For the first time this season, the Toronto Blue Jays play a road game.

Their easy start to the season continues with a three-game weekend series against the Chicago White Sox. After sweeping the Athletics in the first series, they lost a series against the Colorado Rockies, a disappointing result.

Last season, the Rockies finished with a league-worst 43-119 record, one of the worst of all time. Only a handful of teams since the end of WW2 have had a worst win percentage, one of them being the 2024 White Sox. It looks to be another rebuilding year for the team, as they’ve begun their season 1-5.

But as we learned in the Rockies series, the Blue Jays can’t underestimate an opponent, especially since Friday’s game is the White Sox’s first home game of the season. Grant Taylor will serve as an opener for the White Sox, followed by Sean Burke.

For the Blue Jays, Dylan Cease will start against his former team, just the second time he’s pitched against the White Sox. The last time was his third-to-last regular season start with the Padres, as he went six innings with four earned runs and six strikeouts.

His Blue Jays’ debut went far better, striking out 12 and walking two over five and one-third innings with one earned run allowed. That was a record-setting performance, as he set the mark for the most strikeouts in a Blue Jays’ debut.

When it comes to the lineup, it seems like the two-hole is Jesús Sánchez’s to lose. The left-handed pitcher has begun the season slashing .375/.500/.563 with a home run in 20 plate appearances. He’s flanked by George Springer in the lead-off spot and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting third.

Addison Barger returns to the starting line up for the first time since March 30th and is batting cleanup. Over his 16 plate appearances, Barger has failed to notch his first hit of the season. Following him is Alejandro Kirk, who has just one extra base hit through 18 plate appearances. It just so happened it was a game-tying blast in the second game against the Athletics.

Daulton Varsho has also struggled so far this season, batting just .167. Kazuma Okamoto has not struggled this season, nor as Ernie Clement or Andrés Giménez. Those three make up the bottom third of the lineup, which has been the most productive part of the Jays’ lineup this season.

Let’s set up Friday’s series opener!

Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease: 0-0 record, 1.69 ERA, 5.1 IP, 12 SO, 2 BB

Chicago White Sox – Grant Taylor: 0-0 record, 4.50 ERA, 2 IP, 4 SO, 2 BB