While the Blue Jays raise a banner and celebrate the 2025 AL Champions on Opening Day at Rogers Centre, the young A’s will be trying to show the rest of the league that they’re ready to be one of baseball’s up-and-coming contenders.
The A’s won 76 games a year ago, but they’re loaded with young talent and facing a Blue Jays team which won just 74 games in 2024 before their dream season in ‘25, which ended in Game 7 of the World Series. Now, the Blue Jays are back as a legitimate World Series threat once again, and this time, the expectations are already there.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Opening Day, which marks the beginning of the Blue Jays’ 50th anniversary season:
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Friday, March 27, with first pitch scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.
A’s: Fans back in the Sacramento area can tune in on NBC Sports California, while those in their future home of Las Vegas can watch Opening Day on FOX 5. Radio broadcasts are available on 650 AM KSTE in Sacramento, ESPN KWWN 1100 AM in Las Vegas and A’s Cast.
Blue Jays: The game will be broadcast across Canada on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, with the radio call available on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.
All out-of-market games are available live or on demand in the US on MLB.TV (subject to blackouts and other restrictions). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US. A full list of available games can be found here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
A’s: For the second consecutive season, Luis Severino (8-11, 4.54 ERA in 2025) – fresh off pitching for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic this spring – takes the mound for the A’s on Opening Day. The 2025 season was a tale of two halves for the right-hander, who posted a 5.16 ERA over the first half before finishing 6-0 with a 3.10 ERA over his final nine starts of the year. That second-half version of Severino is what the A’s are hoping to get for the entirety of ‘26, which would certainly bode well for their playoff aspirations.
Blue Jays: Finally, after four excellent seasons with the Blue Jays, Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA in 2025) gets the nod on Opening Day. He’s taken the ball for both the Orioles and Giants on Opening Day earlier in his career, but this time marks the final year of his five-year, $110 million deal with the Blue Jays. Fresh off a strong performance in the Blue Jays’ 2025 postseason run, Gausman is deserving in every way.
What might the starting lineups look like?
A’s: Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers could shuffle between first and second in the order depending on pitching matchups.
- Nick Kurtz, 1B
- Shea Langeliers, C
- Tyler Soderstrom, LF
- Brent Rooker, DH
- Jacob Wilson, SS
- Lawrence Butler, RF
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Jeff McNeil, 2B
- Denzel Clarke, CF
Blue Jays: The Blue Jays’ lineup will take different shapes almost daily this season, but Opening Day will offer an early glimpse of how they could load up against right-handers.
- George Springer, DH
- Daulton Varsho, CF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
- Addison Barger, RF
- Alejandro Kirk, C
- Jesús Sánchez, LF
- Kazuma Okamoto, 3B
- Ernie Clement, 2B
- Andrés Giménez, SS
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
A’s: The A’s plan to continue going closer by committee, an approach that was highly successful over the second half of 2025 following the trade of All-Star closer Mason Miller to the Padres. Newcomer Scott Barlow brings the most experience closing games of anyone currently in the bullpen, and he should be part of a late-inning formula that includes other high-leverage relievers such as Elvis Alvarado, Mark Leiter Jr. and Michael Kelly. Luis Medina and J.T. Ginn both have experience starting and could provide long relief when needed.
Blue Jays: Jeff Hoffman is back as the Blue Jays’ undisputed closer, but the setup group in front of him will look a bit different in 2026 after they added submarine righty Tyler Rogers, a rubber arm who is certain to lead this bullpen in appearances. Louis Varland and Brendon Little round out that back-end group, and while the Blue Jays’ depth beyond that could still develop as the season rolls on, the foundation is strong.
Any injuries of note?
A’s: The A’s plan to manage Lawrence Butler’s workload early in the regular season as he returns from offseason surgery on his right knee. In addition to playing right field, expect some days off and designated hitter spots sprinkled in.
Blue Jays: The A’s will see Gausman, Dylan Cease and Eric Lauer in this series, and the Blue Jays’ rotation remains their biggest variable. At some points in camp, Lauer felt like the No. 7 or No. 8 starter, but injuries to Shane Bieber (right forearm fatigue), José Berríos (right elbow stress fracture) and Trey Yesavage (right shoulder impingement) have forced the Blue Jays to rely on their depth far earlier than they’d hoped. It’s fine for now, given how well this organization prepared, but the Blue Jays need the next news to be good news.
Who is hot and who is not?
A’s: After bashing a career-high 31 home runs last season, Shea Langeliers continued his power surge through the Cactus League with seven homers, the most by an A’s player during spring since 2004 when both Eric Chavez and Bobby Crosby had seven. Max Muncy finished his spring on a hot streak, going 15-for-33 (.455) with 11 runs, four doubles, four homers and nine RBIs over his last 13 games.
Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho launched five home runs in Spring Training and is playing with the motivation of a contract year, so there are plenty of arrows pointing towards him topping his career high of 27 home runs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is coming off a fantastic performance in the World Baseball Classic and Addison Barger carried his success from the World Series run over into camp, as well, so the heart of the Blue Jays’ lineup could be dangerous from Day 1.
Anything else fans might want to know?
- The Blue Jays will be raising the banner for their 2025 American League Championship prior to Friday’s game, part of celebrations that will stretch through the first homestand against the A’s and Rockies.
- This will be the first Opening Day without the great Buck Martinez on the broadcast. Martinez retired just prior to Spring Training after spending nearly 45 years as a player, manager and broadcaster with the Blue Jays. Later this season, he will be inducted into the Blue Jays’ Hall of Excellence.
- The A’s will face the Blue Jays on Opening Day for the first time since 1996, when they opened the season at Cashman Field in Las Vegas as the Coliseum was not ready due to ongoing renovations to the stadium.
- This will mark the first time the A’s have played back-to-back openers on the road since 1994-95, when they played at Milwaukee and Toronto.