Today marks the final week of spring training for the Blue Jays, and the team is celebrating with a split-squad day that should feature plenty of action from notable Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays' "first" game will be against the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida, while the "second" game will at TD Ballpark against the New York Yankees.
The game against the Phillies will start at 1:05 p.m. EDT and be available to stream on MLB.tv. The game against the Yankees will start at 1:07 EDT and be available to stream on Sportsnet.
Probable starting pitchers — Blue Jays vs. Phillies
RHP Chris Bassitt (1-0, 1.86 ERA, 10 K) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 K)
Bassitt's had a stellar spring, and he'll get another chance to build on that today. He's coming off a start where tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Twins last week on 71 pitches, so look for him to go for around 80 pitches today.
Opening Day is 10 days away, so Bassitt might get a chance to make one more spring start over the weekend, butit's clear the 36-year-old is ready for the season to get here.
Like Bassitt, Nola's gotten off to a roaring start this spring, as he's tossed two scoreless outings. Today's start marks his first action since he threw three scoreless innings against the Rays on March 6.
Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup vs. Philadelphia Phillies, March 17
1. CF Nathan Lukes
2. 3B Ernie Clement
3. C Alejandro Kirk
4. DH Addison Barger
5. 2B Davis Schneider
6. LF Joey Loperfirdo
7. SS Leo Jiménez
8. RF Steward Berroa
9. 1B Ranier Nunez
Starting our week with Split-Squad action ☘️
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 17, 2025
Vs. Yankees
📺 @Sportsnet
@ Phillies
📺 @MLBTV pic.twitter.com/REOZalg3lT
Toronto's spread the remaining players in camp across the two games, which is why this lineup lacks some big names. Clement's had a strong spring and seems poised to man third base on Opening Day, while Kirk's tearing the cover off the ball as well.
Barger, Schneider and Loperfido are right in the middle of the fight for the outfield picture, so their at-bats are arguably the most important of anyone in this lineup.
Probable starting pitchers — Yankees vs. Blue Jays
RHP Kevin Gausman (0-0, 6.75 ERA, 6 K) vs. LHP Chase Headrick (0-0, 4.70 ERA, 12 K)
Gausman will be taking the ball for the third time this spring, and is coming off a start where he allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings against the Astros.
The most important thing for Gausman is that he's healthy, as perhaps the biggest reason he got off to a slow start last year was because he rushed back from a shoulder injury he suffered during spring training. He threw 53 pitches his last time out, so he should probably throw 70ish pitches today.
Headrick is looking to pitch his way into the Yankees' plans after the team lost Luis Gil and Gerrit Cole to injuries this spring.
A former top prospect with the Twins, he's made four spring training appearances for the Twins since the team acquired him off waivers in February. He's gone 2+ innings in each of his last three appearances, and is coming off a start where he allowed two runs in two innings against the Cardinals.
Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup vs. New York Yankees, March 17
1. SS Bo Bichette
2. 3B Vladmir Guerrero Jr.
3. DH Anthony Santander
4. RF George Springer
5. 2B Andrés Giménez
6. 1B Will Wagner
7. C Tyler Heineman
8. LF Alan Roden
9. CF Myles Straw
Most of the Blue Jays veterans are staying behind at TD Ballpark to take on the Yankees, which is why this lineup is so top heavy. We'll see the trio of Bichette, Guerrero and Stantander at the top of Toronto's lineup on Opening Day, and they'll get another chance to bat around each today today.
Giménez seems ready for the season to start after he hit his first spring training home run yesterday, while Santander is also coming off a two-hit day.
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