The Toronto Blue Jays hosted the New York Rogers in the first game of a three-game series on Monday night at Rogers Centre. Both teams entered the night with records well below .500 — the Mets at 35-49 and the Blue Jays at 39-45, coming off a six-game losing streak — making the evening less about the standings and more about individual storylines.
The most notable narrative was the return of Bo Bichette to Toronto. Bichette, now playing for the Mets, faced his former teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the first time as an opposing player. Two pitches into his first at-bat, Bichette hit a deep liner to right-center that was caught — a ball that Guerrero Jr. has rarely hit out of Rogers Centre this season. Bichette finished the night 0-for-4, while Guerrero Jr. went 1-for-4. Each batted third in their respective lineups, with Guerrero Jr. carrying a better batting average into the game, while Bichette has shown more power and run production on the season.
Game Recap: Blue Jays 2, Mets 1
Trey Yesavage Delivers a Strong Start
Right-hander Trey Yesavage turned in one of the better pitching performances the Blue Jays rotation has seen in weeks. In his twelfth start of the season, Yesavage pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out three batters. The only blemish on his line was a solo home run hit by Francisco Lindor that cleared the right-field wall. Lindor has been a thorn in the Blue Jays’ side recently — he previously broke up a no-hit bid by Bowden Francis with a ninth-inning leadoff homer.
Yesavage’s outing was particularly welcome given the struggles Toronto’s starters have endured over the last nine games. Good starts have been hard to come by, and Yesavage provided exactly what the club needed — a quality outing that kept the game in check. Notably, he avoided the first-inning runs that have plagued the Blue Jays, who had allowed opponents to score in the first inning in seven consecutive games.
Bullpen Navigates a Tense Ninth
After Yesavage exited following seven innings, Mason Fluharty handled the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Rogers came on to start the eighth and needed nine pitches to get through the frame, though he allowed a hit and issued a walk. Closer Louis Varland entered in the ninth to thunderous applause from the Rogers Centre crowd, aiming to secure his 17th save of the season.
Varland allowed a single that gave the Mets some life, then issued a walk that put the runner in scoring position. After a strikeout left New York down to its final out, Varland closed the door with another strikeout to seal the 2-1 victory.
Springer’s Unusual Run Sets the Tone
The Blue Jays found a way to score first despite the Mets’ recent pattern of jumping out early against Toronto. Leadoff hitter George Springer hit a sharply struck ball off Mets starter Sean Manaea that should have resulted in a triple. However, center fielder AJ Ewing was charged with a fielding error on the play, allowing Springer to score all the way from first base. The unorthodox run — described as a “Little League homer” — gave Springer his first triple of the season and provided the Blue Jays with an early lead they would not relinquish. After a stretch of tough breaks, Toronto was happy to accept the gift.
The teams combined for just nine hits and three errors on the night, a reflection of the struggles both clubs have faced this season. This series marks the only meeting between the two teams in 2026.
Looking Ahead
All eyes will turn to Tuesday night’s game, where right-hander Kevin Gausman is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays. Gausman’s last two outings have been well below his usual standard, beginning with a rough start in Chicago where the Cubs battered him. His subsequent start against the Texas Rangers was an improvement but still not up to the level Toronto expects from its veteran right-hander. The Mets will counter with right-hander Nolan McLean. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.
