Happy 50th anniversary! Blue Jays pitchers set ML record with 50 strikeouts in first 3 games

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays started the 50th season in team history by striking out 50 batters in their opening series against the Athletics, setting the major league record for strikeouts in the first three games of the season.

“Fiftieth-year anniversary of the Blue Jays and 50 strikeouts over three,” manager John Schneider said. “Pretty round number.”

Kevin Gausman set a Blue Jays opening day record by striking out 11 batters in six innings Friday. Dylan Cease fanned 12 Saturday, the most by any pitcher making his Blue Jays debut. Eric Lauer struck out nine Sunday as Toronto won the finale 5-2.

“We faced good pitching,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “They have some really good arms. Obviously, their frontline starters we had our hands full with.”

Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman struck out four batters in the ninth inning of Friday’s 3-2 win after Tyler Soderstrom reached on a wild strike three.

On Sunday, Hoffman struck out a pair in the ninth to complete the sweep, ending the game by getting Max Muncy swinging.

“I think (pitching coach) Pete (Walker) has a clause in his contract that may have just escalated, may have just triggered,” Schneider joked. “It’s fun to watch the whole collective effort in terms of putting a plan together and then going to execute it. It’s fun to be part of that.”

The 50 strikeouts tied the franchise record for the most strikeouts in a single series. Toronto pitchers needed four games to fan 50 Tigers in a season-opening series against Detroit in March, 2019.

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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman reacts after throwing a strikeout against the Athletics during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease (84) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics in Toronto Saturday, March 28, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer (56) pitches against the Athletics during first inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) celebrates with teammate Toronto Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman, left, after defeating the Athletics during the ninth inning of an American League baseball game, in Toronto, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

MIAMI (AP) — Owen Caissie hit a walk-off, two-run homer to give the Miami Marlins a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday and complete a sweep of their season-opening series.

Javier Sanoja doubled with two outs in the ninth inning against Rockies reliever Victor Vodnik (0-1) before Caissie drilled a change-up from Vodnik over the wall in right field.

In addition to going deep, Caissie doubled twice and batted 5 for 10 over the three-game set.

Sanoja, Otto López and Xavier Edwards had two hits each for the Marlins. Michael Petersen (1-0) got the win, throwing a perfect ninth.

The Rockies struck quickly against Marlins starter Max Meyer on Jordan Beck’s three-run double in the first.

Miami chipped away at the early deficit when López hit an RBI double in the first and Austin Slater added a sacrifice fly in the second.

Rockies starter José Quintana was lifted after 4 1/3 innings and 78 pitches of two-run ball. Quintana gave up four hits, struck out two and walked four.

The 37-year-old Quintana began his 15th season with Sunday’s outing. Quintana pitched for eight previous clubs before Colorado signed him to a free agent deal in the offseason.

Meyer settled down after the first and kept the Rockies scoreless through the remainder of his five-inning outing. He allowed five hits, struck out five and walked two.

Miami’s Deyvison De Los Santos doubled in his first major league at-bat in the second. De Los Santos was recalled from Triple-A Saturday.

Rockies: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (10-10, 4.64 with Baltimore in 2025) makes his Colorado debut in the opener of a three-game set at Toronto on Monday. Four seasons since his last major league appearance, RHP Cody Ponce will start for the Blue Jays.

Marlins: RHP Chris Paddack (5-12, 5.35 in 2025) will start the opener of a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. RHP Davis Martin (7-10, 4.10) will start for the White Sox.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies' Jordan Beck hits a RBI double to score three runs during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Colorado Rockies' TJ Rumfield (7) scores on a double hit by Jordan Beck during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Jose Quintana (62) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Owen Caissie, right, reacts after scoring on a walk-off two run home run to defeat the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Owen Caissie, right, is doused after scoring on a walk-off two run home run to defeat the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)