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Berrios regains top form as Blue Jays navigate uncertain future
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    Berrios regains top form as Blue Jays navigate uncertain future

    TORONTO — It’s been a weekend of uncertainty for the Toronto Blue Jays. 

    The Friday trade of Yimi Garcia marked the beginning of the club’s roster churn and that was followed by Nate Pearson and Danny Jansen being shipped out the next day. There’s more to come, as well. 

    Yusei Kikuchi will also be dealt ahead of the July 30 deadline and so could fellow pending free agents Justin Turner and Kevin Kiermaier. 

    All told, there’s a level of unsteadiness pervading the Blue Jays clubhouse at the moment, but the outing from starter Jose Berrios on Sunday offered a dose of stability. 

    Berrios rebounded from a string of rough outings to shut down the Texas Rangers during a 7-3 win in front of 40,052 at Rogers Centre. With the win, the Blue Jays picked up just their second series sweep of the season. 

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    The future of many players on the Blue Jays roster is unclear. What the team will look like, say, two years from now, is not known. However, Berrios has a seven-year contract that will keep him here through the 2028 season. He does have an opt out after 2026, but either way, his tenure with the Blue Jays figures to last beyond that of some of his current teammates. 

    And so, getting the right-hander on track for the rest of the 2024 campaign season would be a necessary and encouraging sign. 

    Berrios enjoyed a strong two months to open the season but was uneven in June and struggled all through July. He’d allowed 17 runs over 19.2 innings across his previous four starts and, in his last start, tied a career-high by issuing six walks. 

    On Sunday, though, his command returned and the right-hander looked more like himself. 

    Berrios twice pitched out of jams in the early going, escaping first-and-third situations unscathed in both the first and third innings. The right-hander induced key strikeouts in each of those situations, relying on an effective sinker and slurve. 

    His only blemish was Nathaniel Lowe’s run-scoring single in the sixth and, in total, Berrios allowed just the one run on six hits over seven frames, striking out five. Perhaps most importantly, he didn’t allow a walk. 

    The Blue Jays’ offence gave Berrios plenty of margin for error by putting up early runs against a Rangers pitching staff that was at a disadvantage before its first pitch. 

    Texas starter Jon Gray was removed from the game with right groin discomfort after throwing his warm-up pitches in the first inning and was replaced by Jonathan Hernandez, who surrendered home runs to Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first and third innings, respectively. 

    Addison Barger added a double to right-centre field in the third inning off Rangers reliever Jacob Latz that plated two runs and pushed the score to 6-0. 

    Blue Jays reliever Genesis Cabrera surrendered a two-run homer to Josh Smith in the eighth that cut the lead to 7-3, but right-hander Zach Pop locked the game down from there. 

    The Blue Jays will now head to Baltimore for a four-game series against the Orioles, beginning with Monday’s double-header. Tuesday marks deadline day and so, the players inside the clubhouse will no doubt be braced for more goodbyes.

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    After a rocky start to the season, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios has regained his top form in recent weeks, providing a much-needed boost to the team as they navigate an uncertain future.

    Berrios, who was acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Minnesota Twins last season, struggled early on with his command and consistency on the mound. However, in his last few starts, the 27-year-old right-hander has shown flashes of the dominant pitcher that made him an All-Star in 2018 and 2019.

    In his most recent outing against the New York Yankees, Berrios tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out eight batters. His performance not only helped the Blue Jays secure a crucial win in their push for a playoff spot but also served as a reminder of his immense talent and potential.

    Berrios’ resurgence couldn’t have come at a better time for the Blue Jays, who are facing an uncertain future as they approach the end of the regular season. With key players like Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray set to hit free agency, the team will have some tough decisions to make in the offseason.

    Despite the uncertainty surrounding the roster, Berrios’ recent success has given fans and management alike reason to be optimistic about the team’s chances moving forward. His ability to pitch deep into games and keep opposing hitters off balance will be crucial down the stretch as the Blue Jays look to secure a postseason berth.

    As Berrios continues to pitch at a high level, the Blue Jays will be hoping that he can help lead them to success in the playoffs and beyond. With his talent and experience, he has the potential to be a difference-maker for Toronto as they aim to compete with the best teams in the league.

    Overall, Berrios’ return to form is a welcome development for the Blue Jays as they navigate an uncertain future. His recent performances have shown that he has what it takes to be a top pitcher in the league, and his success will be key to the team’s success moving forward.