A 30-year-old rookie from Japan is the best power hitter on a team that won the American League pennant nine months ago and is now in last place. That is the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays in one sentence, and Kazuma Okamoto is the reason to watch them Thursday afternoon.
Okamoto hit 248 home runs across eleven NPB seasons with the Yomiuri Giants before signing with Toronto as a free agent in January, and at 30 he’s now put 22 more in the seats in his first American summer — a rookie by MLB’s accounting, with 1,074 professional games already behind him.
What Time Is the Blue Jays Game Today?
- First pitch: 3:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre, Toronto
- TV: Sportsnet (Toronto); Rays.TV and WMOR (Tampa Bay)
- Radio: SN590 The Fan (Toronto); WDAE 95.7 FM and WQBN 1300 AM (Tampa Bay)
- Probables: RHP Casey Legumina (2-2, 3.92) vs. RHP Shane Bieber (1-1, 5.70)
- Records: Tampa Bay 59-42 (1st, AL East), Toronto 46-56 (5th, AL East)
Kazuma Okamoto of Japan reacts after hitting RBI double as second base umpire Delfin Colon makes the call during the fifth inning of the quarterfinal game between Italy and Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Kazuma Okamoto Is the Best Thing About This Season
Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto bats against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Okamoto leads the Blue Jays with 22 home runs — more than anyone in either lineup this afternoon — in his first major league season. He has played 99 of Toronto’s 102 games at third base after arriving from Japan at 30 years old, an age when most players are past discovering anything.
He hits sixth today, which tells you plenty about how the rest of this lineup has gone. In a season that went wrong in nearly every direction, the import going right is what Blue Jays fans will remember.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto looks on after scoring on a double hit by Alejandro Kirk against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto throws out San Diego Padres’ Gavin Sheets at fist base in the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 10, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Thursday’s Roster Moves
Toronto Blue Jays’ Adam MacKo plays in a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, July 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Toronto made three moves before the game and the biggest one hurts. Patrick Corbin goes on the 15-day injured list with a left teres major strain. Corbin carried a 5.21 ERA across 18 starts — inconsistent, but he was eating real innings for a rotation that has improvised all year around injuries to Max Scherzer, Jake Bloss and others.
Davis Schneider and left-hander Adam Macko were recalled from Triple-A, both active today. Schneider hit .153 across 49 games in his last stint but plays multiple positions. Macko brings a 5.03 ERA over 19 appearances to a bullpen that needs arms more than polish. Infielder Sean Keys was optioned out after hitting .176 in 11 games.
Lineups
Lineups subject to change.
| # | Blue Jays | Pos | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yohendrick Piñango | RF | .270 |
| 2 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 1B | .256 |
| 3 | Ernie Clement | SS | .297 |
| 4 | George Springer | DH | .225 |
| 5 | Alejandro Kirk | C | .218 |
| 6 | Kazuma Okamoto | 3B | .226 |
| 7 | Davis Schneider | LF | .153 |
| 8 | Luis Urías | 2B | .267 |
| 9 | Myles Straw | CF | .222 |
| # | Rays | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yandy Díaz | 1B |
| 2 | Jonathan Aranda | DH |
| 3 | Junior Caminero | 3B |
| 4 | Víctor Mesa Jr. | RF |
| 5 | Jonny DeLuca | CF |
| 6 | Chandler Simpson | LF |
| 7 | Ben Williamson | SS |
| 8 | Richie Palacios | 2B |
| 9 | Hunter Feduccia | C |
Fourteen Countries Against Four
Here is the strange thing about this matchup, and it runs against every assumption about how modern baseball works.
Toronto’s roster carries fourteen foreign-born players from seven countries. Tampa Bay’s carries four. The most international club in the division is in last place. The one with almost no imports has the best record in the American League.
Japan
Kazuma Okamoto, and he leads the team in home runs.
Canada
Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. runs the bases after hitting a three-run home against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was born in Montreal, which makes the face of Canadian baseball technically Canadian and thoroughly Dominican in every way that counts. He was elected the American League’s starting first baseman at the All-Star Game and declined with a lower-back issue. He hits second today.
Slovakia, by way of Canada
Canada pitcher Adam MacKo delivers a pitch against the United States during the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The rarest passport in the building belongs to Adam Macko, recalled this morning. He was born in Bratislava, Slovakia — one of the very few Slovak-born players ever to reach the majors — and he pitched for Canada in this year’s World Baseball Classic, taking the mound against the United States in the quarterfinal. Born under one flag, playing for another, employed by a third country’s only major league team.
Mexico
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk watches his RBI double against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Toronto carries three Mexicans. Alejandro Kirk catches and Luis Urías plays second today, with rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela behind them. Tampa Bay answers with Jonathan Aranda — from Tijuana, like Kirk. Two Tijuana bats in opposite dugouts.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Luis Urías, left, and San Diego Padres’ Jackson Merrill look in in the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Nathan Lukes, left, gets a jacket from catcher Brandon Valenzuela after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Sunday, July 12, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson, left, looks away as Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda, right, celebrates after hitting an RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 11, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Venezuela
Toronto Blue Jays’ Yohendrick Piñango warms up during batting practice before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Yohendrick Piñango, the 24-year-old rookie, leads off this afternoon. Andrés Giménez has played 96 games at shortstop, and Lenyn Sosa fills in around the infield.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Dominican Republic
Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jesús Sánchez bats during a baseball game, Sunday, May 31, 2026 in Baltimore.(AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Toronto carries Jesús Sánchez (73 games), Eloy Jiménez, and Jonatan Clase. Tampa Bay’s lone Dominican is the one that matters most.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Jonatan Clase, right, watches his two-run home run against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Junior Caminero Is 22 and Hits Third for the Best Team in the League
Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero reacts after being hit by a pitch by St. Louis Cardinals’ Riley O’Brien in the third inning of the MLB baseball All-Star Game between the American League and National League, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
He started at third base for the American League at the All-Star Game and swung in the Home Run Derby the night before. He has played all 101 of Tampa Bay’s games. He is twenty-two years old.
The photo above is from the All-Star Game, where Caminero was hit by a pitch from Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien — the American-born pitcher who chose to represent South Korea. Even the hit-by-pitches at this year’s Midsummer Classic came with a passport story.
Cuba Carries the Rays
Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Díaz follows through on his swing at a pitch in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, July 19, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Yandy Díaz leads off, a 2026 All-Star and one of the toughest outs in baseball at 34. Víctor Mesa Jr. hits cleanup at 24. Two Cubans, top and middle of the order, for a club built on contact and pressure rather than thunder.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Victor Mesa Jr. celebrates after his home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, July 10, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
The One Who Got Away, and Where He Landed
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Yoendrys Gómez reacts after losing a challenge giving up a walk during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Venezuelan right-hander Yoendrys Gómez opened the season in the Tampa Bay bullpen. He now pitches for Minnesota, and worked the ninth inning against Cleveland on Wednesday night in the series the Twins are finishing this afternoon. Two of Thursday’s games, connected by one arm.
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Yoendrys Gomez delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
The Coaching Staffs Have Passports Too
Dominican Republic’s Erick Mejia(6) and Juan Francisco (34) celebrate after they scored on a double hit by Charlie Valerio during the seventh inning of a baseball game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Fukushima, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
This is the detail nobody covers, and it is the best one here.
That photo is from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The two Dominican players are celebrating a double hit by Charlie Valerio — who is now the bullpen catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. Five years ago he was driving in runs for the Dominican Republic against Japan on an Olympic field in Fukushima. Thursday afternoon he’ll be warming up relievers in Toronto.
Tampa Bay’s staff carries a second Dominican in major league field coordinator Tomas Francisco. Toronto’s includes Dominican third base coach Carlos Febles, Venezuelan bullpen catcher Luis Hurtado, and Canadian bullpen catcher Alex Andreopoulos — a Canadian on the staff of Canada’s only major league team.
Tampa Bay Rays major league field coordinator Tomas Francisco poses for a portrait during photo day at the team’s training facility during MLB baseball spring training in Port Charlotte, Fla.This image reflects the Tampa Bay Rays active roster as of Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The Other Bieber
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber works against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 10, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Shane Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020. He makes his sixth start of the season Thursday at 1-1 with a 5.70 ERA — a number that was 9.00 two weeks ago, so the arrow points the right way even if the figure still stings.
Toronto also has a relationship with the other Bieber. Justin, Canadian, watched the Blue Jays play the Dodgers in Game 3 of last year’s World Series, and performed at halftime of the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday. No relation to the pitcher. Same country as the ballclub.
Singer Justin Bieber watches the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning in Game 3 of baseball’s World Series, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Justin Bieber leaves the pitch after performing at halftime during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Tampa Bay counters with Casey Legumina, 2-2 with a 3.92 ERA — a relief arm getting a start, the staff-management move the Rays have run for fifteen years.
The Standings, and the Deadline
Tampa Bay is 59-42 with a 99 percent chance of reaching the postseason and a projected 92-70 finish. Toronto is 46-56 and down to 1.7 percent — a number that has fallen 47 points in thirty days, the steepest one-month collapse of any team in baseball. Projected finish: 74-88.
Their manager, John Schneider, ran the American League dugout at the All-Star Game nine days ago on the strength of last year’s pennant. The pennant buys you the honor. It does not buy you July.
The deadline is August 3. Daulton Varsho has already been asked publicly about his future, and Corbin’s injury thins what Toronto would have left to move. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, took Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson at No. 2 overall and signed him to a record-breaking deal.
First pitch, 3:07 p.m. ET. One of these teams is going to the playoffs. The other one went last year.
Photo Credit: Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto throws out San Diego Padres’ Gavin Sheets at first base in the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 10, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan) · Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto bats against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
