With an Opening Day matchup on Friday, March 27, against the Athletics right around the corner, the Toronto Blue Jays have shared lineup insight for the first game of the season.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman will be the Blue Jays’ Opening Day starter, the team announced. It’ll be the third time the veteran has taken the mound to begin the season, but the first instance with Toronto. “I’m pumped for him, pumped for us,” manager John Schneider told reporters, including Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. “It’s about time he got one.”
Toronto Blue Jays Opening Day Lineup Will Be Led by Kevin Gausman on the Mound
Gausman getting the ball for Opening Day isn’t a huge surprise, as the veteran has been a stable member atop the rotation for the past four seasons. The veteran tossed a career-high 193 innings in 2025, posting a 3.59 ERA with nearly a strikeout per inning. He trimmed his walk rate to 6.5%, a three-year low. Gausman has been the picture of health during his time in Toronto, making at least 31 starts every year with the club.
The postseason brought Gausman’s excellence to center stage. He earned the win in Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series against the New York Yankees, tossing 5.2 innings of one-run ball. The righty made three appearances versus the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series, allowing just three earned runs across 12.1 innings. Gausman earned the win in a Game 7 thriller that sent Toronto to the World Series.
Gausman didn’t miss a beat in the fall classic, delivering a pair of strong starts against the Dodgers. He took losses in Game 2 and Game 6, but limited Los Angeles to three earned runs in both matchups. The Dodgers’ pitching staff held the Blue Jays to a total of two runs in Gausman’s two outings.
A 13-year career has seen Gausman pitch for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants. The five years with Toronto will nearly match his time with the Orioles, where he began his time in the big leagues.
Who Will Follow Kevin Gausman in the Rotation After Opening Day?
With Gausman on the mound for Opening Day, one spot is set in the Blue Jays’ rotation. Dylan Cease and his seven-year, $210 million contract will likely get the ball for Game 2. After that, the Toronto pitching staff is unsettled.
Jose Berrios was a candidate to be the No. 3 starter, but he’s dealing with an elbow issue that contributed to him getting booted off the WBC roster for Team Puerto Rico. Forearm fatigue sidelined Shane Bieber. Bowden Francis underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire season.
The re-signing of Max Scherzer suddenly looks a lot more important. The veteran righty has quickly ramped up in Spring Training and could slot behind Cease. Free agent acquisition Cody Ponce could follow. Trey Yesavage would be next on the list, though Toronto has slow-played him in the spring. It’s unclear what his workload will be when the season arrives in late March.
Blue Jays Reveal Opening Day Lineup News