Blue Jays baseball is officially back in Toronto.
After playing the first 10 games of the season away, the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Detroit Tigers at the newly renovated Rogers Center tonight.
Five things to know about the Jays’ 2023 home opener.
starting pitcher
Toronto’s star, third-year ace Alec Manoa, will be on the mound for the Blue Jays in his third start of the season.
Manoa was disappointed in under four innings in the Jays’ season opener last month, but said after the game he was confident he could bounce back.
“I’ve built some pitches that stay centered on the plate away from the ballpark,” he said.
“Today’s game was exactly that. We didn’t lose on good pitches, we lost on bad pitches, but it’s an easy adjustment.”
In his second start against the Kansas City Royals, the All-Star pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just one hit in Toronto’s 3-0 win.
Right-handed Matt Manning, who is also in his third year, will start in the starting lineup and win the only starting lineup this season against the Houston Astros on April 4.
Ceremony first pitch and award presentation
Former Blue Jays first baseman and recent Hall of Famer Fred McGriff throws the first pitch tonight.
In a video posted by the Jays on Monday, McGriff said, “Excited to throw the first pitch with everyone in Toronto.
“So Toronto is where it all began for me in 1986. Go to the Jays!”
McGriff will head to Cooperstown this summer after being unanimously elected to Hall by the committee in December. He played his first five seasons in the major leagues as a member of the Blue Jays.
Also part of the pregame ceremony will be a presentation of the individual awards won by the three Blue Jays last season.
Catcher Alejandro Kirk will receive the American League (AL) Silver Slugger Award, which is given annually to the most offensive player at each position. Kirk is the first catcher in Jays history to win the award.
Relief pitcher and Markham native Jordan Romano will receive the Tip O’Neill Award for Canada’s Baseball Player of the Year.
And star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will receive the 2022 Gold Glove Award.
The Jays said in a press release on Monday, “Fans are strongly encouraged to arrive at the Rogers Center early to allow time to clear security. Gates will open at 5pm.
“Fans attending the home opener will receive a Blue Jays light-up wristband programmed for the Opening Ceremony upon entry and a Blue Jays Magnet schedule upon exit.”
The all-new Rogers Center
Blue Jays fans entering the Rogers Center tonight will see a brand new outfield featuring four newly constructed “neighborhoods” including two rooftop spaces on the 500th floor.
The stadium is in the midst of its biggest ever renovation with a $300 million price tag.
The Toronto Blue Jays formally unveiled the first phase of their $300 million renovation of the Rogers Center this morning, giving fans a preview of the revamped ballpark that includes four new outfield districts.
Phase 1 of the project, which is primarily focused on redesigning the outfield district and replacing every 500-level seat, was officially completed last week.
The renovation also raised the bullpen and extended the seats to the outfield wall, bringing fans closer than ever to the action.
“This is the transformed experience our fans will have on April 11th and the first step in transforming Roger Center from a stadium to a ballpark,” said Anuk, Executive VP of Business Operations for the Blue Jays. Karunaratne told CP24 on Thursday.
Rogers Center is also introducing new discounted products this season, including poutine hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly churros.
match up
The Jays will be in tonight’s game after a dramatic victory in Anaheim on Sunday. There, he came back from a six-run deficit to beat the Los Angeles Angels 12–11 in extra innings.
The Jays are now 6-4, the third-best record in the American League.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are tied for last in the majors with a 2-7 record, and are on a four-game losing streak going into tonight’s matchup.
The Jays’ early-season success owes a lot to hitters.
Blue Jays Matt Chapman (19), Guerrero Jr. (18) and Beau Bichet (17) are the first, second and third respectively on the list of major league players with the most hits so far this season. ) is.
And Chapman’s hot start was officially recognized yesterday, when the third baseman was named AL Player of the Week after leading all AL hitters with 12 RBIs, posting two home runs and a .464 batting average in six games. bottom.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Matt Chapman (left) hits Vladimir Guerrero after Chapman’s grand slam in the sixth inning of a Los Angeles Angels baseball game on Sunday, April 9, 2023 in Anaheim, California・ Being hugged by Junior (27). (AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Start times, tickets, weather, transfer options
The first pitch is scheduled for 7:07 PM at the Rogers Center.
The game still has a lot of tickets, most of them in the 500 level upper bowl.
For fans wanting to take advantage of the new $20 outfield general admission tickets tonight, they’re sold out on Ticketmaster, but are available at every Jays home game this season, so frugal baseball lovers can There are many other opportunities at home. of new deals.
Weather-wise, fans may be able to enjoy some fresh air as the roof of the Rogers Center is open tonight as Toronto continues to experience unseasonably warm temperatures.
The forecast for this afternoon is for a high of 19 degrees with a mix of sun and clouds. Temperatures will be between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius during the match, gradually cooling off later in the evening.
Fans taking public transport to the game tonight may also get free rides.
Last week, Budweiser Canada announced it would be sponsoring the Jays’ home opener on GO Transit and UP Express. GO Transit rides are covered on Wednesdays from 9pm to 3:30am and UP Express rides are free from 9pm to 11pm.
The announcement follows a similar promotion from Polar Ice Vodka, which shared last week to sponsor free rides on the 510 Spadina tram from 5pm to midnight.
Toronto Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling, 48, will pitch the Toronto Blue Jays’ first home of the 2021 season against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Center in Toronto during MLB action on Friday, July 30, 2021. Throw the first pitch of the game.Press/Peter Power
