TORONTO – Back in spring training, when Kevin Kiermaier was familiarizing himself with the Blue Jays organization, his new teammates highlighted a few moments where fan support would likely be felt most intensely.
Opening Day will be nuts, they told him. Visiting Seattle will feel like a home series. And then there’s July 1.
“Everyone always circles back to Canada Day and how big of a deal it is,” Kiermaier said. “I’m really excited. Playing in front of 40,000 is something you dream of, but especially under these circumstances. First time busting out the red unis all year. Everyone’s excited.”
A year ago this time, when 44,445 packed Rogers Centre to see the Blue Jays beat the Tampa Rays, 9-2, Kiermaier was in fact here for the experience as a visitor. With another sellout crowd expected, lots of pageantry planned and a game with significant stakes in the AL East, there’s once again lots of intrigue on Saturday.
“I’m super excited to wear the red jerseys and I know Canada Day’s a huge deal, and rightfully so,” Kiermaier said. “Everyone comes to the park with a lot of energy and a lot of excitement. I’m excited to be a home player for it and experience my first one.”
Before the game, which has a 3:07 p.m. ET / noon PT start, the Blue Jays will play a recorded land acknowledgment on their video board, as they do before every home game. There will also be a pregame citizenship ceremony in which new Canadians from Brazil, China, England, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal and the United States will take a citizenship oath on the field before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Canadian theme had a chance to last into the game itself, but Ladner, B.C., native James Paxton pitched Friday rather than Saturday, continuing his impressive bounce-back season with 7.2 shutout innings on the way to a 5-0 Red Sox win.
“It was awesome,” said Paxton, who missed the 2022 season with a torn lat. “I’m just grateful to be out on the mound … and it’s fun to be pitching in Canada.”
Five years ago, Paxton no-hit the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre while pitching for the Mariners. And as this weekend drew nearer, the possibility of a Canada Day start opened some eyes.
“Big Maple. I’m surprised they didn’t have him lined up to pitch tomorrow,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider joked before Friday’s game. “Come on, (Alex) Cora.”
“Hopefully, it’s fun for him getting back and having a double-double or two,” Schneider added.
Meanwhile, Nick Pivetta, another Canadian pitcher on the Red Sox staff, was thinking along similar lines.
“He was hoping they’d push me back a day so I’d be pitching Canada Day,” Paxton said. “But I was happy to pitch today.”
As it turns out, Paxton’s stay in Toronto will be brief. While his Boston teammates face Canadian-born Jordan Romano, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the rest of the Blue Jays, Paxton will travel to be with his wife, who’s expected to give birth in the coming days.
Instead, it’ll be Kutter Crawford who starts opposite Yusei Kikuchi on Saturday. And where Paxton has had some career-defining moments in Toronto, it’ll be the first time pitching here for Crawford, who was placed on the restricted list ahead of games in Toronto last year when cross-border travel was more heavily regulated.
Regardless, these games are significant for two teams separated by just 4.0 games in the American League East standings. As the Blue Jays move into the second half of the season, intra-divisional games do take on added significance – especially with the Red Sox undefeated against the Blue Jays this year.
“This is the first time I’d say a little bit, yeah,” Schneider said. “Every series is important, but when you’re looking at a team in your division and one spot below, you want to separate yourself.”
If Kiermaier’s able to take the field for the first time since Sunday, it’ll be easier to create that separation. Back spasms have derailed his week, impacting his breathing and walking early in the week before improving considerably with time and treatment.
After a few full days off, the 33-year-old joined his teammates on the field for batting practice and fielding exercises Friday and was available off the bench if needed. Already, his back feels “much better than what it was,” though slight soreness lingers.
“Things might pop up during the season,” Kiermaier said. “I want to be out there, but sometimes you have to unfortunately let time run its course and get everything settled down. But I’m much happier (now) and ready to go.”
If that progress continues, a lively home crowd will have the chance to show No. 39 what it means to play in Toronto on Canada Day.
