For the first time in 2026, the Toronto Blue Jays are in a position to be swept.

They’ll play their third and final game against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon, having dropped the first two games. Friday’s loss was a tough one, as an errant throw was the difference between a win and a loss. On Saturday, the Blue Jays beat themselves with sloppy fielding and cold hitting.

This is the last “easy” game to start their season as well. In the eight games they’ve played against the Athletics, Colorado Rockies, and White Sox, the Blue Jays are just 4-4, second in the American League East, but already three games behind the 7-1 New York Yankees.

Sunday’s game isn’t a must win game, we’re just nine games into the season, but a win in this one is important with the Los Angeles Dodgers rolling into town on Monday. A loss tonight and a series loss against the Dodgers would put the Blue Jays in a tough spot through four series.

Starting for the Blue Jays in the series finale against the White Sox is left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer. Last time out, he pitched five and one-thirds against the Athletics, striking out nine and allowing an earned run to give him a 3.38 ERA this season. On the mound for the White Sox is Davis Martin, who has allowed two earned runs in his five inning of work so far this season.

There’ll be a debut in this game, as Brandon Valenzuela will catch Lauer. Acquired in the Will Wagner trade before the 2025 trade deadline, Valenzuela is a switch-hitting catcher who has some pop, but his defence behind the plate is his best attribute. Valenzuela had a good Spring Training, which carried over into the start of the Triple-A season. He bats ninth.

With a righty on the mound, the Blue Jays have four left-handed batters in the lineup. Nathan Lukes hits second, Addison Barger returns to the cleanup spot, Daulton Varsho bats sixth, and Andrés Giménez bats eighth. Kazuma Okamoto moves up to the fifth spot, while George Springer leads off, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bats third, and Ernie Clement bats seventh.

At some point, the Blue Jays bats need to get going. They’ve had a whole lot of hard contact throughout this series, but Springer, Lukes, Barger, and Varsho are all batting below the Mendoza Line. Guerrero Jr. has just one extra-base this season as well.

Let’s set up Sunday’s series finale.

Toronto Blue Jays – Eric Lauer: 1-0 record, 3.38 ERA, 5.1 IP, 9 SO, 1 BB

Chicago White Sox – Davis Martin:  1-0 record, 5.40 ERA, 5 IP, 6 SO, 2 BB