Blue Jays GDB – 73.0: Jays hunt for series win over Diamondbacks
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Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 18, 2025, 15:45 EDTUpdated: Jun 18, 2025, 16:43 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays have a chance to win their sixth series in their last seven on Wednesday.
After a sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend, the Blue Jays were able to snap their three-game losing streak with a 5-4 walk-off win.
In that game, two Blue Jays centre fielders had to leave, as a pitch hit Jonatan Clase and his replacement, Myles Straw, injured his ankle attempting to catch a fly ball. According to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, Clase could be available to pinch-hit, while Straw will get a couple of days off.
With two centre fielders down, the Blue Jays turn to George Springer to field one of the most important positions on the field. This season, Springer has played 59 innings in centre and has 0 Defensive Runs Saved and 0 Outs Above Average at the position. Davis Schneider will play left field, and Addison Barger will play right field.
Speaking of Barger, his ninth-inning home run walked off the Diamondbacks for the 5-4 win. Similarly, Barger walked off the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 23 after Joey Loperfido and Barger hit back-to-back home runs for a 5-4 victory. Barger has become an important player for the Jays this season, as he’s slashing .264/.322/.497 with eight home runs in 177 plate appearances for a 128 wRC+ and a 1.6 fWAR.
He’ll be batting behind Bo Bichette in the two-hole. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who also hit a home run on Tuesday, bats third. Alejandro Kirk bats cleanup, followed by Springer and Ernie Clement. The bottom three are comprised of Andres Gimenez, Davis Schneider, and Tyler Heineman.
Eric Lauer starts for the Blue Jays and is good for 80-85 pitches, according to Zwelling. In his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals, Lauer went four and one-third innings with two earned runs given up.
Let’s set up Wednesday’s game!

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

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – Eric Lauer: 2-1 record, 2.37 ERA, 30.1 IP, 28 SO, 10 BB
Arizona Diamondbacks – Eduardo Rodriguez: 2-3 record, 6.27 ERA, 56 IP, 60 SO, 19 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. Bo Bichette – SS
  2. Addison Barger – RF
  3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
  4. Alejandro Kirk – DH
  5. George Springer – CF
  6. Ernie Clement – 3B
  7. Andres Gimenez – 2B
  8. Davis Schneider – LF
  9. Tyler Heineman – C
Diamondbacks:
  1. Ketel Marte – 2B
  2. Corbin Carroll – RF
  3. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. – LF
  4. Eugenio Suarez – 3B
  5. Josh Naylor – 1B
  6. Randal Grichuk – DH
  7. Geraldo Perdomo – SS
  8. Tim Tawa – CF
  9. Jose Herrera – C

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