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Blue Jays Gameday (April 20th): Toronto begins three-game series with Angels in final stop of road trip
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Photo credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Apr 20, 2026, 19:45 EDTUpdated: Apr 20, 2026, 20:00 EDT
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This road trip hasn’t been great for the Toronto Blue Jays, but there’s still a way to salvage it.
The Blue Jays’ final stop on this nine-day road trip is in Anaheim, taking on the Los Angeles Angels. So far, they’ve dropped two of three in both series they’ve played, one series to the Milwaukee Brewers and the other to the Arizona Diamondbacks. They’ve now lost their last six series, with their most recent series win being the first of the season.
It’s still early, of course. Last time they played in Anaheim in early May 2025, they dropped to 16-20 after being walked-off in the second of the three games. They won their next game, then swept their next series. It was a big turning point for the team, even if the results weren’t immediate.
Dylan Cease will start the game for the Blue Jays, and he’s been terrific so far. In his four starts, he’s struck out 32 batters (36 K%) and has a 1.74 and 1.92 FIP in 20.2 innings pitched. The Angels are second in home runs in MLB, something Cease has yet to give up, while also striking out a league-leading 223 times.
There’s some good news as well, as Daulton Varsho is set to return after missing the last two games with left knee discomfort. He was starting to get hot before the minor injury, slashing .333/.400/.667 with three home runs in his last 10 games. Varsho returns to the lineup batting seventh.
Why is Varsho so low in the lineup? Well, the Angels will have lefty Reid Detmers start the game. He appeared in three games against the Blue Jays last season, giving up three earned runs in that walk-off loss. So far this season, Detmers has a 3.57 ERA and 2.47 FIP in 22.2 innings pitched.
With a lefty on the mound, the majority of the Blue Jays’ lineup are righties. Davis Schneider leads off, Ernie Clement hits second, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits third. With Jesús Sánchez out of the lineup, Eloy Jiménez slots in the cleanup spot, followed by Kazuma Okamoto batting fifth.
Lenyn Sosa makes his fourth start since the trade. Myles Straw, who hit a home run on Saturday, bats eighth, while Tyler Heineman will catch. Andrés Giménez won’t start this game ,the first time he’s started off the bench this season. Clement will play shortstop in his place.
Let’s set up Monday evening’s game in Anaheim, and let’s hope the other Anaheim-based team in action loses tonight!
Location: Anaheim, California
First Pitch: 9:38 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet 1, SN 590

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease: 0-0 record, 1.74 ERA, 20.2 IP, 32 SO, 12 BB
Los Angeles Angels – Reid Detmers: 1-1 record, 3.57 ERA, 22.2 IP, 26 SO, 6 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. Davis Schneider – LF
  2. Ernie Clement – SS
  3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
  4. Eloy Jiménez – DH
  5. Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
  6. Lenyn Sosa – 2B
  7. Daulton Varsho – CF
  8. Myles Straw – RF
  9. Tyler Heineman – C
Angels:
  1. Zach Neto – SS
  2. Mike Trout – CF
  3. Nolan Schanuel – 1B
  4. Jorge Soler – DH
  5. Yoán Moncada – 3B
  6. Jo Adell – RF
  7. Josh Lowe – LF
  8. Logan O’Hoppe – C
  9. Adam Fraizer – 2B
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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