Kevin Gausman was in the fourth year of his five-year, $110 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays when he finally reached the World Series stage this past fall. While the Blue Jays’ continued struggles between 2022 and 2024 delayed Gausman’s chance at playing at the biggest stage of the MLB playoffs, the starter was dominant for the club in 2025 and was a key part of the team’s success this past season.

Even though the Blue Jays ultimately failed to take the trophy away, this playoff run gave the 34-year-old pitcher a chance to showcase why Toronto believed and invested in him in the first place.

There are many reasons why the former first-rounder should be the Opening Day starter, but these three reasons below are the most compelling out of them all.

No one pitched more than Gausman in the Blue Jays’ starting rotation in 2025. Last season, the right-hander pitched 193 innings, which was the most in his career thus far. Gausman’s innings contributions played a major role for Toronto’s pitching, given that starters like Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Eric Lauer and Max Scherzer weren’t able to go deeper into games as often.

Aside from his early career struggles, Gausman has managed to pitch more than 174 innings each season since 2021, and his 193 innings from 2025 are comparable to his time with the San Francisco Giants in 2021 (192 innings pitched). The Colorado native’s numbers may not be as immaculate as his 2021 season, but the fact is that Gausman gave enough innings for the Blue Jays to achieve strong regular-season and playoff results.

Innings pitched may not be the most important indicator of a pitcher’s performance anymore in the age of advanced analytics. However, in this case, this number clearly demonstrates Gausman’s value on the Blue Jays and helps advocate for his continued status as a robust starter.

Gausman also had one of the better underlying numbers among Blue Jays’ starters in 2025 with a 3.59 ERA, 3.41 FIP and 1.06 WHIP across those 193 innings, which was again one of the best numbers in the rotation. Trey Yesavage is the only pitcher who edges out Gausman in some aspect, but the rookie only pitched 14 innings during the regular campaign.

According to Baseball Savant’s 2025 MLB percentile ranking, Gausman’s pitching run value ranks in the 96th percentile, fastball run value in the 97th and offspeed run value in the 96th. His chase rate also ranks 85th, which puts him as one of the more effective pitchers in inducing potential strikeouts.

Gausman’s numbers won’t reach the levels of Tarik Skubal or Paul Skenes – there are not many in the game who can, for a reason. Even so, what he’s accomplished in a tough division shouldn’t go unnoticed, especially given that he was one of the most reliable pitchers in the starting rotation that lacked consistency at times.

What makes Gausman truly unique and deserving of the Opening Day starter recognition is his career journey.

The right-hander began his career with the Baltimore Orioles when the team drafted him as the fourth pick in the first round back in 2012. The 34-year-old’s debut came faster than most when he joined the big leagues in May of 2013, but his road to becoming a stalwart starter was far from easy.

After having a stable few years with the Orioles in the beginning and a potential to become Baltimore’s workhorse pitcher, the Orioles recorded a rather disappointing 2018 season, which led to Gausman’s trade to the Atlanta Braves mid-season. The young pitcher attempted his best to live up to the expectations, but ultimately was designated for assignment in 2019.

Just when Gausman was coping with one of the lowest points of his life, he earned a chance with the San Francisco Giants in 2020 and 2021. His time on the West Coast, especially in 2021, solidified him as a bona fide ace with a 2.81 ERA, 2.38 FIP and 1.04 WHIP in 192 innings pitched. This rebound season helped the starter to land a lucrative, long-term contract with the Blue Jays during that offseason.

That tenacity alone is already making an undeniable case for why Gausman should get another nod as Toronto’s starter for next Opening Day.

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