Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman made franchise history on Friday night, throwing a six-inning gem on Opening Night at Rogers Centre.

The 35-year-old Gausman, making his first Opening Night start for Toronto, fired six strong innings against the Athletics, giving up just one run on a single hit. He walked none and struck out 11.

The 11 strikeouts were the most ever by a Jays pitcher in the season opener. The only blemish on his night was a Shea Langaliers solo home run in the top of the fourth. He left the game with a 2-1 lead thanks a two-run triple from Andres Gimenez. 

Unfortunately Gausman was unable to get the win, as Langaliers tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the ninth with a solo home run off Jeff Hoffman. Gimenez won the game in the bottom of the ninth with a single. 

In addition to the Blue Jays history, Gausman also joined a rare group in general baseball history, as pointed out by Sarah Langs of MLB.com:

Most strikeouts with no walks on Opening Day, since 1900:

2025 MacKenzie Gore: 13

1980 J.R. Richard: 13

1967 Bob Gibson: 13

2026 Kevin Gausman: 11

2024 Corbin Burnes: 11

2017 Madison Bumgarner: 11

1998 Mike Mussina: 11

Gausman, Gore, Burnes: only P with 10+ K, 0 BB & 1/0 H on OD in span

Gausman went 10-11 in 2025, posting a 3.59 ERA. A strikeout machine who led the American League in strikeouts in 2023, he fanned 189 batters in 193.0 innings last season.

For his career, Gausman is 112-113. He has played with the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Blue Jays. This is the fifth year of his five-year Jays contract. It's unclear what he'll do when the contract ends.

On the other side, A's pitcher Luis Severino went five innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out three.

The Blue Jays got scoreless innings out of Louis Varland and Tyler Rogers. 

The two teams will be back at it again on Saturday afternoon at 3:07 p.m. ET. Dylan Cease, signed to a $210 million deal this offseason, will pitch against left-hander Jeffrey Springs.

Toronto kicked off its 50th season before the game with an elaborate pre-game ceremony. The organization raised the 2025 AL East banner into the rafters and got good praise from George Springer, who took the microphone along with Vladiir Guerrero Jr. 

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