Matchup vs. Ohtani now all about 2026 for Blue Jays

TORONTO – The Dodgers’ return to Rogers Centre mere months after they celebrated the 2025 World Series here was always going to bring back some feelings of déjà-vu.

Crowds of 40,000-plus have filled the stadium for each of the first two games, and even though players and coaches have tried to focus on the present moment, they’ve all been well aware of who was coming to Toronto this week.

It would be impossible not to know, especially when Kevin Gausman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto ended up pitching opposite each other Tuesday, just as they did in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series last October. The presence of off-season Jays targets like Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Tucker only added to the anticipation.

But while last year’s World Series was closely contested to the end, the Dodgers are thoroughly outplaying the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre this time, frustrating an injury-depleted Jays team along the way. So as compelling as Ohtani’s start will be Wednesday, the outing matters because of what it means for a 2026 season that must be turned around ASAP, not a 2025 season that’s starting to feel more distant with each loss.

Now 4-7 with the longest losing streak in MLB, the Blue Jays have a new and rapidly expanding set of problems, and maybe some opportunities, too – if only they can find a way to perform closer to their potential.

“We’re falling short right now,” Gausman acknowledged after Tuesday’s loss. “But I have all the confidence in the world in all these guys. We just have to play better.” 

The Blue Jays have lost six straight and seven of eight, including series losses against the Rockies and White Sox, who each lost 100-plus games a year ago. That puts them fourth in the AL East, only ahead of the 3-8 Red Sox.

Add to that an offence that’s scored more than five runs only once – back in their second game of the season. A hitless night for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had him taking swings in the batting cage late Tuesday, while others, like George Springer (.601 OPS) and Nathan Lukes (.276 OPS), are off to even slower starts.

Better things are surely ahead for established hitters like Guerrero Jr. and Springer, but turning things around against Ohtani’s triple-digit velocity won’t be much easier than it was against his teammate Yamamoto, so there’s no telling when the flip will occur.

Compounding the adversity, the Blue Jays keep getting bad news on the injury front, with Cody Ponce set to miss the rest of the season, Alejandro Kirk sidelined for approximately six weeks and Addison Barger now on the injured list.

“It’s not a great feeling,” Gausman said. “It’s been crazy, it really has. But it’s part of the game. We play 162 for a reason.”

Already, Kirk’s impact has been missed. Tyler Heineman struggled in Chicago over the weekend and Brandon Valenzuela accidentally hit Ohtani’s elbow on a pickoff attempt at first base Tuesday while going hitless in three at-bats.

Mistakes happen, of course, and both Heineman and Valenzuela are capable of filling in for Kirk, but it didn’t take long to feel the absence of Kirk’s quiet presence on both sides of the ball.

Valenzuela said he apologized to Ohtani, who appeared to be fine. Yet after Tuesday’s game, the switch-hitting catcher felt the impact of the loss.

“As frustrated as you can be in the game,” he said. “Overall, we’re not getting the result we want. We’re playing decent baseball, but it’s not good enough. Especially against the Dodgers.”

Despite the frustration, there’s still opportunity here for the Blue Jays. As Gausman said, it’s a long season and with 150 games remaining after whatever happens against Ohtani and the Dodgers Wednesday, there’s lots of time for the Blue Jays to end up wherever they should be.

Along with that, there are chances for individual players to step up. The magic of the 2025 season wouldn’t have been possible without breakout contributors like Barger, Eric Lauer and Ernie Clement. 

There’s no guarantee that someone like Valenzuela, the recently signed Patrick Corbin or Rule 5 pick Spencer Miles can be this year’s version of those players, but they certainly have the skill needed to help. As the season progresses, many more will get their chances.

With that said, manager John Schneider wouldn’t want any one player to try to take that responsibility on themselves. He routinely asks his players to focus on what they do well instead of trying to win a game all by themselves.

Lately, the players have gotten away from that, making needless mistakes on defence and chasing more pitches outside of the zone than they did a year ago, perhaps a reflection of players trying to do a little too much.

But the core skills are still there and the Blue Jays still have most of the same coaches who helped the players perform so well last fall. With a new day comes another chance for the Blue Jays to adjust.

"I'm a firm believer in that you've got to just turn the page to what's important," Schneider said.

Wednesday, against a dialled-in Ohtani who has yet to allow a run this season, that’s a big ask – especially given how trying the last week has been. Yet if the 2026 Blue Jays are going to embody the kind of resilience that put them on the Dodgers’ level last year, now would be a great time to access it.

“Nothing we can do but dig our cleats in the dirt and come back,” Gausman said.