TORONTO -- The AL East doesn¡¯t get any easier, does it?
With the Orioles trying to make a jump from a great young club to a true postseason contender and the Blue Jays trying to keep their window open, every game will matter in 2025, and that begins on Thursday at Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto.
Baltimore is coming off a 91-win season and is typically projected above Toronto in 2025, but the Blue Jays are trying to make the most of what could be their last season with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. Whether it be in the AL East or, likelier, in the AL Wild Card race come September, these days in late March could be ones we look back on when September rolls around.
Here¡¯s everything you need to know ahead of Opening Day:
When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch is scheduled for 3:07 p.m. ET on Thursday, and the game will be available to stream on MLB.TV. The Orioles¡¯ broadcast will be on MASN2, and the Blue Jays¡¯ broadcast will be on Sportsnet and TVA Sports (French) and can be streamed on Sportsnet+. It will air on the radio on 98 Rock FM and WBAL NewsRadio 1090 AM in Baltimore and on Sportsnet 590 in Toronto.
What are the lineups?
Orioles: A big piece will be missing for Baltimore at the start of the season, as star shortstop Gunnar Henderson (right intercostal strain) will be on the injured list. Colton Cowser moves to the leadoff spot, with Jackson Holliday shifting from second base to shortstop.
- Colton Cowser, LF
- Adley Rutschman, C
- Jordan Westburg, 2B
- Ryan O'Hearn, DH
- Tyler O'Neill, RF
- Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
- Cedric Mullins, CF
- Ram¨®n Ur¨ªas, 3B
- Jackson Holliday, SS
Blue Jays: Oddly enough, the DH spot feels like the big variable in 2025 as Toronto tries to maximize a crowded group of outfielders and raise the ceiling of its offense. The DH and the outfield could look different every day depending on the pitching matchup, and in-game moves should be more common than ever.
- Bo Bichette, SS
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
- Anthony Santander, LF
- Andr¨¦s Gim¨¦nez, 2B
- Alejandro Kirk, C
- George Springer, CF
- Will Wagner, DH
- Ernie Clement, 3B
- Alan Roden, RF
Who are the starting pitchers?
Orioles: Zach Eflin will face the Blue Jays on Opening Day for the second consecutive year. However, the right-hander did so as a member of the Rays last season, when he allowed six runs over 5 2/3 innings in a loss at Tropicana Field.
The rest of the 2024 campaign went much better for Eflin, who was traded from Tampa Bay to Baltimore on July 26. After recording a 2.60 ERA over nine starts following the move, the 30-year-old is expected to be a key member of the O¡¯s rotation this season.
Blue Jays: Jos¨¦ Berr¨ªos might just be the most consistent man in baseball. An annual lock for 32 starts, Berr¨ªos gets the nod on Opening Day again and is the rock that the rest of this rotation is built upon. Last season, he held the Orioles to a 2.77 ERA over 13 innings, but his success was more about weak contact as he struck out just six batters.
How might the bullpens line up after the starter?
Orioles: The O¡¯s have their All-Star closer again, with F¨¦lix Bautista returning to the back end of the bullpen after missing all of the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old will pitch in Thursday¡¯s opener if Baltimore has a save opportunity.
Among the relievers who could pitch in high-leverage spots between Eflin and Bautista include righties Yennier Cano and Seranthony Dom¨ªnguez and lefties Cionel P¨¦rez and Gregory Soto.
Blue Jays: Toronto's back end is sturdy, with Jeff Hoffman in as the new closer and Yimi Garc¨ªa ready to play the setup role. This is why the Blue Jays' rotation is so important to open the season, because multiple injuries have already forced them to lean heavily on depth relievers. Brendon Little and Richard Lovelady are the lefty options, and if anything goes wrong, converted starter Yariel Rodr¨ªguez is in the 'pen as the long man.
Any injuries of note?
Orioles: Henderson is the most notable one, although the 23-year-old¡¯s first IL stint of his MLB career could be a short one. He is eligible to be activated on April 3, and the O¡¯s are hopeful the injury won't linger.
Jorge Mateo (left elbow reconstruction surgery) hasn¡¯t been ruled out for the Opening Day roster after playing five Grapefruit League games. If the 29-year-old utility man goes on the IL, Livan Soto is the front-runner to replace Henderson on the 26-man roster.
The starting rotation will be without Grayson Rodriguez (elbow inflammation), Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery) and Tyler Wells (UCL repair surgery) to open the season.
Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho is the big one, and while his recovery from shoulder surgery last season has gone very well, he still needs another couple of weeks before rejoining the Blue Jays. The bullpen is down Erik Swanson, Ryan Burr and Zach Pop, and while the rotation has gotten through camp without a major injury, Max Scherzer¡¯s lingering thumb issue is still worth monitoring up to -- and during -- his start, which is scheduled for Game 3 Saturday.
Who¡¯s hot and who¡¯s not?
Orioles: Many of the regulars in Baltimore¡¯s lineup had hot springs, including Mountcastle (five homers, 1.038 OPS), Rutschman (.357 average, 1.033 OPS), Cowser (.364 average, 1.030 OPS) and Holliday (.333 average, .865 OPS).
Mullins didn¡¯t produce a ton during Grapefruit League action (.136 average, .409 OPS), but the 30-year-old center fielder has often had slow stretches throughout his career.
Blue Jays: Bichette looks like himself again after putting up a 1.078 OPS with four homers in the Grapefruit League. Kirk is right there, too, driving the ball more consistently with an .819 OPS this spring. Even some of Toronto¡¯s depth outfielders, like Straw (1.039 OPS) and No. 5 prospect Alan Roden (1.245 OPS) have looked great in February and March. New hitting coach David Popkins had this lineup rolling, so they¡¯ll try to carry that momentum over into the real games.
Anything else fans might want to know?
? This year will mark the first time the Orioles open a season in Toronto. The O¡¯s and Blue Jays have played each other on Opening Day only once before -- in 2017, when Baltimore notched a 3-2 victory at Camden Yards.
? The Orioles have been on the road for Opening Day in six of manager Brandon Hyde¡¯s seven seasons at the helm. The lone exception was 2024, when the O¡¯s beat the Angels 11-3 at home.
? While Varsho will open the season on the IL, he¡¯ll travel to Toronto with the Blue Jays first to receive his 2024 Gold Glove Award in an on-field ceremony prior to Thursday¡¯s game.
? The Blue Jays have won their past five games on Opening Day and are 26-22 all-tme.