It&#8217;s Springer Szn.

The Toronto Blue Jays leadoff hitter is set for his first Spring Training action on Thursday as the team takes on the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 34-year-old is entering his fourth season in the Six, and looking to build off what was a down year for him in 2023. He slashed .258/.327/.405, moderate enough numbers, but his OPS+ plummeted from being 135 through his first two years, down to 102 last, while still hitting 21 home runs.
Springer most importantly was able to stay healthy last season, playing in 154 games with the Jays which is more than he had in each of his first two years. He&#8217;ll be the leadoff man once again for the Jays this season, and bats out of that spot this afternoon.
Jose Berrios also gets his first taste of action this season, looking to build off an excellent 2023 campaign that ended in wild disappointment. We don&#8217;t need to go there.
Berrios&#8217;s numbers rebounded well posting a 3.65 ERA across 189 and two third innings last season, and the Jays will look for much of the same this year.
<hr />
First pitch: 1:05 p.m. EST — TV: Sportsnet. Radio: MLB.com.
<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/">Odds via Betano:</a>
Moneyline: TOR -192; PHI +155. 
Spread: TOR -1.5 +105; PHI+1.5 -128. 
Over/Under: o8.5 -118; u8.5 -105.
*Odds available at the time of writing. Odds subject to change.
<h2>Starting pitchers (2023 statistics):</h2>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" data-sheets-root="1">
<colgroup>
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="100" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Name&quot;}">Name</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Team&quot;}">Team</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;GS&quot;}">GS</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;W&quot;}">W</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;L&quot;}">L</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;IP&quot;}">IP</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;ERA&quot;}">ERA</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;xERA&quot;}">xERA</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;ERA-&quot;}">ERA-</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;FIP&quot;}">FIP</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;WHIP&quot;}">WHIP</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;K/9&quot;}">K/9</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;BB/9&quot;}">BB/9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;José Berríos&quot;}">José Berríos</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;TOR&quot;}">TOR</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:32}">32</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:11}">11</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:12}">12</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:189.2}">189.2</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:3.65}">3.65</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:4.55}">4.55</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:87}">87</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:3.99}">3.99</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:1.19}">1.19</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:8.73}">8.73</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:2.47}">2.47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Max Castillo&quot;}">Max Castillo</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;KCR&quot;}">KCR</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:0}">0</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:0}">0</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:1}">1</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:20.1}">20.1</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:4.43}">4.43</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:6.16}">6.16</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:99}">99</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:5.32}">5.32</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:1.43}">1.43</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:4.43}">4.43</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:3.98}">3.98</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
TORONTO:
<blockquote>
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/george-springer-543807" target="" rel="noopener">G Springer</a> (R) RF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/vladimir-guerrero-jr-665489" target="" rel="noopener">V Guerrero Jr.</a> (R) DH</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alejandro-kirk-672386" target="" rel="noopener">A Kirk</a> (R) C</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-kiermaier-595281" target="" rel="noopener">K Kiermaier</a> (L) CF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/eduardo-escobar-500871" target="" rel="noopener">E Escobar</a> (S) 2B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/spencer-horwitz-687462" target="" rel="noopener">S Horwitz</a> (L) 1B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/isiah-kiner-falefa-643396" target="" rel="noopener">I Kiner-Falefa</a> (R) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/leo-jimenez-677870" target="" rel="noopener">L Jimenez</a> (R) 3B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alan-roden-702176" target="" rel="noopener">A Roden</a> (L) LF</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
PHILADELPHIA:
<blockquote>
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--away">
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bryson-stott-681082" target="" rel="noopener">B Stott</a> (L) 2B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/trea-turner-607208" target="" rel="noopener">T Turner</a> (R) DH</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/darick-hall-669742" target="" rel="noopener">D Hall</a> (L) 1B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/edmundo-sosa-624641" target="" rel="noopener">E Sosa</a> (R) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/garrett-stubbs-596117" target="" rel="noopener">G Stubbs</a> (L) C</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/cristian-pache-665506" target="" rel="noopener">C Pache</a> (R) CF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/david-dahl-621311" target="" rel="noopener">D Dahl</a> (L) LF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/scott-kingery-664068" target="" rel="noopener">S Kingery</a> (R) 3B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-kroon-663714" target="" rel="noopener">M Kroon</a> (R) RF</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about all the happenings in Toronto and beyond.
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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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It's Springer Szn.



The Toronto Blue Jays leadoff hitter is set for his first Spring Training action on Thursday as the team takes on the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 34-year-old is entering his fourth season in the Six, and looking to build off what was a down year for him in 2023. He slashed .258/.327/.405, moderate enough numbers, but his OPS+ plummeted from being 135 through his first two years, down to 102 last, while still hitting 21 home runs.

Springer most importantly was able to stay healthy last season, playing in 154 games with the Jays which is more than he had in each of his first two years. He'll be the leadoff man once again for the Jays this season, and bats out of that spot this afternoon.

Jose Berrios also gets his first taste of action this season, looking to build off an excellent 2023 campaign that ended in wild disappointment. We don't need to go there.

Berrios's numbers rebounded well posting a 3.65 ERA across 189 and two third innings last season, and the Jays will look for much of the same this year.

<hr />

First pitch: 1:05 p.m. EST — TV: Sportsnet. Radio: MLB.com.

<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662r/">Odds via Betano:</a>

Moneyline: TOR -192; PHI +155.
Spread: TOR -1.5 +105; PHI+1.5 -128.
Over/Under: o8.5 -118; u8.5 -105.

*Odds available at the time of writing. Odds subject to change.
<h2>Starting pitchers (2023 statistics):</h2>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" data-sheets-root="1"><colgroup> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Name&quot;}">Name</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Team&quot;}">Team</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;GS&quot;}">GS</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;W&quot;}">W</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;L&quot;}">L</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;IP&quot;}">IP</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;ERA&quot;}">ERA</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;xERA&quot;}">xERA</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;ERA-&quot;}">ERA-</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;FIP&quot;}">FIP</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;WHIP&quot;}">WHIP</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;K/9&quot;}">K/9</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;BB/9&quot;}">BB/9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;José Berríos&quot;}">José Berríos</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;TOR&quot;}">TOR</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:32}">32</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:11}">11</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:12}">12</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:189.2}">189.2</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:3.65}">3.65</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:4.55}">4.55</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:87}">87</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:3.99}">3.99</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:1.19}">1.19</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:8.73}">8.73</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:2.47}">2.47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Max Castillo&quot;}">Max Castillo</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;KCR&quot;}">KCR</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:0}">0</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:0}">0</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:1}">1</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:20.1}">20.1</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:4.43}">4.43</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:6.16}">6.16</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:99}">99</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:5.32}">5.32</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:1.43}">1.43</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:4.43}">4.43</td>
<td data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:3.98}">3.98</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
TORONTO:
<blockquote>
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/george-springer-543807" target="" rel="noopener">G Springer</a> (R) RF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/vladimir-guerrero-jr-665489" target="" rel="noopener">V Guerrero Jr.</a> (R) DH</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alejandro-kirk-672386" target="" rel="noopener">A Kirk</a> (R) C</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-kiermaier-595281" target="" rel="noopener">K Kiermaier</a> (L) CF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/eduardo-escobar-500871" target="" rel="noopener">E Escobar</a> (S) 2B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/spencer-horwitz-687462" target="" rel="noopener">S Horwitz</a> (L) 1B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/isiah-kiner-falefa-643396" target="" rel="noopener">I Kiner-Falefa</a> (R) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/leo-jimenez-677870" target="" rel="noopener">L Jimenez</a> (R) 3B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/alan-roden-702176" target="" rel="noopener">A Roden</a> (L) LF</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
PHILADELPHIA:
<blockquote>
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--away">
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bryson-stott-681082" target="" rel="noopener">B Stott</a> (L) 2B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/trea-turner-607208" target="" rel="noopener">T Turner</a> (R) DH</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/darick-hall-669742" target="" rel="noopener">D Hall</a> (L) 1B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/edmundo-sosa-624641" target="" rel="noopener">E Sosa</a> (R) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/garrett-stubbs-596117" target="" rel="noopener">G Stubbs</a> (L) C</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/cristian-pache-665506" target="" rel="noopener">C Pache</a> (R) CF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/david-dahl-621311" target="" rel="noopener">D Dahl</a> (L) LF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/scott-kingery-664068" target="" rel="noopener">S Kingery</a> (R) 3B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-kroon-663714" target="" rel="noopener">M Kroon</a> (R) RF</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about all the happenings in Toronto and beyond.

https://open.spotify.com/show/00f5Twxj4i9KG1WXzdOiG1?go=1&amp;sp_cid=b3195c716641dffe5ac518f4b2755cdc&amp;utm_source=embed_player_p&amp;utm_medium=desktop&amp;nd=1

<hr />

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

<hr />

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GDB -6.0: George Springer gets first Spring Training game as Blue Jays take on Phillies

Addison Barger becoming increasingly important to Blue Jays’ sustained success

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates his home run with first base Bryce Harper (3) during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.

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