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The Toronto Blue Jays announced their starting pitcher and lineup ahead of a crucial Game 1 showdown with the Yankees.
The Toronto Blue Jays are back at Rogers Centre tonight to open a crucial three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. After taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend, the Blue Jays are looking to carry that momentum into a matchup with a Rays team that has been one of the hottest clubs in baseball lately.
Here is everything you need to know for tonight’s series opener.
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
First Pitch: 7:07 p.m. EDT
Location: Rogers Centre — Toronto, ON
TV: Sportsnet One (SN1)
Radio: SN590 The Fan
TOR: Kevin Gausman (2-2, 3.09 ERA)
Gausman takes the mound looking to continue what has been a solid start to his 2026 season. He has been his usual reliable self, striking out 43 batters through 46.2 innings while keeping his WHIP below 1.00. The splitter has looked sharp lately, but he’ll need to be careful tonight against a Tampa Bay lineup that doesn’t strike out much and does a really good job creating pressure on the bases.
TB: Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 2.95 ERA)
The Rays are projected to counter with Rasmussen, who has looked excellent since returning to full strength. He carries a 0.93 WHIP into tonight and has done a strong job limiting hard contact throughout the season. Toronto’s hitters are going to need quality at-bats early because Rasmussen likes to work fast and stay ahead in counts, which can make games snowball in a hurry.
Bench: Tyler Heineman (C), Davis Schneider (Utility), Myles Straw (OF), Lenyn Sosa (1B/DH)
Injured: Shane Bieber (SP), Nathan Lukes (RF), Max Scherzer (SP), Jose Berrios (SP), Anthony Santander (RF), Lazaro Estrada (RP), Cody Ponce (SP), Bowden Francis (SP), Yimi Garcia (RP), Alejandro Kirk (C) & Addison Barger (RF)
TOR: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Guerrero Jr. looks like he is slowly starting to settle in offensively again and remains the focal point of opposing scouting reports every night. While the home run numbers have stayed fairly consistent, his ability to work deep counts and get on base has quietly been important for this lineup. He has also had some success against Rasmussen before, which could matter in a game where runs might be hard to come by.
TB: Junior Caminero
Caminero is the obvious danger man for Tampa Bay right now. He has been a huge part of the team’s recent 12-1 stretch and currently leads the Rays in runs scored. The power is real, but it’s also how hard he hits the baseball consistently that stands out. If Toronto leaves anything elevated over the plate, he can change the game with one swing.
The Blue Jays come into tonight at 18-22 facing a difficult test against a Rays team sitting at 26-13 and climbing toward the top of the AL East. Toronto’s defence has looked cleaner lately, and having Gausman on the mound gives them a legitimate chance to grab the opener.
Still, this probably comes down to whether the offence can get to Rasmussen early enough to avoid chasing the game late. The Rays have been playing with a lot of confidence lately, so a win tonight would go a long way in showing the Blue Jays can still hang around in a division that’s starting to tighten up quickly.
Spencer Lazary Spencer Lazary is a contributor at Heavy.com and has five years of experience covering the NHL. Before contributing to Heavy, he has written for publications like, Fansided, NHL Trade Talk and The Hockey News. He also currently writes for The Hockey Writers alongside his Heavy coverage. More about Spencer Lazary
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