Kevin Gausman breaks Blue Jays’ opening-day strikeout record

With 11 strikeouts through six innings on Friday against the Athletics, Gausman broke the Blue Jays’ franchise record for most punchouts on Opening Day. Gausman broke the record in the fifth inning with his 10th K of the game.

The 35-year-old surpassed the previous high watermark of nine, held by Roy Halladay and Esteban Loaiza.

Halladay achieved the feat in 2004 against the Detroit Tigers, matching Loaiza’s total from three years prior against the Texas Rangers to open Toronto’s season.

Not only did he break a Blue Jays record, but Gausman also became just the seventh pitcher since 1901 with zero walks and 11-plus strikeouts in an Opening Day start, per Sportsnet Stats.

Gausman had the swing-and-miss stuff working early on Friday, striking out the side in order in the top of the first. By doing so, he joined Halladay in 2004 as the only two starters in franchise history to strike out the first three hitters of the year.

Entering the final season of a five-year deal inked with Toronto before the 2022 season, Gausman had long been a candidate to take the ball on Opening Day, but through various factors didn’t get the chance before 2026.

He had, however, previously made opening-day starts for the San Francisco Giants in 2021 and the Baltimore Orioles in 2017, striking out six and four batters, respectively.

Gausman is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted a 3.59 ERA and struck out 189 over 32 starts.

Now in his 13th big-league season, Friday marked the 28th time that Gausman had reached double-digit strikeouts in a single start. He achieved his career-high of 13 twice in 2023.