logo
Blue Jays announce 2026 Opening Day roster
alt
Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Mar 25, 2026, 16:30 EDTUpdated: Mar 25, 2026, 16:53 EDT
Comments
Baseball is back.
On Wednesday evening, the first baseball action since Game 7 takes place, as the San Francisco Giants host the New York Yankees. While the Toronto Blue Jays don’t begin their 2026 campaign until Friday with a matchup against the Athletics, they released their schedule on Wednesday afternoon.
The Jays made some other moves as well. José Berríos, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, and Yimi García all hit the 15-day injured list, while Anthony Santander was placed on the 10-day injured list. All these IL moves were retroactive to Sunday. Additionally, Chase Lee was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and both Angel Bastardo and Leo Jiménez were designated for assignment.
This news made the roster official, but the two spots up for grabs were claimed earlier on Wednesday afternoon. The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon reported that Rule 5 draftee Spencer Miles has made the team over Chase Lee. Shortly after, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported that Davis Schneider earned the final bench spot, hence why Jiménez was designated for assignment.
The rest of the lineup is what you’d expect. Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Eric Lauer, Cody Ponce, and Max Scherzer will begin the season in the Blue Jays rotation, with Bieber, Berríos, and Yesavage likely joining them later in the season. The Jays won’t run an eight-man rotation, so a few of those starters could be pushed to the bullpen.
For now, Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers, Louis Varland, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty,  Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, and Spencer Miles get the nod for the bullpen. Lastly season, Jacob Barnes and Richard Lovelady both made the Jays’ Opening Day roster, but were quickly DFA’ed, so expect the Jays rotation to change as the season continues.
The Jays will run the same catching tandem as last season, with Alejandro Kirk starting the majority of the games and Tyler Heineman backing him up. If either are injured, Brandon Valenzuela, a catcher the Jays acquired before the 2025 trade deadline, would be called up.
With Bo Bichette departing, Andrés Giménez will slide over to shortstop, giving the Blue Jays plus defence at the position. To replace Bichette’s bat, the Jays signed Kazuma Okamoto, who had a great Spring Training when he wasn’t representing Japan at the World Baseball Classic. Ernie Clement represented USA at the WBC, and he’ll be the Jays’ everyday second baseman. You already know who is playing first base.
The Jays have seven listed outfielders for three outfield spots, but they have some versatility. Addison Barger and Davis Schneider are both capable of playing an outfield and infield spot. Additionally, George Springer appears to be the team’s main designated hitter.
That leaves three outfield spots for four players: Daulton Varsho, Jesús Sánchez, Nathan Lukes, and Myles Straw. The latter will be the team’s fifth outfielder, while Varsho is set to be their starting centre fielder. As for the rest of the outfield, you have to imagine that’ll change from game to game.
The Blue Jays’ first game is on Friday at 7:07 PM ET, with Kevin Gausman getting the ball for Opening Day.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Featured

News

Breaking News