Blue Jays Look to Stay Perfect Against Winless Rockies

Toronto aims to continue hot start as Colorado seeks first win of the season

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:22am

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The Toronto Blue Jays, who have won their first three games of the season, will host the winless Colorado Rockies in their home opener. The Blue Jays are coming off a home sweep of the Athletics, which included two walk-off wins, and have set a new MLB record by striking out 50 batters in the first three games of the season. The Rockies, meanwhile, have lost their first three games to the Miami Marlins, each by a single run. Cody Ponce is set to make his Blue Jays debut, while Tomoyuki Sugano will take the mound for the Rockies in his first MLB start since joining from the Baltimore Orioles.

Why it matters

This early-season matchup between the hot-starting Blue Jays and the struggling Rockies will provide insight into the potential trajectories of both teams. The Blue Jays are looking to build on their impressive start and continue their dominance, while the Rockies are hoping to get their first win and show they can compete in close games.

The details

The Blue Jays have won their first three games of the season, including a home sweep of the Athletics that featured two walk-off wins. The team has set a new MLB record by striking out 50 batters in the first three games of the season. Cody Ponce, who was signed as a free agent after a successful stint in the KBO League, will make his Blue Jays debut. The Rockies, on the other hand, have lost their first three games to the Miami Marlins, each by a single run. Tomoyuki Sugano, who pitched in the MLB last year with the Baltimore Orioles, will make his Rockies debut.

  • The Blue Jays have won their first three games of the 2026 MLB season.
  • The Rockies have lost their first three games of the 2026 MLB season.
  • The Blue Jays and Rockies will face off in their home opener on March 30, 2026.

The players

Cody Ponce

A right-handed pitcher who was signed by the Blue Jays as a free agent after going 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA in the KBO League last season. He last pitched in the MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020-21.

Tomoyuki Sugano

A 36-year-old right-handed pitcher who is making his Rockies debut after pitching in the MLB with the Baltimore Orioles last year. He had a 4.64 ERA in 2025 and is looking to improve on his high home run rate.

John Schneider

The manager of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Warren Schaeffer

The manager of the Colorado Rockies.

Pete Walker

The pitching coach for the Toronto Blue Jays.

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What they’re saying

“I think (pitching coach) Pete Walker has a clause in his contract that may have just escalated or triggered. It's our team's 50-year celebration, so I think 50 strikeouts sounds about right. This (game) is so historical it's kind of cool to be a part of that.”

— John Schneider, Blue Jays Manager

“Listen, I think the boys are playing good. We were right in these ballgames. We could have won all three of these ballgames. We have, what, 159 left to go? If we keep playing like that, we are going to win a lot of ballgames this year.”

— Warren Schaeffer, Rockies Manager

“I want to decrease that amount. At the same time, I don't want to be afraid to throw strikes, so I'm making sure I have the mentality of attacking hitters. Those will be my two main objectives.”

— Tomoyuki Sugano, Rockies Pitcher

What’s next

The Blue Jays and Rockies will face off in the series opener on March 30, 2026, with Cody Ponce making his debut for Toronto and Tomoyuki Sugano taking the mound for Colorado.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the hot-starting Blue Jays and the winless Rockies will be an intriguing test for both teams. The Blue Jays will look to continue their dominant pitching performance and perfect start, while the Rockies will aim to get their first win of the season and show they can compete in close games.