MLB Game Preview: Toronto Blue Jays (42-37) vs. Cleveland Guardians (40-38)

The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians face off in the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Progressive Field. With the series tied 1–1, both teams are looking to gain momentum heading into the weekend.

Game Details

• Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays (42–37) vs. Cleveland Guardians (40–38)
• Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
• Time: 1:10 PM ET
• Broadcast: Sportsnet (Canada), Bally Sports Great Lakes (U.S.)

Starting Pitchers

Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (5–6, 4.61 ERA)

Gausman is looking to rebound after a rough outing against Arizona, where he allowed 7 earned runs in just 4.1 innings. Despite the hiccup, he remains one of Toronto’s most trusted arms and leads the team in strikeouts.

Guardians: Tanner Bibee (4–7, 3.86 ERA)

Bibee is coming off a dominant 10-strikeout performance over 8 innings against Oakland. He’s been Cleveland’s most consistent starter in June and will look to keep Toronto’s power bats in check.

Players to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

• Bo Bichette: Batting .309 with 11 HR and 48 RBI; 14-for-46 over his last 10 games.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Hitting .281 with 11 HR and 45 walks; 11-for-36 in his last 10.
• Alejandro Kirk: Leads the team in batting average (.309) and has been a steady presence behind the plate.

Cleveland Guardians

• José Ramírez: Team leader in batting average (.317), HR (13), and extra-base hits (30).
• Steven Kwan: Batting .310 with a five-game hit streak; hitting .524 over his last five games.
• Kyle Manzardo: 12 HR and a .400 average over his last five games, including three doubles.

Key Stats & Trends

• Guardians are 27–13 when recording 8+ hits.
• Blue Jays are 18–8 when not allowing a home run.
• Last 4 meetings between these teams have gone over the total.
• Toronto is 4–2 in its last 6 road games vs. AL opponents.