athletics – blue jays takes center stage Sunday as the Toronto Blue Jays set a new-looking lineup while trying to complete a sweep of the Athletics. Jesús Sánchez is in the starting nine for the first time with Toronto, and Tyler Heineman is set for his season debut behind the plate. First pitch is scheduled for 1: 30 p. m. ET.
Lineup shakeup as Sánchez hits No. 2 and Heineman debuts
Toronto is again changing its No. 2 hitter, and this time it’s Sánchez getting the call. The left fielder is slated to bat between George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a high-leverage spot in the order for a player stepping into his first start with the club.
Sánchez arrived an early spring training deal with the Houston Astros that sent Joey Loperfido the other way. He made his Blue Jays debut Saturday as a pinch-hitter for Myles Straw and delivered immediate impact, going 1-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI in Toronto’s 8-7 extra-innings win.
Behind the plate, Heineman is set to hit ninth as Alejandro Kirk gets the day off. Heineman appeared in 61 games last season as Toronto’s primary backup and posted a. 289 batting average with three home runs and 20 RBIs.
Athletics – Blue Jays pitching matchup: Lauer’s first start vs Morales
On the mound, Toronto hands the ball to Eric Lauer for his first start of the season. Lauer is coming off a breakout 2025 in Toronto, finishing 9-2 with a 3. 18 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 104. 2 innings.
He follows two dominant outings atop the rotation to open the series: Kevin Gausman struck out 11 over six innings, and Dylan Cease fanned 12 across 5. 1 frames. The bar is high, and Sunday’s start becomes the next early test as Toronto tries to keep its season-opening momentum rolling.
The Athletics counter with 23-year-old right-hander Luis Morales, making his first start of the season. Morales debuted last season and went 4-3 with a 3. 14 ERA over 10 games, including nine starts. Separately, he entered this outing after a spring described as difficult, with a focus now on delivering a quality start to help the club avoid opening the season without a win.
Immediate reactions from the field: roles, rest, and urgency
The urgency on the Athletics side is straightforward: they are still seeking their first win of the season, and Sunday represents their chance to stop a sweep. Their lineup also gets a jolt of change, with Darell Hernaiz making his first start of the year at second base in place of Jeff McNeil, while Shea is slated to lead off on what was described as a half-day.
Toronto’s Sunday scene also carries a family-day feel, with the club marking its first Jr. Jays Sunday of 2026 on March 29, 2026 (ET).
Quick context and what’s next after Sunday’s first pitch
Toronto enters Sunday trying to finish a series sweep after an 8-7 extra-innings win Saturday, while the Athletics enter still searching for their first win. The spotlight now shifts to whether Toronto’s reshuffled lineup can deliver early, and whether Morales can steady the game for the visitors.
After the athletics – blue jays finale at 1: 30 p. m. ET, the Blue Jays continue their season-opening homestand Monday, starting a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
