3 takeaways from the Blue Jays’ 1st week of the 2025 season

Welcome to my new weekly series breaking down three takeaways from every week of the 2025 Blue Jays season.

If you predicted the Blue Jays would lead the AL East this season, you should’ve bought a lottery ticket.

In a surprising turn of events, the Blue Jays lead their division for the first time since April 26, 2022. Sure, they only held a half-game lead over the New York Yankees and lost it the next day. Still, that should count for something.

Today, they’re still a half-game up on the Yankees as the Blue Jays begin their first road trip of the season.

As the Blue Jays gear up to take on the Mets and Red Sox this week, here are my three takeaways from Week 1 of the 2025 Blue Jays season.

Clean up, clean up

Welcome to Toronto, Andres Gimenez.

Before the first pitch on Opening Day, many fans questioned John Schnieder’s decision to have Gimenez bat fourth behind Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Anthony Santander. The skepticism made sense, given his lack of power in 2024 — just nine home runs, a .340 slugging percentage, and a .638 OPS.

Gimenez responded to all the criticism by hitting the Blue Jays’ first home run of 2025, and it was only the beginning. Gimenez wasted no time showing more offensive spark than he did in the first week of 2024.

He capped off the week going 8-for-26, leading the Blue Jays in home runs (3) and RBIs (6). He finished the week slashing .308/.400/.731 with a team-high 1.131 OPS — a massive jump from last season and a promising early sign. It’s a small sample, sure, but it's exactly the kind of start the Jays were hoping for from their newest infielder.

Welcome back, George?

It’s safe to say the last few years haven’t gone the way George Springer or the Blue Jays had hoped.

Injuries have taken their toll since his 2022 All-Star campaign, with nearly every stat trending downward — eventually costing him the leadoff spot

But so far in 2025, Springer is looking like the player Toronto signed to that six-year, $150 million deal back in 2021.

Through seven games, he leads the team in both batting average (.429) and on-base percentage (.520) while posting a 1.187 OPS — his best first-week mark in a Blue Jays uniform.

Suddenly, the bottom half of the Blue Jays’ lineup looks more dangerous with Springer swinging a hot bat.

Sure, it’s been nine years since Springer played more than 154 games in a season. If Springer can find a way to stay healthy while staying on this hot trend, the Blue Jays lineup could look balanced and help find the spark it’s been missing for quite some time.

Easton Lucas to the rescue

Adding a first-ballot Hall of Famer like Max Scherzer came with plenty of excitement — but just as much concern about injuries.

A one-year, $15 million deal for a player in the twilight of his career is a safe bet and one the Blue Jays would gladly make again.

However, reality struck last Saturday when Scherzer left his Blue Jays debut against the Orioles after just 45 pitches with right lat soreness. He was ultimately placed on the 15-day injured list.

With rotation depth already running thin, the question became: Who would step in until Scherzer’s return?

Enter Easton Lucas — a young pitcher who was claimed off waivers from the Athletics last August and struggled in 2024 before beginning the 2025 campaign in Triple-A Buffalo.

Making his first career start Wednesday afternoon against the Nationals, Lucas exceeded expectations — tossing five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, and striking out three.

According to Baseball Savant, more than half of his fastballs landed in the heart of the zone and proved to be his most effective pitch.

With an unclear timeline for Scherzer’s return, Lucas would most likely head back on the mound when the Blue Jays head over to Boston to take on the Red Sox.

For now, the Blue Jays can breathe a little easier knowing Easton Lucas has stepped up to fill the void.

See you next week.