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Blue Jays GDB – 88.0: Jays look to continue their momentum in series opener against Angels
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jul 4, 2025, 18:15 EDTUpdated: Jul 4, 2025, 18:19 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that was one of the most important regular season series, if not the most important, in the last decade. The Blue Jays were three games back entering that series and came out of it as the sole leaders of the American League East. With a win on Friday, the Jays will jump to two games above the Yankees, as they lost to the New York Mets on Friday afternoon.
The Angels are no pushovers, as they enter Friday’s game with a 43-43 record. While they aren’t a playoff team, the Angels are a team that can take two of three, something they have already done to the Blue Jays in early May. That series seemed to be the turning point for the Blue Jays.
After fouling a ball off his foot in Thursday’s game, the Blue Jays will be without Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the starting lineup, but he should be available off the bench. They’ll get two players back, as Andres Gimenez and Bo Bichette return to the starting lineup, the latter for the first time since Sunday. Alejandro Kirk is also out of Friday’s lineup.
Gimenez leads off for the Blue Jays, followed by the red-hot George Springer and the returning Bichette. Addison Barger bats clean-up, followed by Davis Schneider and Nathan Lukes. The bottom third of the lineup is comprised of Ernie Clement, Will Wagner, and Tyler Heineman.
Eric Lauer starts on Friday, and the Blue Jays have gotten good mileage out of the left-handed pitcher. In 45 innings pitched, Lauer has a 4-1 record and 45 strikeouts. It wasn’t his best outing the last time around, as he gave up three earned runs in four and one-third innings pitched.
It’s worth noting that this game is on Apple TV+ and not Sportsnet. You can get a free trial of the streaming service, which is well worth it for the shows they have on there alone. Anyway, let’s set up Friday’s game!
Location: Toronto
First Pitch: 7:07 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Apple TV+

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – Eric Lauer: 4-1 record, 2.60 ERA, 45 IP, 45 SO, 14 BB
Los Angeles Angels – Kyle Hendricks: 5-6 record, 4.66 ERA, 87 IP, 60 SO, 23 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. Andres Gimenez – 2B
  2. George Springer – DH
  3. Bo Bichette – SS
  4. Addison Barger – RF
  5. Davis Schneider – LF
  6. Nathan Lukes – CF
  7. Ernie Clement – 3B
  8. Will Wagner – 1B
  9. Tyler Heineman – C
OPPOSING TEAM:
  1. Zach Neto – SS
  2. Nolan Schanuel – 1B
  3. Mike Trout – DH
  4. Taylor Ward – LF
  5. Jo Adell – CF
  6. Logan O’Hoppe – C
  7. Luis Rengifo – 3B
  8. Gustavo Campero – RF
  9. Chad Stevens – 2B
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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