In a notable shift for the Toronto Blue Jays, manager John Schneider placed right-fielder Addison Barger in the cleanup position for the team’s regular-season opener against the Oakland Athletics. This matchup took place at Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays marked their 50th anniversary and celebrated their American League title.
Barger Takes the Cleanup Spot
Addison Barger is coming off a strong season, where he hit 21 home runs and achieved 74 RBIs across 135 games. Schneider expressed confidence in Barger’s ability to threaten with power and maintain productive at-bats. “I like that fact that he can work an at-bat and get on base for guys behind him,” Schneider stated before the game.
Blue Jays Opening Day Lineup
Alongside Barger in the lineup, designated hitter George Springer led off, followed by left-fielder Nathan Lukes, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Barger himself. Rounding out the batting order were:
- Catcher Alejandro Kirk
- Centre-fielder Daulton Varsho
- Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto, batting seventh
- Second baseman Ernie Clement
- Shortstop Andres Gimenez
Starting Pitchers
The pitching matchup featured Toronto’s right-hander Kevin Gausman starting against Oakland’s Luis Severino. This game was significant as it marked the first for the Blue Jays since their Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 1, which concluded a remarkable playoff run. That postseason included series wins over the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.
Reflecting on Changes
The absence of Bo Bichette, who previously occupied the cleanup role and is now a New York Mets player, brought a sense of nostalgia. Schneider recalled managing Bichette during their time with the high-A Dunedin Blue Jays. “I think that for all the lineups I’ve written since 2017 with him, he’s kind of just right there,” Schneider commented on the change.
Upcoming Games
This season opener against the Athletics was the third occasion the Blue Jays faced Oakland on Opening Day, having previously won in 1995 and 1996. Following this three-game series against the Athletics, the Blue Jays will host the Colorado Rockies for another three games, leading to a road trip and a subsequent homestand starting April 6, which includes an interleague series against the Dodgers.
