GDB 138.0: Can the Blue Jays bats bounce back against the Twins?

Photo credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
Aug 31, 2024, 17:43 EDT
The red-hot Toronto Blue Jays offence ran into a brick wall Friday night, failing to get a single run past Minnesota Twins pitchers Pablo Lopez, Jax Griffin, nor Johan Duran as they fell 2-0.
Despite seven hits, none of which for extra bases, they stranded four runners in scoring position, something they’ll look to change Saturday night for Game 2 of the weekend series. To do so, the Blue Jays will have to connect against rookie Zebby Matthews, who is set to make his fourth major league start tonight.
Since being called up earlier this month, he’s started three games against the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals where across 15 innings — five per game — he’s posted a 3.00 ERA, giving up five earned runs, allowing 13 hits, walking a pair and striking out 13.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, will send Jose Berrios to the mound, whose been one of the hottest pitchers in the game over the last few weeks. Tonight will be his sixth career start against the Twins, having posted a 4.03 ERA across 29 prior innings pitched.
First pitch: 7:10 p.m. EST.
TV & Radio: Sportsnet, SN590.
Odds via Bet365:
Moneyline: TOR +120; MIN -140.
Spread: TOR +1.5 -165; MIN -1.5 +140.
Over/Under: o9 -110; u9 -110.
Spread: TOR +1.5 -165; MIN -1.5 +140.
Over/Under: o9 -110; u9 -110.
*Odds at the time of publishing. Odds subject to change.
Starting pitchers:
| Name | Team | GS | W | L | IP | ERA | xERA | ERA- | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
José Berríos | TOR | 27 | 13 | 9 | 164.1 | 3.72 | 5.08 | 93 | 4.89 | 1.17 | 7.06 | 2.52 |
Zebby Matthews | MIN | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15.0 | 3.00 | 3.53 | 74 | 3.77 | 1.00 | 7.80 | 1.20 |
Lineups:
BLUE JAYS:
- G Springer (R) RF
- D Varsho (L) CF
- V Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
- S Horwitz (L) DH
- A Barger (L) 3B
- A Kirk (R) C
- W Wagner (L) 2B
- N Lukes (L) LF
- L Jiménez (R) SS
TWINS:
Need to bide the time until first pitch?
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about all the happenings in Toronto and beyond.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
SPONSORED BY bet365
Breaking News
- 3 ways the Blue Jays could bolster their roster at the 2026 trade deadline
- 2026 Blue Jays draft picks Gable Mitchell and Bryce Chance debut in High-A Vancouver
- 4 key series that will define the Blue Jays’ month of August
- Two seasons removed from previous sell-off, this year’s feels ‘murky’ for Blue Jays
- Instant Reaction: Blue Jays take series opener against Cardinals thanks to Luis Urías’ pinch hit two-run single
