Baseball Central @ Noon

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:56) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about using Braydon Fisher as the opening pitcher in their first game of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, injury updates including George Springer, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos and Yimi Garcia, 9th inning options outside of Jeff Hoffman, struggling to put on runs, Vladdy's ground ball rate, Jesús Sánchez's impact on the lineup and the change in his at-bats, Kazuma Okamoto's defensive stance, Brandon Valenzuela's presence behind the plate, and Myles Straw's spark. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan stops by (31:08) to discuss the San Diego Padres record-breaking sale, a salary cap implementation in MLB, his upcoming podcast debut episode with John Schneider and Dave Roberts, and if he's worried about the start of the Blue Jays' season.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Toronto Blue Jays' weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They discuss the decision to opt for an opener with Braydon Fisher taking the mound in Game 1, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s early-season approach, and what the Jays' bats can expect from Diamondbacks' starter, Canadian Michael Soroka. Then, former MLB pitcher and Blue Jays Central analyst Jason Grilli (27:35) joins the show to discuss how relievers react to their role changing early in the season, and the importance of clubhouse leadership when the bullpen struggles. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker bring in Vancouver's mayor, Ken Sim (13:50), to chat about how far along the city is in their plan to bid for an MLB franchise, why he is pushing for a bid now, the Vancouver market's interest, and the council's role in the bid. Then, Milwaukee Brewers TV play-by-play voice Brian Anderson joins the guys (32:49) to weigh in on the fans booing their pitcher Trevor Megill, the team's history of postseason berths, Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez's presence in the clubhouse, Christian Yelich's injury, and if William Contreras has become the perfect catcher for the Brewers. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' series-opening win over the Milwaukee Brewers. They discuss Jeff Hoffman's blown save, Louis Varland's reliability, Kazuma Okamoto's defensive mistakes at third base, and Kevin Gausman's shakiest start of the season. Later, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (27:28) shares his thoughts on whether Hoffman should remain the team's closer, Varland's viability as a ninth-inning guy, what Dylan Cease needs to adjust ahead of his fourth start, and his concern levels for Max Scherzer. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi (0:54) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Vancouver mayor Ken Sim calling to launch a bid to bring an MLB team to the city, if he's more worried about the Blue Jays or Red Sox, which teams in the National League he'd buy stock in with their performance to start the year, what's gone wrong for the New York Mets, and Lenyn Sosa's addition to the Blue Jays. Then, Milwaukee Brewers TV analyst and former MLB pitcher Tim Dillard (29:00) stops by to discuss Jacob Misiorowski's reverse splits, the team's identity heading into 2026, who the Brewers rely on just like the Jays with Vladdy, and Gary Sánchez's usage at first base.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Toronto Blue Jays' series against the Milwaukee Brewers. They discuss whether the Jays should mix up the batting order and move Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to the two-hole, the outfield defence, and Kazuma Okamoto's play at third base. Later, Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (27:00) stops by to discuss the team's depleted rotation, how they can get the most out of Max Scherzer, whether they'd consider using an opener, Kevin Gausman's strong start to the season, Jeff Hoffman's stability, and much more. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Host of Baseball Today and Dugout Discussions, Chris Rose (1:10) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the slow starts from American League's star players, who's the second best team in the league, Shane Bieber's decision to return to the Blue Jays, Fernando Tatís Jr. playing at second base, why Oneil Cruz needs to be the centrepiece of the Pirates' offence, and how he projects his Cleveland Guardians for the rest of the season. Then, Blue Jays legend Buck Martinez (27:24) returns to the show to discuss the team's growing list of injuries to start the season, if the World Series hangover is real, Kazuma Okamoto's adjustment to the MLB, why Dylan Cease benefits from working with Pete Walker, how he would manage Max Scherzer's outings, and the team's erratic defence. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' weekend series against the Minnesota Twins. They discuss concerning starts from Max Scherzer and Eric Lauer, George Springer's injury, the Jays' trade for infielder Lenyn Sosa from the White Sox, and positive signs from Daulton Varsho, Andrés Giménez and Louis Varland. Later, Jays' radio voice, Ben Shulman (28:42), joins the show to share his thoughts on the Sosa trade, Kazuma Okamoto's play at the plate, and how Nathan Lukes can get back on track.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (2:25) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the outcome from their series rematch against the L.A. Dodgers, his argument with home plate umpire Dan Merzel on calling Kevin Gausman's balk, conversations with his coaching staff handling mental mistakes from their players early in the season, his upcoming podcast conversation with ESPN's Jeff Passan and Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts, Daulton Varsho's struggles after a strong Spring Training, injury updates on his pitchers including Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, and Jose Berrios, how Kazuma Okamoto is handling the swing and miss at-bats, and the path for Davis Schneider to play more games. Then, Blair and Barker head to the Back-Leg Line ahead of the weekend!  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Minnesota Twins. Dan Shulman stops by (3:31) to discuss how the Jays can build off their win against the Dodgers, Tyler Rogers' efficiency, Kazuma Okamoto's offensive ceiling, his expectations for Patrick Corbin, and much more. Later, Twins manager Derek Shelton (27:45) shares a Minnesota perspective on the upcoming series, their unorthodox bullpen hierarchy, their goals for this season, and his growth as a manager since his stint in Pittsburgh. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Sean Casey, former big leaguer and host of The Mayor's Office podcast, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about finding your rhythm as a hitter in April, dealing with fan criticism, the Automated Ball-Strike system, and his favourite player to watch as a fan. Later, New York Post columnist and author of The Bosses of the Bronx, Mike Vaccaro (26:50) joins the guys to discuss his new book about George Steinbrenner and the history of Yankees ownership, along with thoughts on the 2026 team! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' win over the Dodgers to avoid a sweep and snap a six-game losing streak. They discuss Daulton Varsho's slow start, Shohei Ohtani's 'special treatment', and their impressions of Dylan Cease after his third start. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (23:58) joins the show ahead of the debut episode of his new podcast, Sources Tell Jeff Passan. He discusses an upcoming episode featuring John Schneider and Dave Roberts reflecting on the World Series, the Jays' slow start, the biggest surprises so far this season, the Brewers' culture, and the Astros' ceiling. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's pregame show in a sour mood following the Blue Jays' 4-1 loss to the Dodgers to extend their losing streak to six games. The boys discuss the Jays' dismal offensive output of late, the importance of tomorrow's off day to reset, and the balk call on Kevin Gausman that resulted in John Schneider's fiery ejection. They also dig into the statistics to find some positives from the first two weeks, identify some players that need to step up in order to right the ship, and chat about Andy Pages' hot start to the year. Ryan Howard (26:27), World Series champion and 2006 MVP, joins to discuss how the Phillies overcame fatigue from October baseball, battling through early season struggles, and the pressure to perform in a major market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this episode chatting with Caleb Joseph, former MLB catcher and Sportsnet analyst. They dig into the issues behind the Blue Jays' five-game losing streak, Max Scherzer's road back to the mound after exiting Monday's game with forearm tendinitis, expectations for Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Kevin Gausman tonight, the options behind the plate in Alejandro Kirk's absence, and the lingering emotions from the 2025 World Series. Later, Jayson Stark (24:45) of The Athletic discusses the mediocrity early in the American League, storylines to watch in this week's Blue Jays vs. Dodgers series, and his impressions of the Automated Ball-Strike system. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' 14-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and stretching their losing streak to five games. They discuss the residual animosity between the two teams after the World Series, Max Scherzer's early exit, and what adjustments Kevin Gausman must make to get a better result this evening. Later, Dodgers Pitching Coach Mark Prior (26:17) discusses his role, what Jays hitters can expect from tonight's starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, what Shohei Ohtani's pitching workload might look like this season, and more! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President David Samson (0:28) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how teams navigate a slow start after playing in the World Series, Roman Anthony's outspoken comments around the Boston Red Sox's start to their year, what Konnor Griffin's long-term contract indicates to fans, players and owners around the league, why the Cleveland Guardians have surprised him the most, and Carter Jensen being pulled from the Royals lineup after sleeping through an alarm. Then, L.A. Dodgers reporter Katie Woo stops by (26:35) to discuss Freddie Freeman's longevity, Shohei Ohtani's 2026 pitching plan, if any manager can manage the current Dodgers roster, who is the second-best player on the team and how Kyle Tucker has fit in.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker check in with the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of their World Series rematch against the Dodgers after being swept by the Chicago White Sox. They discuss the team's early-season offensive woes, Brendon Little being DFA'd to Triple A, the Jays' plan in Alejandro Kirk's absence, and Addison Barger's underwhelming start. Later, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (27:44) stops by to share his impressions of the Jays through three series, the implications of the Patrick Corbin signing, Kazuma Okamoto's adjustments, and Barger's usage. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share expectations for Max Scherzer in the Jays' opener against the Dodgers. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Chicago White Sox's Director of Player Development, Paul Janish (0:26) joins Jeff Blair and his former teammate Kevin Barker to chat about his role with the organization, how they approach players' goals season-to-season, if they've considered 'out of the box' methods of playing like the Colorado Rockies calling pitching from the dugout, how younger players are learning compared to when Paul and Kevin played, the evolution of scouting with analytics, how he would define a successful season for the White Sox, and ABS' implementation. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan stops by (29:32) to discuss the Rockies' method of calling pitches from the dugout, the most surprising and disappointing teams to start their year, his expectations for the Blue Jays vs. Dodgers for the first time since the 2025 World Series and the flurry of contract signings and extensions for prospects on long-term deals.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the off-day edition with some Blue Jays takeaways through the first two series of the season. They discuss reasons to be optimistic with Jeff Hoffman, why they're not concerned with the team's offensive struggles with runners in scoring position, who fits best in the clean-up spot, and Kevin Gausman's stellar start. Later, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (29:56) shares his early-season Blue Jays thoughts, including his concerns for the rotation's health, Brendon Little's struggles, Hoffman's resilience, and more. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing how John Schneider could navigate the pitching rotation with Cody Ponce's status up in the air, the best way forward for Brendan Little after strong Spring outings and two rocky relief stints to start the regular season, why Kazuma Okamoto's second career MLB home run was impressive, and Ponce's first pitches in the Majors. Then, the guys bring on play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Bisons Pat Malacaro (27:00) to chat about potential options for the main roster to call up if Ponce misses time, Josh Kasevich's popularity among the managers and coaches, and Josh Rivera's growing potential.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by co-host of VSiN By The Books and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (0:58) to chat about the first weekend of ABS' implementation, his takeaways from the Blue Jays' pitchers successful weekend with the strike zone, why he's not overreacting to Jeff Hoffman's first blown save to the year, and Rōki Sasaki's 2026 debut after a rocky Spring Training. Then, Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro (25:40) stops by to discuss the World Series' effect on the 2026 roster and organization, how he would define a successful season, what Kazuma Okamoto brings to the team on and off the field, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s growth into a leader and his ceiling, the Jays' pitch to Dylan Cease, and maintaining a high-end minor league teams. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' first series of the 2026 season - a three-game sweep over the Athletics. They discuss the rotation's early statement, as Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Eric Lauer combined for 32 strikeouts, share their first impressions of Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto, and express early concerns for Brendon Little and Jeff Hoffman in the bullpen. Later, ahead of the Jays' series opener against the Rockies, Colorado TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:25) joins the show to discuss the Rockies' goals this season, Ethan Holliday's progression, and his expectations for Cody Ponce's first start of the year. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:39) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss why the end of the 2025 World Series won't define the team's 2026 season, how he's evolved as a manager, Addison Barger's confidence, Andrés Giménez finding his swing and transitioning into an everyday shortstop, if the 9th inning will be Jeff Hoffman's, Brendon Little's outlook and the challenge for Kazuma Okamoto playing third base in MLB. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Joe Siddall (22:45) gives his thoughts on the opening-day batting order, who could be a long-term solution batting in the 2-hole, Barger's ceiling, the top left-handed option out of the bullpen, Okamoto's impressions, and whether Giménez has found his offence.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays get set for their Opening Day matchup against the Athletics. They react to the starting lineup, predict how it might change against lefty starters, and share their expectations for the first series of the season. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (26:30) to discuss some of the storylines heading into the 2026 season, including the Dodgers' chances to three-peat, who will challenge them in the National League, and why he sees the Mariners running away with the AL West. Then, he gets into the Jays, their path to a second-straight AL East title, bullpen concerns, and how the industry views offseason additions, Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease. Finally, Jeff and Kevin break down Shane Baz's 5-year extension with the Orioles. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Toronto Blue Jays EVP and general manager Ross Atkins (0:24) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about what he's looking forward to and his goals for the organization's 2026 season, how they handled their first Spring Training after a long season and World Series push, Kevin Gausman entering his 14th MLB season and his workload, how Spencer Miles earned a main roster spot, what he learned from Dylan Cease, how Max Scherzer ended up returning to the team, what he envisions for third base and Kazuma Okamoto as a hitter, Vladdy Jr.'s maturation, Daulton Varsho's consistency and continuing to work with John Schneider after both signing contract extensions. Then, New York Yankees reporter Erik Boland (28:22) drops by to recap their season opener, if the defence or bullpen is the biggest weakness, Ben Rice's season outlook, and if Aaron Judge can stay healthy enough to win another AL MVP. Plus, we hear from Kevin Gausman ahead of his Opening Day start. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Major League Baseball is officially back! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their thoughts on the Yankees' dominant win over the Giants to kick off the season, before going live to John Schneider's availability from the Blue Jays' workout day at the Rogers Centre. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their picks and predictions for the 2026 season, including playoff teams, World Series matchups, and award winners!  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to chat about their breakout star for the Blue Jays this season, José Berríos' outlook, which bat and arm should we pay attention to starting the year, confidence levels with Jeff Hoffman and more. Then, the guys bring on former MLB pitcher and Tampa Bay Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (29:40) to discuss the Rays' chances at reclaiming the AL East, Shane McClanahan's road back from a lost season, which players will benefit from returning to play at the Trop, homefield renovations, and if Junior Caminero can replicate his strong 2025 year.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with thoughts on the Blue Jays final moves to set their 26-man roster. Hunter Pence (07:20), two-time World Series champion and Giants analyst, sets the stage ahead of tonight's first MLB game of the season between the Yankees and Giants! The boys chat about the outlook for the Bronx Bombers this season, the misconception with how San Francisco will call pitches this season, and what to expect before first pitch. David Forst (27:38), Athletics General Manager, shares how his team's mentality has changed heading into this season. David outlines the A's opportunity to contend in the American League West, the names on the roster to watch out for, and the club's first series of the year in Toronto. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and current Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (5:44) to chat about the excitement of a competitive AL East, the biggest addition during the offseason for Baltimore, what sets apart Pete Alonso from the rest of the great hitters of the game, if we can see a bounce back year from Adley Rutschman, and the state of the Orioles' bullpen arms after their starters. Then, former MLB outfielder and newest MLB Network analyst Kevin Kiermaier joins the guys (28:18) to discuss which teams in the AL East has the most pressure heading into the new year, if a team like the Blue Jays can replicate a 'ball in play' approach two seasons in a row, Kevin Gausman's legacy, how Vlad Jr. will approach the season without Bo Bichette and vice versa, and his early thoughts on ABS.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show looking ahead to Blue Jays Opening Day! Barker shares what it's like for players on the fringes of a 26-man roster and reflects on his own training camp experiences. The boys also dive into John Schneider's choices to bat second in the Jays order, Cody Ponce's outlook this season, and Josh Kasevich's upside. Dan Shulman (26:52), Blue Jays play-by-play voice, joins the conversation to discuss what can separate Toronto from the pack heading into 2026. They trio take a closer look at Max Scherzer's scoreless spring training, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s soaring confidence, expectations for Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease, Jeff Hoffman's status, and Brendon Little's opportunity to bounce back. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Former MLB catcher and Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:15) to chat about the Jays' path to winning the AL East, if Jeff Hoffman will continue to be the closer to start the year, Alejandro Kirk's job to transition pitch calling behind the plate between Spring Training to the regular season, how Dylan Cease can build efficiency, if we can expect a breakout year for Vlad Jr., and if he's buying in on Daulton Varsho's Spring numbers. Then, host of 'Baseball Isn't Boring' and Red Sox reporter for WEEI Boston, Rob Bradford, stops by (28:12) to discuss where the team stacks in the division, if post-season hangovers exist, if Boston can improve on their infield defence from 2025, expectations for Roman Anthony, and how hot Alex Cora's managerial seat is.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week by reacting to the Blue Jays extending GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider. Sportsnet insider Ben Nicholson-Smith joins them (4:30) to share his thoughts on the extensions, the plan for Jesús Sánchez, Leo Jimenez's chances at cracking the Opening Day roster, the battle for the final reliever spot, what to expect from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. following a breakout postseason run, Dylan Cease's ceiling, and much more. Later, David Samson, host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, stops by (28:50) to discuss Cristopher Sanchez's extension with the Phillies, why MLB seems set for a work stoppage in 2027, Tarik Skubal's future in Detroit, and the state of the game after the success of the World Baseball Classic. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair kicks off Friday's show setting up the Blue Jays' spring training clash against the Twins with Kevin Barker live from Dundein, Florida. They look back on yesterday's 11-0 drubbing of the Yankees highlighted by Cody Ponce's scoreless 5.2 innings of work and yet another long ball off the bat of Daulton Varsho. The boys also chat about Kazuma Okamoto's play at third base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s streak of not striking out, and the battle for the final roster spots. Next, Jonathan Mayo (31:12) of MLB Pipeline breaks down how the Blue Jays' prospect system has climbed the ranks from 2025 to 2026, highlights the young stars to keep an eye on, and projects a new dynamic duo on the rise. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's latest update on Trey Yesavage. They discuss the impact of Trey joining José Berríos and Shane Bieber on the IL to start the season and break down how the Blue Jays Opening Day rotation is shaping up. The boys also chat about how to manage the team's high leverage relievers, Brendon Little's development over the offseason, and who to watch out for to make the 26-man roster. After the break, Jeff details the Blue Jays' plans to debut the "Hall of Excellence" with legendary broadcast Buck Martinez to be induced later this year. Jeff Passan (27:35), ESPN insider, weighs in on how the success of the World Baseball Classic could impact MLB's pending labour negotiations. Jeff and Jeff also touch on the beauty of the WBC and the growth of the tournament, before digging into Yesavage's IL stint and expectations for Gerrit Cole. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair kicks off today's show celebrating Venezuela's World Baseball Classic victory over Team USA. Kevin Barker joins the conversation live from Dunedin, Florida to weigh in the success of the WBC, before sharing the latest news from Blue Jays training camp. Barker updates us on the timeline for José Berríos after doctors discovered a stress fracture in his elbow, how the rotation is structured heading into the final games of the spring, expectation for Kazuma Okamoto in Toronto, and more ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. After the break, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (27:56) shares why he believes the Blue Jays will be better during the regular season in this season compared to 2025. Tim also chat about the mentality of the group, the most eye-catching stories of spring training, the Orioles' outlook in 2026, and the excitement of the WBC. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair opens today's show chatting with Kevin Barker live from TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. The boys set the stage for tonight's World Baseball Classic final between Team USA and Venezuela and debate who has the edge ahead of first pitch. Barker shares the latest Blue Jays news including how the rotation might be structured to start the season, the unknowns of Cody Ponce, how the team plans to roll out Trey Yesavage, what we know ahead of José Berríos' visit to Dr. Keith Meister, and who's in the bullpen mix. Later, Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (33:03) stops by to discuss what to watch for in the final ten days before Opening Day in Toronto. Ben highlights the depth in the organization, looks into Arjun Nimmala's outlook in 2026, and previews tonight's WBC final. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Kevin Barker re-joins Jeff Blair from sunny Dunedin, Florida to chat about last weekend's World Baseball Classic action. They outline how Team USA paved their way to the finals, the controversial call to end the Dominican Republic's tournament run, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s explosive play. Kevin then shares the latest from Blue Jays spring training including Max Scherzer's strong start, how the rotation is shaping up with less than two weeks until Opening Day, and Daulton Varsho's strides made at the plate early on. After the break, Jeff shares his biggest takeaways from WBC so far, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:08) joins the conversation. He chats about the buy-in from players in this year's tournament, why the Automated Ball-Strike system was not implemented, and the impact of Team Canada's run. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair rides solo on today's show as Kevin Barker travels to Dunedin to take in some Blue Jays spring training action. We hear the latest updates from John Schneider including José Berríos' doctor's visit, before Chris Leroux (06:22), former MLB pitcher and Sportsnet analyst, joins the conversation. They chat about who's in line to start in Toronto's rotation, before setting the stage for Canada's matchup against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal. After the break, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:04) shares his thoughts on tonight's Canada-USA clash, Mark DeRosa's blunder, and the top contenders to win the tournament. They wrap up the week by detailing Jeff's latest ultimate season preview and getting his view on the 2026 Blue Jays. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode with thoughts on Team Canada's historic win over Cuba to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. They touch on the complicating factors of José Berríos' injury, before digging in on the players that contributed to Canada's success. Kevin Gausman (06:58), Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, joins the boys live from Dunedin to discuss the team's revamped rotation, building off last year's World Series run, and his process of getting ready for the season. KG also chats about being a baseball dad, his first impressions of Dylan Cease, the potential of starting on Opening Day, and much more! Later, we hear John Schneider's comments on Berríos' status, before the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:48). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Team USA's loss to Italy in the World Baseball Classic, opening the possibility of USA not qualifying for the quarterfinals. Jon Morosi (07:17), MLB Network insider, joins the boys to reflect on Manager Mark DeRosa's confusion about his team's clinching scenario, how the Italians were able to complete the upset, and Canada's outlook heading into this afternoon's must-win against Cuba. Joe Siddall (30:00), former MLB catcher and Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, checks in to discuss Canada's opportunity to advance, before checking in the standout performers from Blue Jays spring training. They touch on Toronto's stretch of four-consecutive shutout wins, Brandon Valenzuela's upside behind the plate, the battle for the final rotation spots, Addison Barger's strong spring, and what Dylan Cease needs to get to the next level. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays game against the Atlanta Braves with José Berríos taking the mound. They sort through the lineups for today's game and detail how the bullpen is shaping up, before moving on to discuss tonight's World Baseball Classic matchup between Canada and Puerto Rico with Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (12:21). They dive into the strengths and weaknesses of Team Canada's squad and outline their path to the quarterfinals. David Samson (28:22), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the business side of the WBC, the best stories from the tournament so far, Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh's moment at home plate, and more! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program with thoughts on Team Canada's first weekend of action at the World Baseball Classic. They begin with James Paxton's costly error in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Panama, before taking a look at how some Blue Jays players are faring around the tournament. The boys pivot to the Grapefruit League to chat about the Jays' three-win weekend including Max Scherzer's four scoreless innings of work and Cody Ponce's latest outing. Chris Rose (27:23) of Jomboy Media joins to chat about Canada's path to the quarterfinals and the rise of the WBC over the years, before setting the stage for knockout round. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.