GDB 3.0: Can the Toronto Blue Jays close out their first series of the year with a win?

The 162-0 dream is dead, but 161-1 is very, very much alive.

What a bizarro game that was yesterday afternoon. The Jays had more than enough opportunity to keep and/or get themselves in the game, but they squandered nearly every opportunity they got. They were gifted bases on a silver platter as Jack Flaherty struggled to find the strike zone,

I mean hell, Kevin Kiermaier of all batters was the one to break the Cards’ combined no-hitter with a single in the top of the 7th. No disrespect to Kiermaier intended here, but you’re … *checks notes* ninth batter shouldn’t be the one who has to spark the offence. Alas, the Jays were able to almost get back into it, but Vladimir Guerreo Jr. as the tying run fell to a nasty Ryan Helsley slider late stranding two.

It was a tough scene to say the least, but hey — today’s a brand new day and we’ve got one heckuva lot of ball left in the season. With the series split at one aside, the Jays and Cards will close out this three-game set early this afternoon as Chris Bassitt and Jordan Montgomery take the mound.

I’m excited to see what Bassitt has got because I haven’t caught much in the way of New York Mets or Oakland Athletics games in the last few years. He’s never been a world-burner by any means, but he has been a consistently solid pitcher for the last number of years. That includes some time in front of some not-so-great Athletics teams.

With spring training now in the rearview mirror, I’m excited to see what Bassitt brings to the table for this Jays team. He’s a very established arm and he fits in great smack dab in the middle of the rotation this season.

First pitch: 2:15 p.m. EST

Weather: 16C. 13 MPH SSE winds. “Winds a bit right to left, a bit out to left at 10-15mph.” (RotoGrinders)

Odds: Blue Jays +100 — Cardinals -105. O/U: 8.5 — o8.5 +102/u8.5 -125. (via Betano)

TOR: Chris Bassitt, RHP — 0-0, -.- ERA, -.- WHIP.

STL: Jordan Montgomery, LHP — 0-0, -.- ERA, -.- WHIP.

Blue Jays

Cardinals

Bassitt gets his first bump day of the season. He’s coming off a solid season with the Mets throwing 181.2 innings with a 3.42 ERA, 3.66 FIP and 1.145 WHIP. He struggled to get going in Spring Training this season, so there’s a little bit of concern as to where his game’s at exactly. That being said, this guy’s been around the block for a while now and the Jays laid a heavy investment in him.

On the other side, the Cards get this first look of the year in leftie Jordan Montgomery. For the Jays, it’s their first regular season game against a lefty. Toronto’s numbers against lefties dipped ever-so-slightly last season vs. righties so it will be an interesting matchup. Montgomery threw just 63.2 innings in an injury-shortened season, but posted a 3.11 ERA, 3.08 FIP and a 1.084 WHIP.

Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew makes 23 predictions ahead of the 2023 season.