July 26 Gameday: Kevin Gausman starts as Blue Jays look for series win over Boston
Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Jul 26, 2026, 12:00 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays can win a series Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.
After Dylan Cease’s complete-game effort on Saturday, a win in the finale of their three-game set against the Boston Red Sox would be the first series win since July 6-8, when the Blue Jays took two of three from the San Francisco Giants.
Kevin Gausman is set to take the ball for the Blue Jays on Sunday, in what will be his 22nd start of the season, and potentially his last in a Toronto uniform. With the Blue Jays sitting with a record of 48-57, and Gausman’s pending unrestricted free-agent status at season’s end, the 35-year-old could be moved before the deadline to recoup some prospects in what is looking like a lost season.
Through his 22 starts, Gausman is 4-9 with a 4.51 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Over his 115.2 innings pitched, the right-hander has racked up 117 strikeouts and has been hit at a .254 clip.
In his most recent outing against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 21, Gausman picked up the loss after turning in a pitching line of 3.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, and was continuously challenged with putting the pesky Rays bats away.
One player who has hit Gausman well in his career is outfielder Jarren Duran. Duran is batting seventh on Sunday, and while he’s struggled to a .192 average this season, the 29-year-old is a lifetime .320 hitter with one home run off the veteran righty.
Countering Gausman for the Red Sox will be Ranger Suarez. Suarez is set to be activated from the injured list prior to first pitch after missing just under three weeks while dealing with a left groin strain.
After being signed to a five-year, $130-million contract in January, Suarez has been a strong member of the Red Sox’s rotation. Through 17 starts, Suarez is 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. The 30-year-old has struck out 97 batters over his 91.1 frames and has held opponents to a .232 average.
Suarez is set to face the Blue Jays for the second time this season, and will be looking to follow up what was a spectacular outing. In a 5-0 Red Sox win on April 27, Suarez was nearly unhittable, turning in a pitching line of 8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, with Jesús Sánchez being the lone Blue Jay to record a hit.
Here’s how the lineups look for the series finale at Fenway Park:
Location: Fenway Park – Boston, Massachusetts
First Pitch: 1:35 PM EST
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Kevin Gausman: 4-9 record, 4.51 ERA, 115.2 IP, 117 SO, 34 BB
Boston Red Sox – Ranger Suarez: 4-3 record, 3.15 ERA, 91.1 IP, 97 SO, 26 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- Nathan Lukes – RF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Alejandro Kirk – C
- George Springer – DH
- Daulton Varsho – CF
- Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
- Ernie Clement – 2B
- Andrés Giménez – SS
- Davis Schneider – LF
Red Sox:
- Masataka Yoshida – DH
- Ceddanne Rafaela – CF
- Wilyer Abreu – RF
- Willson Contreras – 1B
- Caleb Durbin – 3B
- Romy Gonzalez – 2B
- Jarren Duran – LF
- Andruw Monasterio – SS
- Carlos Narváez – C
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