Dodgers vs Blue Jays: Starting Lineup - Game 2 Preview

Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman will toe the rubber tonight on the 49th anniversary of the snowy franchise debut on April 7, 1977.

He will face Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The two last dueled in Game 6 of the 2025 World Series. First pitch is at 7:07 PM ET on Sportsnet and FS1.

Kevin Gausman gets the ball tonight at a time when the Blue Jays need him the most.

In his last outing Gausman didn't factor into the decision against Colorado. He tossed six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out 10.

Gausman enjoyed an impressive 2026 debut after striking out 11 across six innings in a no-decision against the A's, and he built off that performance to record double-digit strikeouts for the second game in a row.

Few pitchers in the majors have looked as dominant as Gausman over the first two outings of the season; however, the star right-hander will have a much tougher assignment tonight against the back-to-back World Series champions.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his return to Rogers Centre mound tonight for the first time since Game 6.

In his last outing Yamamoto allowed two runs on four hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch while striking out two over six innings to take the loss versus the Guardians.

The right-hander was outdueled by Gavin Williams, who struck out 10 over seven scoreless frames.

Yamamoto's missteps came in the third inning, as Daniel Schneemann doubled, stole third and scored on an errant throw before Gabriel Arias went yard for a solo home run.

This was still a second straight quality start for Yamamoto, who has allowed four runs on nine hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over 12 frames in his first two outings of the season.

The Japanese ace allowed just 14 home runs over 173.2 regular-season innings across 30 starts last season, so he should be able to get that under control after giving up a long ball in both of his starts in 2026.

Blue Jays: Max Scherzer: day-to-day (undisclosed), Cody Ponce: 60-Day IL (knee), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Addison Barger: day-to-day (ankle), Alejandro Kirk: 10-Day IL (hand), Shane Bieber: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jose Berrios: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Trey Yesavage: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Dodgers: Mookie Betts: 10-Day IL (back), Gavin Stone: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jake Cousins: 60-Day IL (elbow), Landon Knack: 15-Day IL (undisclosed), Bobby Miller: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brusdar Graterol: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Brock Stewart: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Tommy Edman: 10-Day IL (ankle), Blake Snell: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Kike Hernandez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Evan Phillips: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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Toronto Blue Jays latest injury updates on Scherzer, Kirk, Yesavage, Bieber, Berrios, Ponce, Garcia