The Toronto Blue Jays welcome the Boston Red Sox to the Rogers Centre on the heels of a 1-5 road trip. Toronto started last week off by getting swept in Houston before winning just one game in the Bronx, thanks to Devin Williams and the blowup of a ninth inning that put some runs on the board for the Jays.
As a team, Toronto ranks 29th in home runs (15), 26th in runs (95), and 23rd in OPS (.656), with the club struggling to find power out of the gate. It’s a similar issue that plagued the Jays in 2024, and Toronto is not finding success at the plate to start the year. Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez lead the team with three home runs apiece, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer have two apiece. Bo Bichette has yet to join in on the home run power, and Ernie Clement also has yet to find a knock.
The Jays will look to put a win on the board against the Red Sox and Garrett Crochet, who is coming off his worst start of the season against the Seattle Mariners, where he allowed four earned runs off of five runs while walking five. Toronto got the better of Crochet back on April 8th, with the left-hander allowing four runs (one earned) while allowing five hits and four walks through 5 2/3. The key for the Jays’ bats will be to be patient and see if he struggles with his command while limiting the chase.
Toronto will be sending Bowden Francis to the mound to kick off the series. The right-hander owns a 3.58 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP through 27 2/3 innings and has allowed 11 earned runs through his five starts. His last outing against Houston was his shortest stint of the season, a 4 2/3 inning affair where he allowed three runs and one homer off a season high eight hits. Francis is prone to the long ball and will need to reel it in against a Red Sox lineup that features Rafael Devers, Alex Bregman, Trevor Story, and Jarren Duran.
One thing going for the Blue Jays is the return of Daulton Varsho, with the outfielder healthy and ready to go after some rehab stints in triple-A after undergoing shoulder surgery this past offseason. He slots into the sixth spot in the order while second baseman Andres Gimenez has been dropped to the eighth spot.
Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada
First Pitch: 7:07 pm EST
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – Bowden Francis: 2-3 record, 3.58 ERA, 27 2/3 IP, 22 SO, 9 BB
Boston Red Sox – Garrett Crochet: 2-2 record, 1.95 ERA, 37 IP, 44 SO, 15 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. Bo Bichette – SS
  2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
  3. Anthony Santander – RF
  4. George Springer – DH
  5. Alejandro Kirk – C
  6. Daulton Varsho – CF
  7. Ernie Clement – 3B
  8. Andres Gimenez – 2B
  9. Myles Straw – LF
Red Sox:
  1. Jarren Duran – LF
  2. Rafael Devers – DH
  3. Alex Bregman – 3B
  4. Trevor Story – SS
  5. Wilyer Abreu – RF
  6. Kristian Campbell – 2B
  7. Triston Casas – 1B
  8. Ceddanne Rafaela – CF
  9. Carlos Narvaez – C