The Blue Jays will have to tinker with their lineup Friday night in San Diego, and the reason is simple: left-hander JP Sears is on the mound for the Padres.
Toronto has plenty of left-handed bats, but that depth becomes a little less useful when the opposing starter throws from the left side. That means the Jays won’t be able to run out their preferred group in the series opener, and Nathan Lukes and Andres Gimenez will sit.
Sears is making his fourth start of the season, and he’ll match up against Toronto right-hander Shane Bieber. It’s been a mixed year for Sears, who got knocked around by the Chicago Cubs offense, but also went into Dodger Stadium and held the reigning world champs scoreless over five innings.
The Blue Jays are coming off the momentum they built against the San Francisco Giants, and they’ll try to keep that going with a different look in the lineup. Toronto is also set to welcome Braydon Fisher back from the bereavement list, making him active tonight.
Fisher had been away from the club after his father suffered a stroke that ultimately proved fatal. His father, Normand, was in California on the road trip and was driving to his hotel when the unthinkable happened. He was the biggest fan of the Blue Jays, and the team will be playing for him from here on out.
Bieber, meanwhile, has a chance to settle in. Since coming off the injured list, he has struggled through his first two starts, but Friday night offers a favorable spot to get things moving in the right direction.
That’s especially true with the Padres’ home offense struggling. San Diego is batting .218 at home, which ranks 29th in baseball, and it is the only team with an on-base percentage below .300 on its own field.
So Toronto heads into the game with a lineup adjustment, a returning reliever, and a clear chance for Bieber to find his footing as the club looks to carry positive energy into the All-Star break.
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If Toronto does end up exploring that path, the interest figure to be there. The Phillies, Astros, White Sox, Cubs and Nationals all make some sense for different reasons, whether it is bullpen help, payroll flexibility or tax concerns, and Philadelphia carries an obvious reunion angle after Hoffmans All-Star run there in 2024. The real complication is the price tag, since Hoffman is owed $12.67 million next season, which could narrow the field quickly even before the Blue Jays decide how aggressive they want to be. [Read more 🡒]