Blue Jays GDB – 31.0: José Berríos looks to secure the series win against Boston
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Photo credit: https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1917958894116344197
Tyson Shushkewich
May 1, 2025, 16:37 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays found a way to squeak out a win last night at the Rogers Centre, clawing their way back from a 6-0 deficit on the back of a three-home run day spread across Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho, and Anthony Santander. Kirk ended up walking off the game in the tenth inning, sending a line drive to the outfield with the bases loaded to send Jays fans home happy on the same night as his bobblehead giveaway.
It was an exciting night for the Jays, who were looking to turn the tide on the back of a bullpen day that started out rough, thanks to the first few arms allowing multiple homers en route to the 6-0 hole. The go-to arms in the bullpen locked things down late in the game, highlighted by closer Jeff Hoffman tossing a spectacular two innings to keep the Red Sox at bay before the Jays walked it off in the tenth.
Toronto will now look to win the series and send Boston home with another loss, turning to veteran hurler José Berríos to get the job done.
Berríos tossed a solid seven innings against the Red Sox back on April 7th, allowing just one earned run off of four hits with three walks, but he has struggled to keep the ball in the yard all season long, allowing six home runs so far this campaign. The Puerto Ricoan product owns a 4.24 ERA through six outings with a 5.05 FIP, elevated due to his 15 walks and home run tallies, and ranks on the wrong side of the percentile rankings on the Statcast charts, so a strong start against the Red Sox for Berríos will go a long way for both the team and the player.
For the Boston Red Sox, right-hander Tanner Houck will be taking the mound, and the former first-rounder is off to a dreadful start to the campaign.
Through six outings, he owns a 7.58 ERA and has allowed 25 earned runs and six homers through 29 2/3 innings compared to 12 walks and 24 strikeouts. Houck has allowed three or more earned runs in four of his six outings this season and surrendered 11 earned runs against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 14th. The last time Houck faced the Jays on April 9th, the righty tossed 6 2/3 innings with five hits and one earned run, but the Jays ended up winning the day 2-1.
Lineup-wise, the Jays will give George Springer the night off while Addison Barger will start the contest at third base. Alan Roden, Daulton Varsho, and Nathan Lukes will be in the outfield while Andres Gimenez also sits today, with Ernie Clement getting the nod at second base.

Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada
First Pitch: 7:07 PM EST
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – José Berríos: 1-1 record, 4.24 ERA, 34 IP, 28 SO, 15 BB
Boston Red Sox – Tanner Houck: 0-2 record, 7.58 ERA, 29 2/3 IP, 24 SO, 12 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. Bo Bichette – SS
  2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
  3. Anthony Santander – DH
  4. Daulton Varsho – CF
  5. Alejandro Kirk – C
  6. Addison Barger – 3B
  7. Alan Roden – LF
  8. Ernie Clement – 2B
  9. Nathan Lukes – RF
Red Sox:
  1. Jarren Duran – LF
  2. Rafael Devers – DH
  3. Alex Bregman – 3B
  4. Wilyer Abreu – RF
  5. Trevor Story – SS
  6. Triston Casas – 1B
  7. Kristian Campbell – CF
  8. David Hamilton – 2B
  9. Carlos Narvaes – C