The end is nigh.

In less than 48 hours, there’ll be no more Toronto Blue Jays baseball in 2026, and who knows when it’ll return with the impending lockout. But for now, there are two more games left on the schedule, including Saturday’s middle game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Friday’s game saw the Blue Jays win in comeback fashion, overcoming a 5-2 deficit thanks to a four-run inning in the bottom of the seventh. Kazuma Okamoto continued to be the team’s best hitter in 2026, and the bullpen had another strong outing, resulting in Louis Varland’s 35th save in 37 opportunities.

They’ll have a chance to outright win their series against the Reds if they can manage to win either Saturday or Sunday. On the mound for the Blue Jays is Trey Yesavage, who is making just his second start in nearly two months after a knee injury in early August. Last time out, the 20th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft went two innings, striking out three and allowing one earned run thanks to a solo home run.

The year before Yesavage went 20th overall, the Reds selected Rhett Lowder seventh overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. He hasn’t found quite the same success as Yesavage after a good 2024 season split between the minors and MLB. In 28 appearances this season, Lowder has made 25 starts an enters his final game of the season with a 6.01 ERA and 4.76 FIP in 127.1 innings of work. The Blue Jays have never faced the 24-year-old before.

A righty, the Blue Jays turn to a left-handed batting heavy lineup. Brett Bateman returns to the starting lineup for the first time since last Friday, and he’s followed by fellow left Nathan Lukes.

After Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, and Kazuma Okamoto, Sean Keys is back in the lineup playing first base, Josh Smith is in left field and batting seventh, and Andrés Giménez bats eighth and plays shortstop. Ernie Clement is the nine-hole hitter and is in at the keystone.

Let’s set up the penultimate game of the season!

Toronto Blue Jays – Trey Yesavage: 5-5 record, 3.67 ERA, 95.2 IP, 94 SO, 46 BB

Cincinnati Reds – Rhett Lowder: 6-12 record, 6.01 ERA, 127.1 IP, 101 SO, 54 BB