Blue Jays: Today would have been Opening Day versus Boston

The Toronto Blue Jays were initially scheduled to host the Boston Red Sox this afternoon in what would have been Opening Day.

As you all by now, the start of the Blue Jays 2020 campaign has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic that has had a global effect on the entire world. There is no point in crying over spilled milk, however, it is hard not to think about what might have been.

Boston would have been in town for a four-game series to kick-off the season. It would have also been Kevin Pillar‘s first meaningful game with his new team after landing with the Red Sox on a one-year deal.

Hyun-Jin Ryu would have gotten the ball for the Blue Jays in what would have also been his Toronto debut. The southpaw inked a 4-year/ $80 million dollar pact this past offseason and will be relied upon heavily to anchor the rotation.

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The Red Sox would have wanted to counter with Chris Sale but the hurler just underwent Tommy John surgery and will now mill miss the entire season. Presumably, Eduardo Rodriguez would have been Sale’s replacement opposite Ryu.

The third game of the series on Saturday was supposed to be the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Home Run Counter Bobblehead Giveaway to the first 15,000 fans through the gates.

This series would have been a good test for the Blue Jays as the Red Sox appear to be a team that has lost its identity and unsure if they are contenders or rebuilding. Boston traded Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers coupled with the loss of Sale won’t bode well for their chances.

The disappointing aspect of it all is that Toronto was poised to break camp and head north healthy with no majors injuries hampering their squad. The same could not be said for the New York Yankees or the Red Sox. It would have been a good opportunity to get an early jump on the division.

There is no definitive timetable when the season will begin but the MLB appears confident that there will still be one at some point. For now, we can enjoy the Blue Jays Classics on Sportsnet.