10 HOME GAMES TO CIRCLE ON YOUR CALENDAR
APRIL 9 VS. RED SOX
This is the day after the home opener, normally one of the games on the schedule with a small crowd. But this Saturday afternoon tilt is not likely to follow that pattern, given that it shapes up as the day former Jays ace David Price pitches against the Jays as a member of the Red Sox.
MAY 2 VS. RANGERS
First meeting of the two teams since the ALDS in Toronto last fall. Bat flips, seventh-inning drama . . . need we say more? This will be an intriguing one, and could continue a rivalry between the two sides, akin to the dislike the Jays and Orioles have for each other.
MAY 6 VS. DODGERS
An interleague game with a heart-felt wrinkle. This marks the potential return of Alex Anthopoulos to Toronto as a member of the Dodgers front office. The former Jays GM left Toronto last winter amid controversy, after building a Jays roster that made its first post-season appearance since the 1993 World Series. Fans will no doubt give him a huge ovation if he’s in attendance in his new role as an assistant GM with Los Angeles.
JUNE 21 VS. DIAMONDBACKS
This is a rare visit to Toronto by the Diamondbacks, which, in any other year, would pass without much fanfare. But the Arizona roster put together by GM and former Blue Jays starter Dave Stewart is rated as one of the most talented in the National League.
JULY 1 VS. INDIANS
The Canada Day game is usually sold out and there’s a subplot to this one as well. Both team president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins arrived in Toronto this off-season after longtime careers with the Indians. Cleveland also owns one of the best young pitching staffs in the American League, so it should be a good test for the Blue Jays bats.
JULY 4 VS. ROYALS
Starts a three-game set against the Royals, the defending World Series champs and the team that knocked the Jays out in the ALCS. A chance for fans to see how their team measures up against what should be another standout Royals club.
JULY 31 VS. ORIOLES
It’s the last game for the Jays before the Aug. 1 Major League Baseball trade deadline. In 2015, the Jays made several blockbuster deals in the days leading up to the deadline, pivotal moves in their drive for their first post-season berth since the 1993 World Series. Could that same drama unfold again, or could this be the final chapter in a Jays uniform for Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion?
AUG. 12 VS. ASTROS
This game kicks off a three-game set against the team that many believe will be a serious challenger for the AL pennant. Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and a very strong starting rotation come to Toronto for the first time this season. Could this be a preview of a post-season matchup?
SEPT. 14 VS. RAYS
Marks the end of a six-game home stand, with three games each against Boston and Tampa. At this point of the season, it’s expected Toronto will be in the heat of a playoff race. These are two divisional rivals, with the same expectations.
SEPT. 29 VS. ORIOLES
It’s the last home game of the season, so could this be the day the Jays clinch a postseason berth? It could come down to this three-game series and the stadium will be packed each night with fans hoping to witness a secondstraight post-season berth. All that makes for a great time to be at the ballpark. Mark Zwolinski