Pittsburgh Pirates capture 8-3 exhibition victory over Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to Canada during the first inning of an exhibition baseball game Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

BRADENTON — Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz homered to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in spring-training action Saturday.

Horwitz belted a solo homer against his former team off Toronto starter Kevin Gausman in the fourth inning. Cruz added a two-run shot in the sixth for Pittsburgh (16-11).

Gausman, tabbed as Toronto’s opening-day starter, went five innings. He allowed six hits and three earned runs while fanning two and walking three.

Shortstop Andres Giminez, who was a member of Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic-winning team. had two hits in three plate appearances for Toronto (11-13). He also scored a run.

Blue Jays starting rotation

Also on Saturday, Toronto manager John Schneider told reporters the team’s five starting pitchers will be Gausman, Dylan Cease, Eric Lauer, Cody Ponce and Max Scherzer, in that order. That means Gausman, Cease and Lauer will go the mound when Toronto opens its season Friday against the Athletics at Rogers Centre.

Ponce and Scherzer would then start against the Colorado Rockies.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2026.