Blue Jays drop first lineup of Spring Training ahead of opener vs Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays are officially back.

After a wild offseason, a new era of Blue Jays baseball starts today in the form of the team's Spring Training opener against the New York Yankees, a division rival that they'll see plenty of during the regular season.

And while today's game won't count toward any time of standings that matter, it does mean that we're one step closer to getting to the real thing.

Ahead of the game, the Blue Jays dropped the lineup they'll have behind starter Easton Lucas, who will get the start opposite New York's Carlos Rodón.

Toronto's lineup is a bit different, as it goes with some familiar faces in familiar places while also shaking up the outfield picture a little bit. It's as follows.

Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup, February 22

• 1. SS Bo Bichette
• 2. 2B Andrés Giménez
• 3. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• 4. C Alejandro Kirk
• 5. CF Joey Loperfido
• 6. 3B Ernie Clement
• 7. LF Davis Schneider
• 8. RF Nathan Lukes
• 9. DH Orelvis Martínez

New York Yankees starting lineup, February 22

• 1. C Ben Rice
• 2. 3B Oswaldo Cabrera
• 3. 1B Dominic Smith
• 4. DH Everson Pereira
• 5. CF Spencer Jones
• 6. SS George Lombard Jr.
• 7. LF Ismael Munguia
• 8. 2B Braden Shewmake
• 9. RF Duke Ellis

Toronto Blue Jays lineup has an interesting outfield for start of Spring Training

It's not hard to imagine the Blue Jays' opening trio of Bichette, Giménez and Guerrero being the same on Opening Day. Not only is it a good right/left/right split, but all three hitters are professional at-bats, and Giménez and Bichette could do a good job getting on base ahead of Guerrero.

Things get interesting after that. Kirk seems poised to get the lion's share of reps at catcher even after posting two straight years with an OPS+ under 100, but he likely won't be hitting fourth on Opening Day. He hit fourth 66 times in 2024 compared to 61 at-bats in the 5th spot, 119 at-bats in the 6th spot and 60 at-bats in the 7th spot.

Toronto going with an outfield of Lopfredio, Schneider and Lukes is eye-catching considering all three of them are fighting for a roster spot. George Springer and Anthony Santander have the corners locked up and Daulton Varsho will man center field (if he's healthy enough to make the Opening Day roster), so these three could all be fighting for the same spot. They'll all get a shot to prove something today.

Lastly, Clement gets the start at third and Martínez gets the start at DH. Clement likely has a leg up the third base battle after last year, but Martínez has some of the best power in the system and could end up mashing his way onto the roster.

But regardless of what happens, we're just excited baseball is back. Play ball.