After nearly five months, Toronto Blue Jays baseball is back.

They say time heals all, but after five months later the wound that is Game 7 still lives in the forefront of Blue Jays’ fans minds. Changes were made, as Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, and a few others signed with new teams, while the Blue Jays brought in Kazuma Okamoto, Dylan Cease, and a few other players.

Cease ended up being their biggest signing in the off-season, as the team missed out on Kyle Tucker. However, it’ll be Kevin Gausman getting the ball for Opening Day, the first time he’s received that honour in his now five seasons with the team. Gausman’s last (non-Spring Training) outing was in Game 6, as he threw a quality start against the Dodgers.

During the World Series, Nathan Lukes found a home in the two-hole spot as an above-average contact hitter. The outfielder will begin the season in that spot of the batting order. As for Okamoto, he’ll make his big league debut at third base and bat seventh. Depending on how he does to start the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him up in the order.

George Springer returns to his usual lead-off spot, while superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bats third. Cleaning up is Addison Barger, who gets the start in right field. Alejandro Kirk bats fifth, while Daulton Varsho bats sixth. Their final two hitters in the lineup are the two middle infielders, as Ernie Clement bats eighth and Andrés Giménez ninth.

The nine players will be up again Luis Severino, while Gausman will have to deal with the likes of Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Brent Rooker. It’s the best Athletics’ team since they began their rebuild in 2022.

Let’s hope that this game is the start of a very successful season for Canada’s team.

Toronto Blue Jays – Kevin Gausman: 0-0 record, 0 ERA, 0 IP, 0 SO, 0 BB

Athletics – Luis Severino: 0-0 record, 0 ERA, 0 IP, 0 SO, 0 BB