Not only did last night feel like such a classic “2025 Blue Jays win”, but it was also the first win for the club at George M. Steinbrenner Field against the Rays this season. The Blue Jays look to take game two of this series tonight and increase their winning streak to six straight games, thereby potentially giving them more breathing room in their current playoff races.

Last night’s game featured a lot of batters facing pitchers for the first time, but tonight, that won’t be the case. The Blue Jays are sending out José Berríos to make his 30th start of the season, a feat he has accomplished for seven straight seasons (excluding 2020).

Berríos will be looking to build on one of his better starts of the second half when he allowed two earned runs over 5 1/3 frames against the Astros last week. He largely kept the ball on the ground and in the infield, and his sinker featured velos in the mid-90s. Even with the struggles that Berríos has had since the All-Star break, he’s still managed to keep his ERA under 4 at 3.99 with a 1.29 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, and 2.9 BB/9.

Berríos has built up quite a log of starts against Tampa Bay, with tonight being his 16th career start against them. He posted a quality start against them at George M. Steinbrenner Field back on May 24th; however, he took the loss in a 3-1 Rays win. Berríos allowed a three-run homer to Junior Caminero in the first inning, but he retired 17 of the next 18 batters he faced. He also faced them at the Rogers Centre a couple of weeks before that one, but he allowed five earned runs over 5 1/3 innings.

Of Tampa Bay’s current hitters, Yandy Díaz has had the most success against Berríos in his career, going 6-for-20 with a home run and two RBIs. Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe have logged four hits apiece against Berríos, with the former having a home run against him.

The Blue Jays are hoping to get a substantial outing from Berríos after using five high-leverage relievers in last night’s extra innings win.

The Rays are countering with 28-year-old righty Ryan Pepiot, who has already logged a career-best in starts (29), wins (11), innings pitched (163), and strikeouts (161). Pepiot has put up a solid year for the Rays, pitching to a 3.59 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, and 3.1 BB/9. He’s currently on a streak of very good starts, allowing just two hits and 15 strikeouts over his last fifteen innings. He also hasn’t allowed a run since his August 17th start against the Giants.

Diving into his splits, Pepiot has been very consistent across several categories, but he does have much better results at home (3.07 ERA) than he does on the road (4.20 ERA). Part of that success is from Pepiot’s start on May 25th against the Blue Jays, in which he allowed just three hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings in a resounding 13-0 win.

Pepiot had faced the Blue Jays just eleven days prior, but despite pitching five scoreless innings to start the game, his night would ultimately be tainted by a go-ahead three-run homer from Alejandro Kirk in the 6th inning.

George Springer and Addison Barger have failed to record a hit in six at-bats against Pepiot for their careers, but Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Andrés Giménez all have two hits against him.

Tonight’s lineup looks pretty similar to last night’s; however, Kirk is back in the lineup and hitting fifth. Also, Myles Straw is subbing in for Daulton Varsho, patrolling centre field and batting ninth. After making a couple of nice plays last night, Giménez is playing shortstop for the fifth straight game, a position in which he has failed to record an error this season.

Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field – Tampa, FL

First Pitch: 7:35 PM EST

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Toronto Blue Jays –  José Berríos: 9-5 record, 3.99 ERA, 160 IP, 135 SO, 52 BB

Tampa Bay Rays – Ryan Pepiot: 11-10 record, 3.59 ERA, 163 IP, 161 SO, 57 BB