After a nine-game road trip, the Toronto Blue Jays have returned to Rogers Centre.

They’ll kick off a six-game home stand, beginning with a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians over the weekend. Heading into Friday’s game, the Guardians sit tied at the top of the American League Central thanks to a 14-12 record.

There are a lot of similarities between the two teams in the early goings of the 2026 season. Both team’s bullpens sit in the bottom 10 in terms of ERA, although the Jays’ bullpen is top 10 in terms of FIP. The two teams have similar results offensive, with the Guardians owning a 98 wRC+ in their 26 games and the Blue Jays owning a 96 wRC+. However, the Guardians starters sit eighth in MLB with a 3.45 ERA, compared to the Blue Jays’ starters who have a 4.12 ERA.

Starting Friday’s game for the Guardians is Gavin Williams. Through five starts this season, the right-handed pitcher has a 2.12 ERA and 3.92 FIP, while also leading the team with a 34.8 K%. Williams hasn’t been perfect by any means, as he has a 14.8 BB%. For starting pitcher with 20 or more innings pitched, that’s tied for the fifth-highest walk rate. Patience is key in this game.

Williams’ first start against the Jays came in 2023, going seven innings with just one hit allowed. They had better success against the Guardians’ starter last season, scoring five earned runs in nine and one-third innings.

Max Scherzer gets the start for the Blue Jays. The first ballot Hall of Famer’s stats aren’t great through four starts, posting a 7.16 ERA and 6.21 FIP. Two of those starts have been the issue, giving up eight earned runs in two and one-thirds innings pitched on April 12, as well as two earned runs in two innings of work on April 6th. Scherzer’s last time out saw him go six innings with two earned runs allowed, a similar start to his season debut. The Blue Jays need this Scherzer.

Leading off for the Guardians is Daniel Schneemann. Since entering the league in 2024, he’s hit just 19 home runs in 224 games. Four of those long balls have come against the Blue Jays in just 37 plate appearances, the most he’s hit against any team.

As for the Blue Jays’ lineup, Nathan Lukes leads-off against the righty, followed by Ernie Clement and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Jesús Sánchez is in the cleanup spot, while Lenyn Sosa slots in as the designated hitter. Daulton Varsho will bat sixth, followed by Kazuma Okamoto batting seventh. Andrés Giménez has cooled off recently and bats eighth, and Tyler Heineman starts behind the plate and bats ninth.

Let’s set up Friday’s series opener!

Toronto Blue Jays – Max Scherzer: 1-2 record, 7.16 ERA, 16.1 IP, 10 SO, 5 BB

Cleveland Guardians – Gavin Williams: 3-1 record, 2.12 ERA, 29.2 IP, 40 SO, 17 BB