GDB -6.0: George Springer gets first Spring Training game as Blue Jays take on Phillies

It’s Springer Szn.

The Toronto Blue Jays leadoff hitter is set for his first Spring Training action on Thursday as the team takes on the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 34-year-old is entering his fourth season in the Six, and looking to build off what was a down year for him in 2023. He slashed .258/.327/.405, moderate enough numbers, but his OPS+ plummeted from being 135 through his first two years, down to 102 last, while still hitting 21 home runs.

Springer most importantly was able to stay healthy last season, playing in 154 games with the Jays which is more than he had in each of his first two years. He’ll be the leadoff man once again for the Jays this season, and bats out of that spot this afternoon.

Jose Berrios also gets his first taste of action this season, looking to build off an excellent 2023 campaign that ended in wild disappointment. We don’t need to go there.

Berrios’s numbers rebounded well posting a 3.65 ERA across 189 and two third innings last season, and the Jays will look for much of the same this year.

First pitch: 1:05 p.m. EST — TV: Sportsnet. Radio: MLB.com.

Odds via Betano:

Moneyline: TOR -192; PHI +155.
Spread: TOR -1.5 +105; PHI+1.5 -128.
Over/Under: o8.5 -118; u8.5 -105.

*Odds available at the time of writing. Odds subject to change.

Starting pitchers (2023 statistics):

Lineups:

TORONTO:

1. G Springer (R) RF
2. V Guerrero Jr. (R) DH
3. A Kirk (R) C
4. K Kiermaier (L) CF
5. E Escobar (S) 2B
6. S Horwitz (L) 1B
7. I Kiner-Falefa (R) SS
8. L Jimenez (R) 3B
9. A Roden (L) LF

PHILADELPHIA:

1. B Stott (L) 2B
2. T Turner (R) DH
3. D Hall (L) 1B
4. E Sosa (R) SS
5. G Stubbs (L) C
6. C Pache (R) CF
7. D Dahl (L) LF
8. S Kingery (R) 3B
9. M Kroon (R) RF

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