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September 3 Gameday: Blue Jays turn to José Soriano looking for series win in Cleveland

Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

By Michael Coyle

Sep 3, 2026, 11:15 EDT

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With each game the Toronto Blue Jays get set to play, it feels like the stakes get higher and higher.

Thanks to Wednesday night’s 11-0 victory, a win Thursday can pull them within a 0.5 game of the Cleveland Guardians for the American League’s final Wild Card spot, while also giving the Blue Jays the season series advantage over the Guardians.

Looking to make it two wins in a row, the Blue Jays will hand the ball to José Soriano. Acquired on August 3 from the Los Angeles Angels, Soriano has made five starts since joining the Blue Jays and has gone 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.

The 27-year-old has struck out 22 batters across his 28.1 innings pitched with the Blue Jays and has been hit at a .271 clip. In his most recent outing against the Seattle Mariners on August 29, Soriano picked up the win after turning in a pitching line of 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.

While not many of the Guardians’ hitters have seen much of Soriano, one player who has gotten the better of him in his career is third baseman José Ramírez. In 13 career at-bats, Ramírez holds a .308 average with three home runs and five RBIs off the righty. Currently in the midst of a down season, highlighted by only a .242 average and 11 home runs across 105 games, Ramírez has gone 1-for-7 over the first two games of the series.

Countering Soriano for the Guardians is right-hander Tanner Bibee. Through 28 starts this season, Bibee is 5-14 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. The 27-year-old has struck out 128 batters across his 162.1 innings pitched and has been hit at a .234 clip during that span.

Coming off his best night of the season, in which he went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finds himself another matchup that he has enjoyed throughout his career.

Across nine at-bats against Bibee, Guerrero is 4-for-9 with one home run. Another big day from Guerrero could help build the belief that the player fans have begged for all season could finally be awakening as the calendar flips to September and the Blue Jays try and hunt down that final playoff spot.

Through 125 games this season, Guerrero is batting .262 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs while reaching base at a .333 clip.

Here is how the lineups look for the series finale in Cleveland:

Location: Progressive Field – Cleveland, Ohio

First Pitch: 1:10 PM ET

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590