The Toronto Blue Jays are getting set to begin a weekend series with the Philadelphia Phillies as the team tries to fight back into playoff contention.
2026 has been a tough year for the Blue Jays all year, but the team has won the last three series it’s played. Toronto’s front office also brought in some new talent at the trade deadline, giving this team a boost for the stretch run.
While a postseason run could be tough due to their place in the standings, there is still time to turn the year around. But it all starts with this series against the Phillies.
Jose Soriano’s Toronto Blue Jays Debut
And as the series gets going, the Blue Jays will be throwing out one of their new players. Toronto announced that right-hander Jose Soriano will indeed make his Blue Jays debut in this game against Philadelphia.
Ahead of the game, Toronto released the lineup for the contest, noting Soriano as the starter.
Blue Jays 8/7
N. Lukes RF
A. Kirk C
J. Sánchez LF
G. Springer DH
K. Okamoto 1B
A. Giménez SS
E. Clement 2B
J. Smith 3B
B. Bateman CFJ. Soriano SP
— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) August 7, 2026
Soriano was the big acquisition for the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, landing the ace from the Los Angeles Angels. Many expected Toronto to be sellers at the deadline, and while the team did move off a few players, they also added some pieces for the future.
The right-hander has registered a 3.29 ERA over 22 starts, throwing 123.0 innings this year. Soriano got off to a very strong start for the Angels, posting a 1.17 ERA over his first seven outings.
Having Soriano now gives the Blue Jays a legitimate piece for the starting rotation moving forward. Putting him next to Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, and others could give Toronto one of the deeper rotations around baseball.
But for now, the Blue Jays will be hoping that Soriano can put together a strong end to the season for them.
Blue Jays Playoff Outlook
Toronto comes into this series with a record of 54-62, sitting in last place within the American League East. While the team is currently in a hole, they do have the talent to go on a late-season run to reach the postseason.
The AL is much weaker than it has been in recent years, giving the Blue Jays a slim chance to shock everything. Toronto is only a few games behind in the wild-card race, albeit in a very crowded field.
This team came within two outs of winning the World Series a year ago, and the roster is essentially the same group of players. That collective fight could be unlocked at any given time, and Toronto has gone 6-4 over its last 10 games overall.
The odds may be stacked against the Blue Jays, but anything is possible, especially if this team can put together a few more solid series. The trade deadline gave this team some new life, but now it’s a matter of proving it each and every night.
Blue Jays Announce Big Jose Soriano Decision Ahead of Phillies Series