Opening Day within the MLB is right here. The 2023 common season kicks off right this moment, and the Blue Jays start the 12 months within the midwest with a three-game sequence in opposition to the Cardinals.
Toronto is aiming to enhance upon final 12 months’s displaying. The group went 92-70, ending second within the AL East, however have been promptly swept out of the wild-card spherical by the Mariners in two video games.
The core group remains to be in place, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette, George Springer and Alek Manoah main the way in which for the Blue Jays. Nonetheless, modifications to the personnel have been made this offseason by GM Ross Atkins.
The Blue Jays mentioned goodbye to outfielders Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., catching prospect Gabriel Moreno and pitcher Ross Stripling. Of their locations are outfielders Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier, infielder Brandon Belt and starter Chris Bassitt.
The highway to the World Collection formally begins right this moment with Recreation No. 1 of 162.
MORE: The place is the Blue Jays house run jacket?
The Sporting Information is offering updates and highlights from Blue Jays Opening Day in opposition to the Cardinals.
Blue Jays vs. Cardinals Opening Day rating
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Blue Jays vs. Cardinals highlights, updates from Opening Day
All instances in Japanese Time (ET)
Backside of third inning
High of third inning
5:22 p.m.: Mikolas drops a two-strike curveball into the zone on Kiermaier to strike out the aspect.
5:21 p.m.: Mikolas fools Merrifield with a curveball to knotch his fourth strikeout, second of the inning.
5:18 p.m.: Chapman is aboard for the primary time right this moment with a single to heart.
5:16 p.m.: Belt strikes out to start out the third, the third Okay of the day for Mikolas.
Backside of second inning
5:13 p.m.: The Cardinals go away each runners stranded as Nootbar grounds out to Merrifield at second for the third out.
5:12 p.m.: Donovan sends a line drive to proper area, however Springer makes a powerful defensive play, making the catch and protecting each runners on their bases.
5:09 p.m.: Again-to-back singles for St. Louis, as Tommy Edman follows up Walker’s hit with a single of his personal.
5:07 p.m.: In his first main league at-bat, Jordan Walker notches his first MLB hit. He takes a slider from Manoah and sends it proper up the center for a single.
5:05 p.m.: Manoah strikes out Nolan Gorman to start out the underside of the second, his third Okay of the day.
High of second inning
5:02 p.m.: Mikolas responds with a Varsho strikeout and a Kirk flyout to proper area that ends the menace. One run within the inning for Toronto.
5 p.m.: Guerrero Jr. will get drilled with a two-seam fastball from Mikolas within the left arm. It hit the elbow padding, however nonetheless seemed painful. He stays in and it is now runners on first and second with one out.
4:59 p.m.: Blue Jays retake the three-run lead with an RBI double by Bichette. Walker fumbled the ball off the wall in proper area and that allowed Springer to come back round and rating from first. Blue Jays 4, Cardinals 1.
Good time for an RBI douBOle 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JkcsQALYza
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2023
4:57 p.m.: Springers is 2-for-2 with two singles. A broken-bat single to heart will get the Blue Jays leadoff man on base for the second time in as many innings.
4:57 p.m.: In his first at-bat as a Blue Jay, Kiermaier flies out to proper area.
Backside of first inning
4:51 p.m.: Willson Contreras strains out to Whit Merrifield at second base after which Manoah followers Tyler O’Neill to flee the primary with only one run allowed.
4:48 p.m.: The Cardinals get on the board as Nolan Arenado pulls a sinker alongside the left area line for an RBI single. Donovan scores and Nootbar goes to 3rd. Blue Jays 3, Cardinals 1.
Nolan Arenado with the first RBI of 2023! pic.twitter.com/Utj7iTKyw4
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 30, 2023
4:47 p.m.: Manoah strikes out Goldschmidt with a slider away for his first Okay and out of the sport.
4:44 p.m.: The one to Donovan is adopted by a stroll to Lars Nootbar. Two on, no person out for reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt.
4:41 p.m.: Powerful begin for the Blue Jays protection. Leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan bounces a floor ball in between third and quick, Bichette tries to leap throw, however finally ends up airmailing the ball over Guerrero Jr. and it bounces into the stands. Donovan would have been secure anyway, however he advances to second on the errant throw.
High of first inning
4:36 p.m.: Brandon Belt strains out to heart and Matt Chapman strikes out to finish the inning, however injury has been finished. Blue Jays lead 3-0 after the primary half inning.
4:32 p.m.: Blue Jays aren’t losing any time. Alejandro Kirk hits a curveball off the tip of his bat and drops it into shallow heart. Bichette and Varsho each come round to attain on the only. 5 hits and three runs within the first inning for Toronto. Blue Jays 3, Cardinals 0.
Kirk Hive, the place you at?! 🚀 @alejandro_kirk pic.twitter.com/zMAgo2esU1
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2023
4:31 p.m.: Welcome to the Blue Jays, Daulton Varsho. One of many latest members of Toronto knocks within the first run of the 2023 season for the Blue Jays, driving in Springer on a double to proper area. Blue Jays 1, Cardinals 0
First recreation.
First at-bat.
First hit.
First RBI as a Blue Jay.
First RBI of our season.
Good first impression, @DaultonVarsho25 👏 pic.twitter.com/dHbhmzS4Es
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2023
4:27 p.m.: Guerrero Jr. flies out to deep heart, but it surely strikes Springer to 3rd.
4:25 p.m.: Again-to-back singles for Toronto. Mikolas jams Bichette with an inside fastball, however the shortstop will get sufficient to dump a single into centerfield. Runners on first and second for Guerrero Jr.
4:24 p.m.: First at-bat, first hit of the season for the Blue Jays. Springer takes a 2-2 sinker from Mikolas and singles to proper area.
4:20 p.m.: Miles Mikolas takes the mound for the Cardinals and he’ll face George Springer, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to start out.
Pregame
4:10 p.m.: Effectively that is one solution to kick off Opening Day. Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright steps as much as the mic and delivers the U.S. nationwide anthem for the group at Busch Stadium. He is on the IL to start out the season, so he couldn’t make one other Opening Day begin, however as an alternative he makes use of his vocal cords to get the group pumped up in St. Louis.
The @Cardinals’ personal Adam Wainwright (@UncleCharlie50) sings the U.S. anthem for #OpeningDay! pic.twitter.com/rZ6wtN2RRi
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 30, 2023
Adam Wainwright did a heck of the job with the nationwide anthem. Fairly darn cool, not gonna lie. pic.twitter.com/12SXwVk4So
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) March 30, 2023
3:35 p.m.: Blue Jays getting of their swings forward of Opening Day. We’re lower than an hour away from first pitch.
We simply wanna rock. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/mY9hNMZra5
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2023
3:05 p.m.: Manoah is bringing the boldness to Opening Day, donning a Sandlot jersey forward of his begin. The remainder of the group arrives wanting sharp as effectively.
The Puma = The Beast 😎 #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/DNRN2fJPiC
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2023
Your boys are within the constructing 🔥 #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/NlRsciWmtP
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2023
2:35 p.m.: And right here is the lineup for the Blue Jays. The primary three stay the identical from final season, however Varsho, in his Blue Jays debut, slides into the cleanup spot. Belt and Kiermaier make their Toronto debuts as effectively.
🚨 YOUR FIRST LINEUP OF 2023 🚨 #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/mqWJWlSWGA
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2023
2:33 p.m.: Here is the lineup Manoah faces to kick off the 2023 season. The Cardinals have arguably the most effective 3-4 mixture in Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. Notably absent from the lineup is longtime catcher Yadier Molina, who retired after the 2022 season, and was changed this offseason by Willson Contreras. Manoah additionally faces potential NL Rookie of the 12 months candidate Jordan Walker.
Our 2023 #OpeningDaySTL lineup! pic.twitter.com/3X6HoPUgd9
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 30, 2023
2:30 p.m.: On the mound, the Blue Jays are rolling with Alek Manoah. In 31 begins final 12 months, the 25-year-old went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA and a 0.992 WHIP. He completed final season as one of many finalists for the AL Cy Younger award, earned his first All-Star choice and was named to the All-MLB First Staff.
Opposing Manoah on the mound is Miles Mikolas. The 34-year-old posted a 3.29 ERA final season in 32 begins, ending with a document of 12-13 in over 200 innings pitched.
What channel is Blue Jays vs. Cardinals on?
TV channel: Sportsnet
Stay stream: SN NOW
Sportsnet is carrying protection of the Blue Jays for your complete 2023 MLB season. The Opening Day recreation in opposition to the Cardinals shall be accessible to observe on Sportsnet nationwide and streamed by way of SN NOW.
Dan Shulman is delivering the play-by-play name alongside analyst Buck Martinez all through the season.
What time is Blue Jays vs. Cardinals?
Date: Thursday, March 30
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
The Blue Jays and Cardinals are scheduled to have the primary pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET, 3:10 p.m. native time in St. Louis.
The sport is being performed at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.
Blue Jays vs. Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Blue Jays -115 | Cardinals -105
Runline: Blue Jays -1.5 (+150)
O/U/: 7.5
The Blue Jays are slight favorites of their season opener in opposition to the Cardinals. Based on Sports activities Interplay, Toronto is -115 to win on Opening Day.