The Toronto Blue Jays look to get back to the .500 mark once again.
A win on Wednesday evening means that the Jays move to 24-24, the first time they’d be at the .500 mark since May 14. With that being said, going above .500 is a tall task for this team. The last time they were above .500 was exactly a month ago, as they had a 12-11 record. Since then, they’ve been at .500 four separate times, but never above it. That has to change.
Despite the 3-0 win on Tuesday, the offence was rather cold, mustering just three hits. Two of those hits scored runs, as both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander went deep, while the pitching did the rest in the victory.
Getting Santander going in particular would be great for this team, as the outfielder/designated hitter mashed 44 home runs with the Baltimore Orioles last season. Through 42 games in 2025, Santander is slashing just .185/.265/.327 with six home runs in 181 plate appearances for a 69 wRC+, not so nice.
The Jays are rolling with the exact same lineup as Tuesday, as are the Padres. That means Santander remains in the sixth spot, with Daulton Varsho filling third in the lineup. Bo Bichette leads off, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in the two-hole. George Springer is batting cleanup, and Alejandro Kirk is in the fifth spot. The bottom of the lineup consists of Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, and Nathan Lukes.
Kevin Gausman gets the start on Wednesday evening. He didn’t have a great start, giving up six earned runs in five and two-thirds innings. There’s only been two games this season where Gausman hasn’t given up an earned run, only one of them he pitched a scoreless start. Gausman needs to be better.

Location: Toronto
First Pitch: 7:07 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sporstnet 1, SN590

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – Kevin Gausman:  3-4 record, 4.59 ERA, 51 IP, 46 SO, 12 BB
San Diego Padres – Randy Vasquez: 3-3 record, 3.45 ERA, 44.1 IP, 23 SO, 26 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. Bo Bichette – SS
  2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
  3. Daulton Varsho – CF
  4. George Springer -RF
  5. Alejandro Kirk – C
  6. Anthony Santander – DH
  7. Addison Barger – 3B
  8. Ernie Clement – 2B
  9. Nathan Lukes – LF
Padres:
  1. Fernando Tatis Jr. – RF
  2. Luis Arraez – 1B
  3. Manny Machado – 3B
  4. Jackson Merrill – CF
  5. Xander Bogaerts – SS
  6. Gavin Sheets – DH
  7. Jake Cronenworth – 2B
  8. Jason Heyward – LF
  9. Martin Maldonado – C

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.