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June 29 Gameday: Blue Jays looking to snap six-game losing streak in series opener against Mets
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Jun 29, 2026, 17:15 EDTUpdated: Jun 29, 2026, 17:24 EDT
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The 2026 version of the Toronto Blue Jays are seemingly finding different ways to lose each night. 
After Sunday’s loss, in which the Blue Jays allowed the winning run to score from second on a wild pitch, they now sit at 39-45 and find themselves two and a half games back of the Seattle Mariners for the American League’s final Wild Card spot. 
While the Blue Jays’ struggles on both sides of the ball in June have become a major cause for concern for the reigning AL champions, the biggest story of the night is the return of former Blue Jay Bo Bichette. 
Bichette spent the first seven seasons of his MLB career with the Blue Jays before signing a three-year, $126 million contract with the New York Mets this offseason. The Blue Jays second-round draft pick in 2016 debuted with the club on July 29, 2019, and from that moment on became a regular in the Blue Jays’ lineup. 
Over his seven seasons, Bichette appeared in 748 games and batted .294 with 111 home runs and 437 RBIs and was named to the American League All-Star team twice in 2021 and 2023. After suffering an injury in early September last season, Bichette returned for Game 1 of the World Series and batted .348 with one home run and six RBIs. 
Bichette’s home run in the World Series feels like the defining moment in his Blue Jays’ tenure. The 28-year-old launched a three-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani to give the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead at the time and send the Blue Jays’ faithful into a frenzy in a moment that won’t be forgotten for a long time by many who root for the Blue Jays. 
This season with the Mets, Bichette has appeared in 84 games and is batting .254 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. After getting off to a slow start with his new club, Bichette has turned it on in the month of June, batting .337 with five home runs and 18 RBIs as he starts to round into the form he showed through his previous seven years. 
To slow down Bichette, the Blue Jays will be handing the ball to Trey Yesavage. Through 11 starts this season, Yesavage is 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA and 1.17 WHIP and has held opposing teams to a .192 average. 
While Yesavage has been almost unhittable, he has found himself in trouble due to control issues. The 22-year-old has walked 30 batters over his 60.2 innings pitched and has walked at least two batters in eight of his 11 outings. 
The Mets will counter with left-hander Sean Manaea. The 34-year-old returned to the Mets’ rotation on June 13 and will be making his fourth start of the season. Through 17 games this season, Manaea is 1-2 with a 4.87 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and has struck out 60 batters over his 57.1 innings pitched. 
Here’s how the lineups look for the series opener at Rogers Centre: 
Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada
First Pitch: 7:07 PM EST
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – Trey Yesavage: 3-3, 3.56 ERA, 60.2 IP, 58 SO, 30 BB
New York Mets – Sean Manaea: 1-2 record, 4.87 ERA, 57.1 IP, 60 SO, 20 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. George Springer – DH
  2. Nathan Lukes – RF
  3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
  4. Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
  5. Ernie Clement – SS
  6. Brandon Valenzuela – C
  7. Luis Urías – 2B
  8. Yohendrick Piñango – LF
  9. Myles Straw – CF
Mets:
  1. Carson Benge – RF
  2. Juan Soto – LF
  3. Bo Bichette – 3B
  4. Francisco Lindor – SS
  5. Jared Young – 1B
  6. A.J. Ewing – CF
  7. Mark Vientos – DH
  8. Brett Baty – 2B
  9. Francisco Álvarez – C
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