2026 Blue Jays (est. 2013)

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Writers' Predictions.

Not good. 65-97. Last in the AL East. 2nd to last overall in the AL.

AL Division Winners: Yankees, Spiders, Angles
AL Wild Cards: Tigers, Red Sox

Top Hitter - Alvin Austin, Red Sox
Top Pitcher - Julio Suarez, Yankees

(The Jays have neither in the Top 10.)

NL Division Winners: Phillies, Reds, Giants
NL Wild Cards: Dodgers, Brewers

Top Hitter - George Barrett, Pirates
Top Pitcher - Patrick Mosley, Reds

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2026 Toronto Blue Jays Opening Day Roster

Rotation

Ethan Elias
Octavio Hernandez
Julio Reyna
Zach Eflin
Ronald Bufford

Bullpen

Tom Flynn (C)
Elvin Chaney
Jon MacNamara
Anastasio Feliz
D.J. Baxendale
Mark Luvullo
Howard Hill

Lineup

LF - Jeremy Hinton
2B - Grant Lester
1B - Jake Bernard
DH - Leonard O'Neill
C - Mike Zunino
CF - Jose Ramos
3B - Javier Betancourt
RF - Sixto Rodriguez
SS - Frank Adams

Bench

Michael Perez - C
Jon Kline - IF
Ken Balsdon - OF
Bernard Da Costa - OF

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Pete Johnston was released.

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March 28th, 2026

Opening Day in front of their home crowd and the Jays... disappointed.

They didn't get a hit until the 7th and lost, 7-3, to the Orioles.

WP - Pedro Lopez (1-0)
Save - John Hayenga (1)
LP - Octavio Hernandez (0-1)

Record - 0-1

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March 29th, 2026

The Jays held off a late push by the Orioles to beat them, 11-9.

Jeremy Hinton and grant Lester homered for Toronto.

WP - Ethan Elias (1-0)
Save - Tom Flynn (1)
LP - Bob Towse (0-1)

Record - 1-1

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March 30th, 2026

Grant Lester homered twice and the 2nd one was an 11th inning walk off that gave the Jays a 7-6 win over the Orioles!

Leonard O'Neill and Jake Bernard also homered for Toronto.

WP - Elvin Chaney (1-0)
LP - John Hayenga (0-1)

Record - 2-1

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March 31st, 2026

The Rays thumped the Jays, beating them 9-0.

Ugly.

WP - Ramon Gomez (1-0)
LP - Zach Eflin (0-1)

Record - 2-2

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April 1st, 2026

Ronald Bufford pitched the Jays to a nice, 4-2 win over the Rays after Leonard O'Neill hit a two run homer in the 9th.

Jeremy Hinton also homered for Toronto.

Unfortunately, Grant Lester left the game late with pain in his knee. If it turns out to be serious, that would be a major blow to the team.

WP - Ronald Bufford (1-0)
Save - Tom Flynn (2)
LP - Casey Shane (0-1)

Record - 3-2

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Grant Lester has tendonitis in his knee. He is heading to the IL for 2-3 weeks.

Jim Mason is called up from Buffalo.

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April 2nd, 2026

He didn't get the decision but a strong start by Octavio Hernandez put them in position to win, and they did just that!

The Jays topped the Rays, 3-2.

WP - Anastasio Feliz (1-0)
Save - Tom Flynn (3)
LP - Dan Wade (0-1)

Record - 4-2

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April 3rd, 2026

The Toronto offence was held in check as the Mariners defeated them, 4-1.

Sixto Rodriguez homered for the Jays.

WP - Andrew Smith (1-1)
Save - Richard Byers (3)
LP - Ethan Elias (1-1)

Record - 4-3

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Bernard Da Costa îs sent to Buffalo.

Larry Phillips is called up.

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April 4th, 2026

Julio Reyna gave up only two hits in 7.2 innings, leading the Jays auto a 4-1 win over the Mariners.

Jake Bernard and Michael Perez homered for Toronto.

WP - Julio Reyna (1-0)
Save - Tom Flynn (4)
LP - Trevor Williams (0-1)

Record - 5-3

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Justin Williams of the Marlins hit career home run #300.

Opening seven of his nine years in the Bigs as a member of the Rockies might have helped.

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April 5th, 2026

Leonard O'Neill struck out to end the game, with the tying run on 3rd, and the Mariners beat the Jays, 5-4.

WP - Armando Rodriguez (1-0)
Save - Richard Byers (4)
LP - Zach Eflin (0-2)

Record - 5-4

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April 6th, 2026

A great outing by Ronald Bufford was wasted as the Jays fell, 1-0, to the Angels.

WP - Bill Harrison (1-1)
Save - Dirk Thomas (3)
LP - Ronald Bufford (1-1)

Record - 5-5

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Players of the Week: Ben Gill, Rangers & Ed Richardson, Brewers

The Blue Jays have edged up to #15 on the Weekly Power Rankings.

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April 7th, 2026

Octavio Hernandez pitched seven scoreless innings. D.J. Baxendale struggled in his inning but the Jays held on for a 5-4 win over the Angels.

WP - Octavio Hernandez (1-1)
Save - Tom Flynn (5)
LP - Curt Bernard (1-1)

Record - 6-5

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April 8th, 2026

Ethan Elias took a shutout into the 8th, but the Angels walked off the Blue Jays, beating them 2-1.

WP - Dirk Thomas (1-1)
LP - Mark Lovullo (0-1)

Record - 6-6

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Sent to Buffalo: Larry Phillips

Called up from Buffalo: Dan Kidd, Juan Ibanez

Designated for Assignment: D.J. Baxendale