<p>It was &#8216;Bieber Fever&#8217; in Miami last night, as the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Blue Jays</a>&#8216; newest starter went six innings and allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out nine Marlins to notch his first win of the season. Bieber hasn&#8217;t appeared in a Major League game since April of 2024, undergoing Tommy John surgery and recovering from the procedure ever since. The Jays acquired Bieber at the deadline, and he carries a player option worth $16 million for the 2026 season.</p>
<p>Following last night&#8217;s win, the Jays will now turn to Jose Berrios to try and secure the series win in Florida.</p>
<p>Berrios has struggled since the calendar turned over into July, with the Puerto Rican product authoring a 5.68 ERA and a 5.62 FIP through 44 1/3 innings. The Jays have won seven of the nine games he has started, but he&#8217;s allowed 54 hits and 28 earned runs in that stint, including 10 home runs. His recent start against the Cubs on August 12th appeared to be the turning point, where he allowed just two hits with zero runs through 5 1/3, but the Texas Rangers torched him for 10 hits, two home runs, and six earned runs in the eventual loss on August 17th.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Back at it in Miami! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lightsupletsgo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lightsupletsgo</a> <a href="https://t.co/alxco1YTbg">pic.twitter.com/alxco1YTbg</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1959300245847773200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Opponents have accumulated a .261 xBA on the right-hander this season, and his statcast page is fielding a lot of blue, sitting below the 50th percentile in a majority of pitching categories. Berrios owns an 11.1% barrel rate (10th percentile) and only two of his five pitches own a run value greater than +1 (changeup at +2 and sinker at +1).</p>
<p>Taking the mound for the Marlins today will be Janson Junk, who makes his 12th start of the season (and 17th appearance). Through 82 1/3 innings in the Major Leagues, Junk owns a 4.04 ERA and a 1.117 WHIP. The right-hander owns a stellar 3.06 FIP, mostly due to his excellent command (1.0 BB/9) and his ability to keep the ball from going over the outfield wall, surrendering just six home runs this year (0.7 HR/9).</p>
<p>As a starter, Junk owns a 4.53 ERA through 59 2/3 innings and has found more success as a reliever. He&#8217;s been a regular member in the Marlins rotation since June 20th and has eight outings where he has allowed three or fewer earned runs.</p>
<p>Through August, he&#8217;s seen an uptick in runs against (15 through 22 innings), which has seen his ERA and FIP skyrocket to 6.14 and 5.34, respectively. Working with five pitches, his four-seamer is used the most, but he pairs that with a slider and sweeper to generate most of his weak contact. Those two pitches alone have generated a +11 run value.</p>
<p>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains out of the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-blue-jays-beat-miami-marlins-behind-shane-biebers-brilliant-debut">Blue Jays</a> lineup after suffering a hamstring injury during the Pirates series earlier this week. Ty France taks his spot at first base. George Springer will lead off and suit up as the DH while Addison Barger takes over in right field. Daulton Varsho will man centre field while Nathan Lukes slots in at left. Ernie Clement takes the hot corner while Alejandro Kirk is behind the plate.</p>
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<p><strong>Location: </strong>loanDepot Park &#8211; Miami, Florida</p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: </strong>4:10 PM EST</p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: </strong>Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan</p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; </strong>Jose Berrios: 9-5 record, 4.00 ERA, 146 1/3 IP, 121 SO, 49 BB</p>
<p><strong>Miami Marlins &#8211; </strong>Janson Junk: 6-2 record, 4.04 ERA, 82 1/3 IP, 58 SO, 9 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>George Springer &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Addison Barger &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Bo Bichette &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Alejandro Kirk &#8211; C</li>
<li>Daulton Varsho &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Ty France &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Nathan Lukes &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Andres Gimenez &#8211; 2B</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Marlins:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Xavier Edwards &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Jakob Marsee &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Agustin Ramirez &#8211; C</li>
<li>Liam Hicks &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Eric Wagaman &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Troy Johnson &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Javier Sanoja &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Dane Myers &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Maximo Acosta &#8211; SS</li>
</ol>
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It was 'Bieber Fever' in Miami last night, as the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Blue Jays</a>' newest starter went six innings and allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out nine Marlins to notch his first win of the season. Bieber hasn't appeared in a Major League game since April of 2024, undergoing Tommy John surgery and recovering from the procedure ever since. The Jays acquired Bieber at the deadline, and he carries a player option worth $16 million for the 2026 season.

Following last night's win, the Jays will now turn to Jose Berrios to try and secure the series win in Florida.

Berrios has struggled since the calendar turned over into July, with the Puerto Rican product authoring a 5.68 ERA and a 5.62 FIP through 44 1/3 innings. The Jays have won seven of the nine games he has started, but he's allowed 54 hits and 28 earned runs in that stint, including 10 home runs. His recent start against the Cubs on August 12th appeared to be the turning point, where he allowed just two hits with zero runs through 5 1/3, but the Texas Rangers torched him for 10 hits, two home runs, and six earned runs in the eventual loss on August 17th.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1959300245847773200

Opponents have accumulated a .261 xBA on the right-hander this season, and his statcast page is fielding a lot of blue, sitting below the 50th percentile in a majority of pitching categories. Berrios owns an 11.1% barrel rate (10th percentile) and only two of his five pitches own a run value greater than +1 (changeup at +2 and sinker at +1).

Taking the mound for the Marlins today will be Janson Junk, who makes his 12th start of the season (and 17th appearance). Through 82 1/3 innings in the Major Leagues, Junk owns a 4.04 ERA and a 1.117 WHIP. The right-hander owns a stellar 3.06 FIP, mostly due to his excellent command (1.0 BB/9) and his ability to keep the ball from going over the outfield wall, surrendering just six home runs this year (0.7 HR/9).

As a starter, Junk owns a 4.53 ERA through 59 2/3 innings and has found more success as a reliever. He's been a regular member in the Marlins rotation since June 20th and has eight outings where he has allowed three or fewer earned runs.

Through August, he's seen an uptick in runs against (15 through 22 innings), which has seen his ERA and FIP skyrocket to 6.14 and 5.34, respectively. Working with five pitches, his four-seamer is used the most, but he pairs that with a slider and sweeper to generate most of his weak contact. Those two pitches alone have generated a +11 run value.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains out of the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-blue-jays-beat-miami-marlins-behind-shane-biebers-brilliant-debut">Blue Jays</a> lineup after suffering a hamstring injury during the Pirates series earlier this week. Ty France taks his spot at first base. George Springer will lead off and suit up as the DH while Addison Barger takes over in right field. Daulton Varsho will man centre field while Nathan Lukes slots in at left. Ernie Clement takes the hot corner while Alejandro Kirk is behind the plate.

<hr />

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<strong>Location: </strong>loanDepot Park - Miami, Florida

<strong>First Pitch: </strong>4:10 PM EST

<strong>Watch/Listen: </strong>Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - </strong>Jose Berrios: 9-5 record, 4.00 ERA, 146 1/3 IP, 121 SO, 49 BB

<strong>Miami Marlins - </strong>Janson Junk: 6-2 record, 4.04 ERA, 82 1/3 IP, 58 SO, 9 BB
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>George Springer - DH</li>
 	<li>Addison Barger - RF</li>
 	<li>Bo Bichette - SS</li>
 	<li>Alejandro Kirk - C</li>
 	<li>Daulton Varsho - CF</li>
 	<li>Ty France - 1B</li>
 	<li>Nathan Lukes - LF</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - 3B</li>
 	<li>Andres Gimenez - 2B</li>
</ol>
<strong>Marlins:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Xavier Edwards - 2B</li>
 	<li>Jakob Marsee - CF</li>
 	<li>Agustin Ramirez - C</li>
 	<li>Liam Hicks - 1B</li>
 	<li>Eric Wagaman - DH</li>
 	<li>Troy Johnson - LF</li>
 	<li>Javier Sanoja - 3B</li>
 	<li>Dane Myers - RF</li>
 	<li>Maximo Acosta - SS</li>
</ol>

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