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Toronto Blue Jays cut three players and reveal Opening Day batting order

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Mar 27 2025, 3:42 pm
Toronto Blue Jays cut three players and reveal Opening Day batting order
Gerry Angus/Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays roster is officially set with their season opener just hours away.

The Blue Jays will kick their season off today against the Baltimore Orioles in what will be the first of a four-day series. To be roster-ready, the club announced that pitchers Tommy Nance, Zach Pop, and Nick Robertson have been designated for assignment.

None of these names being DFA’d comes as a major surprise. Pop has spent parts of the past three seasons with the Blue Jays but has struggled in a reliever role. In 48.1 innings last year, he posted a 5.59 ERA. Nance also spent a brief period of the 2024 season with the Blue Jays, putting up a 4.09 ERA through 22 innings.

These three cuts confirm that pitcher Jacob Barnes, along with outfielders Alan Roden and Myles Straw, have made the Opening Day roster. Meanwhile, pitchers Erik Swanson and Ryan Burr have been placed on the 15-day IL, while Daulton Varsho has been placed on the 10-day IL.

The Blue Jays have also revealed their Opening Day batting order, which will see Bo Bichette hit in the lead-off spot. He’ll be followed up by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the number-two slot, with free-agent acquisition Anthony Santander hitting third.

As was expected to be the case, Jose Berrios will draw the Opening Day start for the third time in four years. The 30-year-old is coming off an impressive 2024 season in which he put up a 3.60 ERA, along with 153 strikeouts through 192.1 innings.

For the rest of the lineup, another newcomer in Andrés Giménez will hit fourth, followed by the recently extended Alejandro Kirk. George Springer will hit sixth, while Will Wagner, Ernie Clement, and Roden will round out the lineup.

First pitch is scheduled to get underway at 3:07 p.m. ET.

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