after a walk, and it appeared a fight might break out as the benches and bullpens emptied.
Benches cleared in Pittsburgh after Tommy Pham bat flipped a walk, but cooler heads prevailed pic.twitter.com/wLkuXZJj7u
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 19, 2025
Heineman told Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, “It was weird, man. It was weird. Unprovoked and super weird.”
Pham responded on social media.
“(Complaining) about a ball not being called a strike to the umpire when it’s clearly below the zone and away is disrespectful not only to the umpire but the hitter as well,” Pham wrote. “So like I said when I flipped the bat (expletive) him … dude has two years in the show I know the zone.”
The Pirates ended up winning the game 5-2.
Hurting hammy
Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is getting an MRI after pulling a hamstring against the Pirates on Monday night.
The injury occurred while Guerrero was doing the splits while making a play at first base.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr experienced left hamstring tightness following this stretch he made in the third inning
He’s getting an MRI tonight and Blue Jays will evaluate him tomorrow https://t.co/8fyZiElMkn
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) August 19, 2025
Via ESPN.com, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Guerrero was doing “all right,” but that an MRI was scheduled to make sure there wasn’t a more significant injury.
“It was after that stretch, obviously,” Schneider said. “At this time of year, everyone is kind of grinding a little bit, and that just irritated his hammy. It’s just tightness.”
Guerrero is hitting .298 with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs this season for AL East-leading Toronto. He made the All-Star team this year for the fifth time in his career.
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Baltimore bound
A former Steeler is heading elsewhere in the AFC North. Cornerback Thomas Graham has signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
We have signed DB Thomas Graham Jr.https://t.co/MeBKQboXWJ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 18, 2025
On Jan. 23, 2024, Graham signed a reserve/futures contract with the Steelers. He was waived in August and re-signed to the practice squad. He was released at the end of October after being active for one game.
This is Graham’s third stop in the division. He was also a Cleveland Brown for seven games before his time in Pittsburgh.
The former Oregon Duck was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2021. He played in four games for them.
Also, Gabe Davis is visiting the Steelers on Tuesday. Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports is now reporting that the free-agent wide receiver is checking out Buffalo this week as well.
Sources: The #Bills are expected to host WR Gabe Davis on a free-agent visit this week after he meets with the #Steelers today.
Davis had his best years in Buffalo, totaling over 3,200 yards and 35 TDs across four seasons (including playoffs). pic.twitter.com/IVtUMv7WUl
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 19, 2025
Davis played in Buffalo for four years before becoming a Jacksonville Jaguar last season.
Hendrickson still not happy
It doesn’t sound like the Cincinnati Bengals are any closer to getting Trey Hendrickson on the field.
Nor are they any closer to trading him.
That was the report from ESPN’s Laura Rutledge on Monday night. She spoke to Hendrickson before the Cincinnati-Washington preseason game. According to her, any trade “hasn’t gotten close” to materializing.
According to Rutledge via ProFootballTalk.com, Hendrickson is still hung up on the guarantees being offered by the Bengals, not the duration or total value of the deal.
Hendrickson — who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last year — isn’t planning on playing under the terms of his current deal. Cincinnati opens the season in Cleveland on Sept. 7.
NFL.com is listing the Eagles and Lions as potential suitors for Hendrickson’s services.
