Blue Jays 2025 Opening Day Projected Lineup: Version 2.0

Almost a month ago we looked at how the opening day lineup might shake out. Now that we’ve got some spring training games in the rearview, let's have a look at what’s changed and how much clearer the picture has become.

Lineup and Batting Order

1. Bo Bichette - SS (R)
2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B (R)
3. Anthony Santander - RF (S)
4. George Springer - LF (R)

Same top four as the previous projection, but with a couple of tweaks. Springer moves from first to fourth and everyone else shifts up one. Manager John Schneider has implied that Guerrero and Santander are fairly locked into the second and third spots, with Bichette bouncing between leadoff and cleanup, “depending on who we’re facing.” He didn’t explicitly state that Springer would switch places with Bichette based on matchups, but in the games that all four of these guys have started, this has been the order. I’ve also flipped Springer and Santander’s outfield corner assignments because Springer has been seeing more time in left so far. That may be a sign of how the season will go, or it may just be getting him comfortable with the position now so that he can rotate in-season.

5. Andrés Giménez - 2B (L)
6. Alejandro Kirk - C (R)

Kirk stays in the six-spot, but Giménez leapfrogs him. This is the way we’ve seen this pair in the lineup most of the spring. Although Kirk is the superior hitter, Giménez’s speed and ability to swipe a bag should help keep the double plays at a minimum. The Jays have also placed Giménez at leadoff for a handful of spring games, so there’s some precedent for him to move all the way to the top, moving Bichette and Springer down to four and five.

7. Addison Barger - DH (L)
8. Ernie Clement - 3B (R)
9. Daulton Varsho - CF (L)

Barger and Varsho are the two big additions here from the last projection. Barger moves up from the bench based on the hot spring he’s demonstrated so far (1.149 OPS in 21 ABs) and Varsho comes in from the trainers room in the hopes that his recovery from shoulder surgery is indeed ahead of schedule and there are no setbacks. Varsho is still increasing his throwing distance and has only been DH’ing to this point in the spring, so maybe an Opening Day start in center is optimistic, but if nothing else, mid-March is a time for optimism.

The Bench

Tyler Heineman - C (S)
Will Wagner - 1B/3B/DH (L)
Steward Berroa - OF (S)
Davis Schneider - 2B/LF (R)

Ultimately, not much change here, though plenty of other names have a strong case. Varsho’s status is the big question mark. If he’s not ready, I think Joey Loperfido has the inside track to cover CF. My colleague Jesse Burrill also laid out a great case for Alan Roden. Myles Straw has also had a terrific spring so far. The Jays outfield is a crowded place right now, but I think Berroa presents the best bench option, mainly based on the way he was used last season, but also on the 40-man moves that would be required for some of the other names. Orelvis Martínez and Leo Jiménez have their supporters too. Like Roden’s, their omissions have to do with playing time. I suspect if one of the starters has a long absence, we’ll see these guys up before we see Schneider take over a starting role, but Babe gets the bench spot as a sub.

Starting Rotation

1. José Berríos (RHP)
2. Kevin Gausman (RHP)
3. Max Scherzer (RHP)
4. Chris Bassitt (RHP)
5. Bowden Francis (RHP)

No change here, other than officially assigning Yariel Rodríguez to the ‘pen. The starters have looked good-to-great so far and I don’t want to say much else that might jinx that. Berríos is still my guess for Opening Day starter, but I’m betting that Gausman is back (hat tip to Owen Hill) and will be the recognized, capital-A Ace by the end of the season.

Bullpen

Jeff Hoffman (RHP)
Chad Green (RHP)
Yimi García (RHP)
Nick Sandlin (RHP)
Brendon Little (LHP)
Ryan Yarbrough (LHP)
Zach Pop (RHP)
Yariel Rodríguez (RHP)

In a mid-game interview during the third inning of the Jays-Twins game on Tuesday, John Schneider said he’s got “three or four guys battling for the last bullpen spot.” Hopefully, Erik Swanson’s elbow issue will turn out to be a minor thing, but he’s expected to start the season on the IL at a minimum, so the potential for someone else to grab some impact innings (or a late spring acquisition) is in play. Little and Yarbrough provide the lefty presence, and Pop has been with the organization long enough to have the inside track, but I could be easily swayed to leave any of them off in favour of your preferred bullpen depth piece, like Tommy Nance. The recently signed, and returning, Dillon Tate certainly has a shot to get in. His almost 4 innings with the Jays last season weren't much of an audition, but (pending a physical) he's got a major-league deal with the club.