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July 4th Gameday: Blue Jays go for series win against Mariners in Bieber’s third start

Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

By Aidan Sinclair

Jul 4, 2026, 15:45 EDT

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The Blue Jays began a nine-game road trip last night in their second home in Seattle, with hundreds of fans traveling from British Columbia and infiltrating T-Mobile Park. It was a pitcher’s duel that decided Friday’s contest, as Toronto held on for a 2-0 victory, now 3-1 in their last four games.

The Jays did all their scoring in the third inning, beginning with a Sean Keys single off Luis Castillo, followed by an Andres Gimenez double to cash in the first run of the game. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. later lined a single to right field, bringing in Gimenez to score Toronto’s second and only run of the game. Dylan Cease was electric against a struggling Mariners lineup, going seven scoreless innings, striking out nine and breaking the franchise record with the most strikeouts through 16 starts in a season (137).

His season ERA now sits at 2.79. Jeff Hoffman picked up a hold working a clean eighth inning, with Louis Varland collecting his eighteenth save of the season.

The Jays’ record now sits at 42-46, good for third in the American League East, 2.5 games back of the Mariners for the third Wild Card spot. The rest of this road trip leading up to the All-Star break is incredibly important for Toronto, as it could decide the direction they choose at the trade deadline. Given how weak the American League has been thus far, now is the time for the Blue Jays to go on a run to solidify themselves as buyers come August.

Shane Bieber makes his third start of the season, coming off a much-improved outing against the Texas Rangers in which he went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs and striking out four. This was a positive sign for the veteran right-hander, who looked rusty his first time out against the Houston Astros, going 3.2 innings and allowing four runs on three consecutive home runs and striking out just two. The last time he faced the Mariners was in game three of the ALCS last October, going six strong innings, allowing just two runs and striking out eight.

On the other side of the bump, Logan Gilbert takes the ball for the Mariners, coming off a subpar outing against the Cleveland Guardians. The right-hander went seven innings, but allowed four runs on seven hits and picked up the loss. Before this outing, he had gone 19.1 innings in three starts, allowing just three runs total. In two starts against the Blue Jays in the ALCS, Gilbert threw seven innings, allowing six runs, good for a 7.71 ERA.

The Blue Jays’ lineup only features three right-handed hitters with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. batting second, Kazuma Okamoto hitting third and Ernie Clement hitting fifth. Nathan Lukes leads off with Daulton Varsho hitting cleanup, Yohendrick Pinango hitting sixth and Andres Gimenez hitting ninth.

Sean Keys gets his fourth straight start with George Springer still on the paternity list. Brandon Valenzuela is behind the plate for Shane Bieber.

Location: T-Mobile Park – Seattle, United States

First Pitch: 4:10 PM EST

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet One, SN590