Hope springs eternal for the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays as they get set to open Grapefruit League play and prepare to defend the American League pennant.
The Blue Jays host the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of spring training on Saturday, and their lineup will include many players who are expected to be a part of the regular-season batting order.
It starts with Ernie Clement hitting leadoff and playing second base, shortstop Andres Gimenez in the two-hole, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in his customary third spot and catcher Alejandro Kirk hitting cleanup.
The rest of the lineup is in order as follows: Addison Barger (RF); Kazuma Okamoto (3B); Daulton Varsho (DH); Davis Schneider (LF); Nathan Lukes (CF).
Left-hander Eric Lauer opens spring training on the mound for the Blue Jays after a resurgent 2025 campaign where he posted a 3.18 ERA with 102 strikeouts and 26 walks over 104.2 innings, including 15 starts.
Lauer was also an important contributor during Toronto’s post-season run, recording a 3.12 ERA over 8.2 innings. This included 4.2 frames in extra innings in the Blue Jays’ record-setting marathon Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Meanwhile, off-season signing Bryse Wilson will take the bump for the Phillies. Wilson struggled in 2025, pitching to a 6.65 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 19 walks over 47.1 innings with the Chicago White Sox.
Opening spring on the road, the Phillies didn’t include as much major-league talent in their lineup, with Adolis Garcia, Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp headlining the group.
In addition to their successful regular season and October, the Blue Jays also won the Grapefruit League last year and will aim for another successful spring as baseball gets underway on Saturday.
