Reeling from a series victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Toronto Blue Jays begin a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Monday evening.

The 25-29 Marlins sit fourth in the National League East, but are currently on a three-game win streak after sweeping the New York Mets this past week. They feature three Canadians on the team, Owen Caissie, Liam Hicks, and Otto López. Hicks and López are two of three players with a wRC+ above 130 on the Marlins. Xavier Edwards’ 147 wRC+ ranks as the best on the southernmost team in Major League Baseball.

López is a Dominican Republic-born middle infielder who represents Canada at international tournaments. He’s also a former Blue Jay, as they DFA’d him before the start of the 2024 season, then traded him to the San Francisco Giants, who also DFA’d the infielder. The Marlins claimed him, and López has found a home with the team ever since. Two other former Blue Jays, Griffin Conine and Leo Jiménez, are currently on the injured list.

Starting for the Marlins on Monday is 30-year-old right-handed pitcher Janson Junk. Sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball, Junk has a 5.07 ERA and 4.28 FIP in 55 innings pitched this season. While he has solid command (5.6 BB%), he has a low 17.2 K%, and has given up eight home runs this season.

One player who won’t be in Monday’s lineup is first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who took a sinker to the elbow in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game. He’s listed as day-to-day, while the Blue Jays placed Dylan Cease on the 15-day injured list with mild left hamstring discomfort. Like Guerrero Jr., Cease departed in the fifth inning and won’t be back until at least June 8th.

Nathan Lukes is back in the Blue Jays lineup for the first time since April 24th, as he suffered a strained hamstring while running out a double. He’s one of four left-handed batters in the lineup, joining Yohendrick Piñango (batting third), Jesús Sánchez (batting fifth) and Andrés Giménez (batting seventh).

George Springer leads off, Kazuma Okamoto bats lead off, Ernie Clements hit sixth, and Lenyn Sosa bats ninth, filling in at first base. Switch-hitter Brandon Valenzuela, batting eighth, is tasked with catching Trey Yesavage.

Since coming off the injured list, Yesavage is rocking a 1.07 ERA and 1.86 FIP in 25.1 innings pitched, with a 28.7 K% and 7.9 BB%. With all the injuries to the Blue Jays’ starters this season, getting a healthy Yesavage back has helped their rotation. He’s gotten into some trouble over  his five starts, but always seems to find a way to get out of it, allowing just three earned runs.

First pitch is set for the usual 7:07 PM ET start time, but for the first time all season, the Rogers Centre’s roof will be open. It’s the latest that it’s been open for a game since May 28th, 2017. Open dome baseball in Toronto has a different and better vibe to it than with a closed dome.

Let’s set up Monday’s series opener!

Toronto Blue Jays – Trey Yesavage: 2-1 record, 1.07 ERA, 25.1 IP, 29 SO, 8 BB

Miami Marlins – Janson Junk: 2-5 record, 5.07 ERA, 55 IP, 40 SO, 9 BB