With the exception of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios has logged more than 145 innings for eight consecutive years, including this season.
On Saturday afternoon, Berrios will get the start and add to his innings total as Toronto plays the second game of a weekend series against the host Miami Marlins. The Blue Jays won the opener 5-2 on Friday behind six strong innings from Shane Bieber in his club debut.
Berrios (9-5, 4.00 ERA) was brilliant in June, pitching to a 1.97 ERA. However, he has struggled for the past two months, logging a 5.83 ERA in July and a 5.40 ERA so far in August.
The 31-year-old veteran is coming off a rough outing on Sunday against the Texas Rangers, when he permitted six runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Berrios is 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins, including a 1-1 mark with a 4.09 ERA in two outings at Miami.
He will hope to have first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. behind him on Saturday. The Toronto slugger left the team’s Monday game at Pittsburgh due to a left hamstring injury and hasn’t played since.
However, Guerrero went through a rigorous pre-game workout on Friday, and Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated that his star player may be nearing a return to the lineup.
“We all know how important (Guerrero) is to us,” Schneider said. “We’re trying to learn from past injuries of that nature. We’re being cautious, yes, but we’re also trying to get him back as soon as possible.”
With Guerrero out, center fielder Daulton Varsho stepped up in the opener at Miami, producing a homer, a double and three RBIs. Varsho, who won a Gold Glove last year, has 14 homers and an .891 OPS this season.
Varsho and the Blue Jays will try to extend the Marlins’ slump that has seen the team lose 13 of its past 18 games. A loss on Saturday would mark Miami’s sixth straight series defeat.
Oni Saturday, the Marlins will turn to right-hander Janson Junk, the 29-year-old journeyman who made his major league debut in 2021 and is now on his fourth team in five years.
This year, Junk (6-2, 4.04) has set personal bests for wins, appearances (16), starts (11) and innings (82 1/3). He also earned his first career save with a five-inning outing in his season debut on May 24.
Junk had a 4.84 ERA in June and a 2.79 ERA in July. Through four August starts, he is 1-0 despite a 6.14 ERA. The Marlins are 8-3 when Junk starts.
Junk has pitched just one inning against Toronto in his career, a scoreless frame on May 28, 2022.
The Marlins, who are essentially out of the playoff race, hope games against contending teams such as the Blue Jays will aid them in the long term.
“Every experience and every opportunity we get is beneficial in the now and also moving forward,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said. “Having a slate of opponents down the stretch that are of high caliber will force us to try to play a clean game that puts us in position to win.
“It’s a good time of the year to play this type of opponent. We know we can win. We have shown that all year.”