Toronto Sports FanZone – Who’s in action tonight?
A quick and easy way to find out which Toronto sports teams are playing tonight: Leafs, Raptors, Jays, TFC, Argos and more
Toronto Raptors (47-33) vs Houston Rockets (20 – 63) 7:30 pm at Scotiabank Arena
Watch it on TSN
Tonight the Toronto Raptors tip off against the struggling Houston Rockets in their final home game of the regular season. Toronto defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 119-114 Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors are 10-6 on the second night of a back-to-back this season after going 3-13 last year. Toronto currently sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference after going on a tear the last month. The Raps have been on fire as of late and have already sealed their berth in this year’s NBA playoffs.
Toronto (13.4) currently ranks second in the NBA in offensive rebounds. Scottie Barnes has set a new Raptors rookie record with 193 offensive rebounds this season. Chris Bosh (191) held the previous record in the 2003-04 season. Barnes leads the Raptors -and all rookies -in offensive rebounding this year.
Pascal Siakam is averaging 22.7 points, and career bests of 8.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 67 games (all starts) this season. Siakam is one of just five players in the NBA averaging 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic. No Raptor has averaged 22-8-5 over an entire season.
Tonight’s probable starters are Pascal Siakim, Khem Birch, Precious Achiuwa, Gary Trent Jr. and Scottie Barnes.
Injuries: OG Anunoby (Right Quadriceps; Contusion) -OutPrecious Achiuwa (Left Knee; Contusion) -QuestionableIsaac Bonga (Right Foot; Sprain -Big Toe) -QuestionableYuta Watanabe (Left Quadriceps; Soreness) -Questionable
Toronto Blue Jays HOME OPENER vs Texas Rangers – 7:07 pm at Rogers Centre
Watch it on Sportsnet One
Tonight the Blue Jays begin their first full season at home since March 28, 2019 and there is a whole lot for Jays fans to get excited about thanks to several quality off-season acquistions to bolster pitching and defense. They already had one of the most potent batting lineups in the majors.
Right-handed pitcher Jose Berrios gets the start for opening night. The Opening Night lineup looks like this:
- George Springer (R) CF
- Bo Bichette (R) SS
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
- Teoscar Hernandez (R) RF
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) LF
- Alejandro Kirk (R) DH
- Matt Chapman (R) 3B
- Danny Jansen (R) C
- Cavan Biggio (L) 2B
Aside from the strongest roster the team has assembled in years, there is a brand-new videoboard at Rogers Centre featuring an 8,076 sq. ft. display with lower wings that span more than 250 ft. and a 2.5x greater resolution from the old board. In addition to the gigantic scoreboard, the stadium lights have been completely replaced with a state-of-the-art LED system; Rogers Centre is the first MLB ballpark (with the Miami Marlins) to feature independent red, green, blue, and amber fixtures meaning millions of colours can be cascaded throughout the stadium for an infinite number of scenes.
We mentioned here earlier that the Blue Jays have embarked on a new beer collab with Mill Street Brewery. It’s called Blue Wave and it is classified as a lager with more of an IPA flavour profile. You can read about it here.
The Blue Jays have listened to fan feedback and expanded the craft beer offerings at Rogers Centre, introducing a dedicated Craft Beer Korner (Section 104) with 16 different craft options, also available on each level of the ballpark.
The Jays will host a three-game stand with the Texas Rangers this weekend at 7:07 pm Friday, 3:07 pm Saturday and 1:37 pm Sunday. Following the weekend, the Jays will head to Yankee Stadium to play four nights against perennial MLB favourites, the New York Yankees.
Here is a detailed breakdown of what is happening on Opening Night at the Rogers Centre.
Toronto Blue Jays Opening Night Ceremonies
- 2021 individual awards presentations:
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Hank Aaron Award and Silver Slugger
- Teoscar Hernández – Silver Slugger
- Marcus Semien (2021 Blue Jay returning with the Texas Rangers) – Silver Slugger and Gold Glove
- Matt Chapman will have his Gold Glove presented during next weekend’s homestand vs. his former team, the Oakland Athletics
- 14 Canadian 2022 Winter Olympians and Paralympians celebrated on the field, with Sarah Nurse (hockey) and Natalie Wilkie (cross country skiing) throwing the first pitch
- Land acknowledgement given by Chief (Gimaa) R. Stacey Laforme of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, to be acknowledged pregame on video at every 2022 Blue Jays home game
- Unveiling of the new stadium lights and videoboard in a special display
- 240 members of the Canadian Armed Forces carrying the Canadian flag, and the Argyll and the Sutherland Highlanders of Canada presenting the colours
- National anthems performed by Sole Power’s Kibwe Thomas and Vaness Alegacy
- Fans attending Opening Night are encouraged to arrive early to catch the special ceremonies, with gates opening at 5 p.m.
- All fans attending Opening Night will receive a Blue Jays Panel Hat giveaway presented by TD, as well as a 2022 magnet schedule on exit
- Opening Weekend festivities continue through Sunday, featuring a George Springer Bobblehead giveaway presented by TD, for the first 15,000 fans on Saturday, and 2022 Winter Olympians throwing the first pitch through Sunday
- Jays Care Foundation is hosting an extended 50/50 Mega Jackpot presented by theScore Bet, to celebrate the start of the season, with sales open now through Sunday, April 17 (in-stadium and at bluejays.com/5050 for fans aged 18 and older located in Ontario) and a guaranteed minimum $30,000 prize in honour of Jays Care’s 30th anniversary
Tickets for Opening Weekend and the 2022 Blue Jays season are available now at bluejays.com/tickets.
Okay Blue Jays, Let’s Play Ball!
Toronto Maple Leafs day off
The Leafs are not in action tonight but they rebounded from their OT loss to the Panthers with a 4-3 OT victory over Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center last night. Auston Matthews (no surprise) scored the winner and now has a league leading 56 goals on the season. Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid is first in points with 108. While Matthews is 5th in points with 97 followed by his linemate Mitch Marner who has 89. Toronto hosts the Habs Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. Face-off is at 7pm and you can watch it on Sportsnet as well as Hockey Night in Canada, of course.
by Terry Lankstead with source notes from the Blue Jays and Raptors
Other articles from totimes.ca – mtltimes.ca – otttimes.ca
