Blue Jays start 2026 season with 3-2 walk-off win over Athletics. Here are some highlights from the home opener.

The wait is finally over: the Blue Jays are back in Toronto and got a win in the first game of the new season.

The club beat the Athletics 3-2 on Friday night as they opened their 50^th season at Rogers Centre in front of the home crowd.

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• What are the chances of another World Series run for the Toronto Blue Jays?
• ‘It was electric’: Fans recall the snowy beginnings of Blue Jays baseball nearly 50 years ago

Kevin Gausman only gave up one run in six innings, striking out 11 batters. Andrés Giménez drove in all of the Jays’ runs tonight, including the walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Before the game, the Blue Jays unfurled their American League Championship banner.

Here are some of the highlights from Friday’s festivities and game:

10:08 p.m.: Game 1 of 162 in the books

The Blue Jays are off to a winning start with a 3-2 walk-off victory over the Athletics.

With runners in scoring position, Andrés Giménez hit a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the game.

The boys in blue are back again tomorrow afternoon with Dylan Cease on the mound. The Athletics look to bounce back and will give the ball to Jeffrey Springs.

On Sunday, Eric Lauer will be the Blue Jays’ starting pitcher, while the Athletics will start Luis Morales.

9:57 p.m. - Langeliers ties game

Shea Langeliers hit his second solo homerun of the night to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning.

9:50 p.m. - Jays use pitch challenge

Alejandro Kirk successfully challenged a pitch that was called a ball to record the first out in the top of the ninth inning.

This was the first time the Blue Jays used the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) System in a regular-season game.

9:30 p.m. - Okamoto singles for first MLB hit

Kazuma Okamoto, who signed with the Blue Jays during the off-season, has recorded his first Major League Baseball hit with a single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Okamoto, who is playing third base tonight, spent his entire 11-year career with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants.

9:13 p.m. - Gausman done after 6

A strong first outing for Kevin Gausman, who struck out 11 batters and only gave up one run in six innings.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider now turns to his bullpen to keep the lead. Louis Varland is on the mound in the top of the seventh inning.

8:56 p.m. - Jays take the lead

The Blue Jays scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, thanks to Andrés Giménez’s one-out triple.

8:31 p.m. - A’s open scoring

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers hit a one-out home run to left field in the top of the fourth inning to give his team a 1-0 lead over the Blue Jays.

7:57 p.m. - Former Blue Jays throw first pitch

Five former members of the Toronto Blue Jays threw the ceremonial first pitch.

They were Ernie Whitt, George Bell, Pat Hentgen, Vernon Wells and Jose Bautista.

7:13 p.m. – AL pennant banner unveiled

The Blue Jays have added a new banner at Rogers Centre for the 2025 American League pennant.

Springer and Guerrero both thanked the fans for their support last season and asked them to show up again this season, saying, “We need you.”

“We love you,” they told the fans.

7:09 p.m. - Jays fans thank players in video

Before the Blue Jays players take the field, a video is played featuring last season’s best moments.

The players then watch on as another video, this time of fans thanking them for their playoff run, is played on the Jumbotron.

7:04 p.m. - Blue Jays begin season with special ceremony

The Blue Jays have kicked off their 50^th season with a video tribute that was projected on the field.

Family members of the Jays organization walk to the field and help unfurl and hold a huge banner celebrating the club’s AL pennant and 50th season.

5:29 p.m. – Schneider on why Barger is batting cleanup

Blue Jays manager John Schneider says he slotted Barger into the cleanup spot for tonight’s game because “I like the threat that he can hit the ball out of the ballpark.”

“I like that fact that he can work an at-bat and get on base for guys behind him,” Schneider said in his pre-game availability.

Read more here.

The Canadian Press

5:14 p.m. - Long lines as first pitch nears

Long lines have formed outside Rogers Centre, hours before the first pitch. The gates have opened and fans are pouring into the ballpark.

Fans are receiving a Blue Jays AL Champions pennant flag as they step inside the building. After the game, attendees will receive a Blue Jays schedule magnet.

4:34 p.m. - Jays players in the building

Blue Jays players have arrived at Rogers Centre for tonight’s home opener. The team shared photos and videos of the players’ arrival.

All of them are all smiles as they walk into the facility.

4:10 p.m. - Jays fans brave cold and start lining up

Some Blue Jays fans have started lining up outside Rogers Centre amid below-freezing temperatures.

Many tell CP24 that they are excited to see the Blue Jays back in action following a memorable season last year.

They are also looking forward to witnessing the raising of the American League Championship banner.

Gates usually open two hours before the game.

3:48 p.m. - Toronto’s sports teams (and the Bills) cheer on the Jays

Maple Leafs

Raptors

Sceptres

Buffalo Bills

3:23 p.m. - Opening night lineup

The Jays have unveiled their lineup for tonight’s home opener. George Springer, who will be the designated hitter, will bat first, followed by left fielder Nathan Lukes and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

12:30 p.m. - New-look Blue Jays

The Jays will be sporting a 50th-anniversary patch on their jerseys this season.

Fans got a sneak peek at the on-field jerseys from inside Toronto’s locker room Friday.

The team posted pictures of Gausman’s, George Springer’s, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s jerseys. The jersey of Japanese all-star and one of the newest members of the ball club, Kazuma Okamoto, was also seen.

12:15 p.m. - The Rawlings Room reveal

Guests of the Marriott City Centre hotel at Rogers Centre will have the chance to stay in a one-of-a-kind room this season.

The suite, known as The Rawlings Room, offers a split-level view of the field. It was created in partnership with the baseball equipment brand.

Marriott said fans who book a suite under the category “Larger Guest Room, Baseball Stadium View, 1 King” will be eligible to request an upgrade to The Rawlings Room from March 28 through to the end of April.

Read more about the experience here.

12 p.m. - Some resale tickets still available

Friday night’s game sold out almost as soon as tickets went on sale earlier this year.

Some tickets are still available on resale sites like StubHub.ca, where a general admission, standing-room only ticket -- one of the cheapest on offer -- is selling for $125.

One of the most expensive tickets on the site is selling for $3,649 and gets you a seat right behind home plate.

But reselling tickets for sky-high prices may be on its way out in Ontario.

Last week, the province announced plans to cap resale prices at face value through new legislation. The move came after Premier Doug Ford said fans were being “gouged” for World Series resale tickets, some of which were listed for tens of thousands of dollars.

10:30 a.m. - Bautista to attend opening ceremony

Toronto Blue Jays great Jose Bautista will be at Friday’s game, where he’s expected to take part in a special on-field ceremony.

“It feels amazing, and I’m honored that the organization thought of me as one of those guys to be here today representing the players and the alumni,” he told CP24 on Friday.

Bautista played 10 seasons in Toronto. His biggest moment with the team came in Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS against the Texas Rangers, when he hit a go-ahead, three-run home run and infamously flipped his bat.

“The momentum was building, and I was able to do something great for the team, and obviously I was excited and just exploded with joy,” he said. The Jays would go on to win the game and the series.

Bautista said the bat will be on display at the Rogers Centre as part of its 50th season commemoration.

10:15 a.m. - Toronto police announce road closures

In a news release issued Friday morning, Toronto police announced that there will be several road restrictions and closures around Rogers Centre tonight.

Police said the roadways surrounding the stadium will be closed two hours before first pitch and stay closed until the game is over.

“The enhanced downtown traffic management plan ensures public safety and security, while assisting with traffic and pedestrian movement around these venues,” police said.

Residents of condos and businesses in the area will have access during the closure, but may need to provide proof of residency with ID to an officer.

10:00 a.m. - Opening day marked by frigid temperatures

Fans hoping for a warmer day to start the baseball season struck out Friday.

The high is expected to reach only 1 C degree, but feel like – 10 with the wind chill.

Friday will be filled with plenty of sunshine however, and fans headed to the ballpark will want to catch the rays to warm up, CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter explains.

“If you find yourself under one of those rays of sun, it’ll feel significantly warmer than the temperature, because the temperature is an observation in the shade. But in the shade, it’s going to remain pretty cool.

The temperature will drop to – 6 C and feel like – 13 overnight.

“So, if you find yourself in the shadow of some tall buildings, you’ll go from feeling somewhat comfortable in the sun to feeling pretty chilled in the shade.

The Rogers Centre roof will be closed today. The dome typically opens for the first time in a season in early to mid-May.

Friday’s wintry forecast is reminiscent of the very first Blue Jays game at Exhibition Stadium on April 7, 1977 -- though that game was marked by a notable snowfall.

The game was held outdoors and at one point before first pitch, a Zamboni was brought in to clear the field.

Read more about that game here.

9:15 a.m. - ‘It’s the one day, one game where everybody is kind of nervous’

Although Friday night’s game may seem low-stakes with 161 more to go in the season, former Toronto Blue Jays and 1993 World Series winner Rob Butler says it’s anything but.

“It’s the one day, one game where everybody is kind of nervous, right?” he told CP24 on Friday morning. “Getting out on the field for the first time the season. You got no numbers put up yet. You don’t know what kind of year you’re going to have. We don’t get to go to the last episode of the season to see what’s going to happen. We got to grind it out every single day.”

He said while the Jays are likely anxious to get going, he hopes they can resume the style of disciplined play they displayed last year for a productive 2026 season.

“I hope they just don’t want to try to do too much. I hope they play the same the way they’ve done, you know, all of last year where it was so exciting to watch.”

9 a.m. – Finishing touches on the field

Tom Farrell is the director of field operations at Rogers Centre and told CP24 that crews have been hard at work for the last six weeks getting the field ready.

“Most people don’t realize, getting the stadium ready for a game starts almost as soon as the last game ends in ’25,” he said.

Crews were seen on the field Friday morning, grooming all the footprints left behind from the workouts of the last few days.

Farrell started his career with the Jays when he was 15-years-old as a ticket taker at Exhibition Stadium and says he can’t wait for the 50^th season to get underway.

“I’ve been here for a lot of milestones, and it’s been incredible. And being here for the 50^th, it’s just going to be amazing.