The Toronto Blue Jays will look to get back on track on Saturday in the second game of their weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Geraldo Perdomo hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning on Friday night to score the winning run for the Diamondbacks and help Arizona reach .500 for the first time since early April.
Looking to get Toronto back in the win column is Jose Berríos, who is coming off a no-decision where he had a season-best 10 strikeouts against the Seattle Mariners.
Unfortunately for Berríos, he has struggled to keep the ball in the park lately, surrendering a home run in seven consecutive starts.
The 30-year-old is 8-6 this season with a 3.76 ERA through 19 starts and has 12 quality starts. In his career against Arizona, Berríos owns a 1-0 record with a 0.73 ERA and 11 strikeouts. The Puerto Rican right-hander has won three of his past four decisions.
In his first game back in Arizona since being traded to the Blue Jays for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno in December 2022, it looked like Daulton Varsho was going to help his team earn a victory when he hit a leadoff triple in the seventh to help Toronto take a late lead. Instead, the bullpen was unable to hold on.
Moreno went 0-for-4 with a walk while Gurriel sat out with left shoulder soreness against the Blue Jays in the series opener.
On the line Saturday is Toronto’s two-series win streak, which could be snapped after knocking off the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners during their West Coast road trip.
Looking to help his team earn another win is Yilber Diaz, who will make his second big-league start after allowing just one run on four hits over six innings against the Atlanta Braves last week.
Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette has missed the past two games with a right calf strain and is unlikely to play Saturday. The game can be seen at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
After a tough series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Toronto Blue Jays are looking to bounce back as they face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Blue Jays will have their newly acquired ace, Jose Berrios, on the mound for this crucial matchup.
Berrios, who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline, has been a solid addition to the Blue Jays’ rotation. In his first start with the team, Berrios pitched six innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven batters. His presence on the mound has given the Blue Jays a much-needed boost in their quest for a playoff spot.
The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, have struggled this season and currently sit at the bottom of the NL West standings. However, they have shown flashes of potential and should not be taken lightly by the Blue Jays.
In order to rebound from their recent struggles, the Blue Jays will need to rely on their potent offense led by stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Marcus Semien. These players have been key contributors to the team’s success this season and will need to continue their strong performances in order to secure a win against the Diamondbacks.
On the defensive side, the Blue Jays will need to tighten up their pitching and defense in order to shut down the Diamondbacks’ lineup. Berrios will play a crucial role in this effort, as his ability to keep hitters off balance and induce ground balls will be key to keeping the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard.
Overall, this matchup between the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks promises to be an exciting one. With Berrios on the mound and their potent offense firing on all cylinders, the Blue Jays have a good chance of rebounding from their recent struggles and coming out on top in this important game.