The Toronto Blue Jays have had an underwhelming start to the 2026 MLB season. A year removed from an American League pennant, MLB’s lone Canadian team has compiled a 25-28 record so far this year.
They are 10.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East entering Monday's slate of games.
The outstanding reason for these early woes can be chalked up to injury. Seemingly one of the only regulars to not hit the injured list this season is veteran starting pitcher Kevin Gausman.
The 35-year-old right hander is in his fifth season with Toronto. Despite his age, he has remained incredibly effective.
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Toronto is one of seven MLB ballparks with a retractable roof. Some of them are built that way for cold weather and some for hot. However, these stadiums have a track record of not being open when fans and players think it should be.
Ahead of Monday’s series opener with the Miami Marlins, Gausman made his voice heard on social media.
He posted on X, saying “If the roof is closed tonight we riot.” While he isn’t starting this game, it would indicate that he wants the roof open because of the good temperatures and blue skies in the area.
The official Blue Jays X account responded with a post of their own, confirming his wishes. It will be the second time the roof will be open for a Jays game this season.
Gausman is off to a great start this year. He has pitched to a 4-3 record and a 3.23 ERA in 64.0 innings pitched with 61 strikeouts. The right-hander has looked especially sharp lately, allowing just one earned run in his last 12.2 innings pitched.
Gausman’s next start is scheduled to come on Wednesday, May 27 in the series finale against the Marlins. After that the Blue Jays will head to Baltimore for a weekend set against the similarly struggling Orioles.
