Latest news with #JoséBerríos
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
As momentum keeps building, Blue Jays need to add pitching depth as July 31 trade deadline nears
Get the latest from Frank Zicarelli straight to your inbox José Berríos #17 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning of their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants Rogers Centre on July 20, 2025 in Toronto, Canada. Photo by Cole Burston / Getty Images A defining stretch for the Blue Jays is about to begin as they continue to enjoy the view atop the AL East. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Following the team's upcoming three-game series against the visiting Bronx Bombers, the Jays will be in Detroit for a four-game set before heading to Baltimore for a four-game series. By the time the Jays return home on Aug. 1 to play host to the Kansas City, the July 31 trade deadline would have expired. It's no secret the Jays will be buyers as opposed to sellers last season when the team's fortunes were much different and decidedly dour. Pitching remains that elusive element every team covets, especially the Blue Jays, who could use a starter and a high-leverage reliever. Hitting isn't that far behind. An encouraging sign would emerge Sunday when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first home run since June 29, a blast that came in Boston. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The belt did seem to provide a jolt as Vlad Jr. then drove in three runs in the series opener against the Yankees, who were handed a four-game sweep. If history is to be repeated, Vlad Jr. needs to be a presence at the plate. Anthony Santander is back with the team and was in the dugout as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury. Daulton Varsho is making his way back following a hamstring injury. Say what you want about Vlad Jr., but his primary ability has been his availability, which shouldn't be viewed as some game-changing feature because everyone knows he must come at least close to that air carrier status befitting a franchise face. In the 13 games following his three-RBI game against the Yankees heading into the series finale against the San Francisco Giants, Vlad Jr. drove in a combined two runs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Since his homer at Fenway, Vlad Jr. had three total extra-base hits before he took Robbie Ray deep in Sunday's first inning, the first of three home runs the Jays would hit. The way the likes of Bo Bichette, George Springer, who is closing in on last year's home run and RBI numbers, and Addison Barger have been swinging the bat, hitting may not necessarily be among the most pressing issues the team will have to address as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. Vlad Jr. changes the whole dynamic, but he needs to be launching balls and not simply hitting sharply hit balls that excite fans fixated on exit velocity. The major area that has to somehow be filled is pitching, which is easier said than done. After leading 7-2, the Jays allowed the Giants to score four runs in the sixth inning, casting doubt on what looked to be a sure thing. Vlad Jr. drove in Springer to produce the game's final run. — Zicarelli Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons Toronto & GTA Relationships World
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
White Sox bats go cold against red-hot José Berríos
Aaron Civale 's struggles in the first two innings put the nail in the coffin for today's loss. | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The White Sox used up all their allotted runs on Friday night and could only muster up a single run against Blue Jays ace José Berríos for a tough loss. Ryan Noda started the game with a single, and after two outs, Luis Robert Jr. picked up a walk, but Lenyn Sosa's soft contact would cause a force out at second, stranding two. Unfortunately, it only took one pitch from Aaron Civale for the Blue Jays to take the lead. Bo Bichette took him deep with a leadoff homer. Civale bounced back after the home run to retire the next three batters in order. Advertisement The White Sox couldn't answer in the second and had an abysmal bottom half. George Springer and Ernie Clement started with back-to-back singles, and an Austin Slater overthrow out of right field sent Springer home: Davis Schneider singled with one out, resulting in an RBI, and Myles Straw followed. Bichette lined out, but Nathan Lukes singled to send Schneider home. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. thankfully ended a painful three-run inning with a strikeout. The White Sox got two runners on base via a hit by pitch and a walk, but Berríos and Civale battled to keep the third and fourth innings quiet. Civale gave up two hits in the bottom of the fifth, but was able to get Springer go down swinging, preventing any damage. With a little luck on his side, Miguel Vargas earned a stand-up triple with a fair ball in the sixth. Andrew Benintendi reached on a fielder's choice, and with a bit more luck, Guerrero aggressively went home with a grounder to first that was wide left and allowed Vargas to score, finally putting the Sox on the board. Advertisement Robert grounded into a double play in the next at-bat, stemming any momentum. The seventh was quiet for the Sox, and Civale seemed to be coasting in the bottom of the frame with two quick outs. But a pitch down the middle would give Guerrero a chance to put another run on the board, and his homer made it 5-1 before Alejandro Kirk grounded out. Berríos was finally pulled after a two-out walk in the eighth, but Yariel Rodríguez closed the frame for the Blue Jays after a force out. Jake Palisch, who skipped over Triple-A entirely, came in for his MLB debut and gave up back-to-back infield singles. Schneider's second hit of the game tacked on two more runs. The White Sox ended the game after being retired in order, amassing just two hits in the game after an explosive win Friday night. Futility Watch White Sox 2025 Record: 24-53, the second-worst start in White Sox history and tied for the 63rd-worst start in baseball history. A 24-53 record projects to 50-112 over a full season. A year ago, the record-breaking White Sox were 20-57. Advertisement This means that once again, the two worst season starts in the 125-year history of the White Sox have come in the past two seasons: 2024 20-57 2025 24-53 All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2025, 19,283 games) 9,618-9,665 (.4988). It's been 121 games since the White Sox had an all-time winning record. The White Sox are currently 47 games worse than .500 and falling under by 66 more games will land the team at its lowest point in its 125-year history. Record Since the New Pope Was Revealed as a White Sox Fan 14-24 Race With the Colorado Rockies for to the Worst Record in 2025 6 ½ games better Race to the Worst 'Modern' 162-Game Record (2024 White Sox, 41-121) Race to the Worst 'Modern' Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets , 40-120-1, finished three percentage points worse than the 2024 White Sox) Race to the Most White Sox Losses (2024, 121) Race to the Worst White Sox Record (2024, 41-121) 9 games better, in all cases Advertisement Race to the Worst Post-1899 Record (1916 A's, 38-124 adjusted to 162 games) 12 games better More from
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Loperfido homers as the Blue Jays beat the White Sox 8-4 for their 9th consecutive win
Toronto Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) CHICAGO (AP) — Joey Loperfido homered and drove in three runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 on Monday night for their ninth consecutive win. Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes also connected as AL East-leading Toronto improved to 27-10 in its last 37 games. Bo Bichette had two hits and All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked three times. At 53-38, the Blue Jays matched the franchise record for most victories before the All-Star break. It's the longest win streak for the team since an 11-game run in August 2015. José Berríos (5-3) pitched six innings of one-run ball, bouncing back nicely after he struggled in a no-decision against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. The right-hander improved to 16-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 27 career starts against Chicago. Mike Tauchman had three hits and two RBIs for the last-place White Sox, who won two of three at Toronto last month. Colson Montgomery, one of the team's top prospects, went 0 for 3 with a walk in his home debut. The Blue Jays opened an 8-1 lead when they scored five times in the sixth. Barger hit a two-run drive off Sean Burke for his 12th homer, and Loperfido chopped a two-run single over a drawn-in infield. Burke (4-8) was charged with six runs and six hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander allowed two earned runs in 16 1/3 innings over his previous three outings. Key moment Loperfido and Lukes hit back-to-back homers in the fifth, giving Toronto a 3-1 lead. It was Loperfido's first homer of the season and No. 5 for his career. Key stat It was Chicago's eighth consecutive home loss against Toronto. Up next Chris Bassitt (8-4, 4.32 ERA) starts for Toronto on Tuesday night, and fellow right-hander Aaron Civale (0-3, 4.29 ERA) pitches for Chicago. ___ AP MLB: Jay Cohen, The Associated Press
New York Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Blue Jays' carefully cultivated depth pushes win streak to 9 games
CHICAGO — Joey Loperfido slid down the depth chart as the Toronto Blue Jays vaulted into first place in the American League East. He watched the team start 10 outfielders before his big-league call finally came. But there's an aura of inevitability around the Blue Jays right now. No matter whom they turn to for a big swing or clutch pitch, they come through. Advertisement On the South Side of Chicago, Loperfido got his moment. A day after his big-league promotion, the young lefty launched a home run and drove in three as the Jays toppled the Chicago White Sox on Monday 8-4. Loperfido became Toronto's latest unforeseen champion, highlighting the revamped depth that is lifting the 2025 Blue Jays, who improved to 53-38. Their win streak rose to nine. 'The way we're playing so far, everyone's been contributing to the team,' José Berríos said. 'To every game, to every win.' The expected stars have delivered their win streak moments — George Springer's five homers, Bo Bichette's many doubles and lockdown saves from Jeff Hoffman. But the team's hot streak has come on the back of unforeseen contributions from the likes of Loperfido. It's a carefully cultivated supporting cast that's fueled the rise. Joey Loperfido is back with a BANG 😤 — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 8, 2025 Loperfido is the 14th Blue Jays hitter to record a hit during Toronto's winning streak. The 2023 Blue Jays had just 20 players record a hit all season. The Jays have the fifth-highest payroll in baseball with four players making over $20 million in 2025, but it's a shifted approach to developing big-league depth that's powered a season-altering hot streak. In player development, manager John Schneider said the Blue Jays are focusing on the skills that role players will need when they get to the majors. Toronto already rosters Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bichette. The lineup stars are set, so the 11th outfielder on the depth chart — guys such as Loperfido — needs a narrow focus in Triple A. The Jays still want to produce big bats, but Triple-A manager Casey Candaele asks those future depth players to bunt more, steal bases and learn how to pinch hit, too. Advertisement 'It's kind of, how are you gonna help the team win?' Schneider said. 'If you're not one of the 13 here, and you're one of the extra five or six in Buffalo, we're gonna ask you to do those things. I think we've kind of flipped our process a little bit.' It's not all sacrifice bunts and pinch hits when the prospects arrive in Toronto, but that's part of the path. The Blue Jays are in winning mode, not future obsessed, with Toronto sitting 15 games over .500. Any player who arrives in the big leagues must help the Blue Jays keep winning. There was no situational awareness or specific skill needed for Loperfido in the fifth inning Monday as he hammered a fastball to the bleachers with the bases empty for his first homer of the season. But Loperfido knew his task an inning later, with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth. A fly ball or pulled grounder would, at the very least, score an insurance run. On the first pitch, the 26-year-old yanked a slider down the first-base line, bouncing it over the White Sox defender to put the Jays up 7-1. THREE RBI for Joey Loperfido tonight 👏 — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 8, 2025 'We put a huge emphasis on him kind of making more contact this year,' Schneider said. 'And he's aware of that.' The approach to developing MLB help appears on the pitching side, too. The rotation veterans still carry the load for Toronto, with Berríos delivering six innings of one-run ball in Monday's victory. But part of the Jays' revamped pitching development emphasizes pitchability — understanding what level of aggressiveness and which pitches are best for the moment. 'I think we can make really good pitchers on a sheet of paper,' Triple-A pitching coach Drew Hayes said. 'If you just look at their raw stuff, you can do that. Whether or not that guy can go pitch in the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium in a tight game, whatever he can do on paper doesn't really matter that much at that point.' Advertisement That focus on pitchability over raw stuff showed up Saturday in Lázaro Estrada's four innings after Max Scherzer's early exit against the Los Angeles Angels. The Blue Jays had a lead and needed efficient innings to spare an exhausted bullpen. Estrada threw 70 percent of his offerings in the zone and earned the first-pitch strike on eight of 14 batters faced. He saved the bullpen and bridged the gap to Braydon Fisher, who finished off the win in extra innings. These moments are easy to overlook. Four innings of rookie relief and a yanked groundball that skitters into the outfield won't make the highlight tape at the end of the season. But the 2024 Blue Jays called on depth, too, and it wasn't up to the task. This year, Toronto's supporting cast is ready, carrying the Blue Jays on a win streak that hasn't ended yet. (Photo of Joey Loperfido: Matt Marton / Imagn Images)
Globe and Mail
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Blue Jays extend streak to nine with 8-4 win over White Sox
Joey Loperfido homered and drove in three runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 on Monday night for their ninth consecutive win. Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes also connected as AL East-leading Toronto improved to 27-10 in its last 37 games. Bo Bichette had two hits and All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked three times. At 53-38, the Blue Jays matched the franchise record for most victories before the All-Star break. It's the longest win streak for the team since an 11-game run in August 2015. José Berríos (5-3) pitched six innings of one-run ball, bouncing back nicely after he struggled in a no-decision against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. The right-hander improved to 16-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 27 career starts against Chicago. Blue Jays getting contributions from across the roster in eight-game win streak Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk named to his second all-star game Mike Tauchman had three hits and two RBIs for the last-place White Sox, who won two of three at Toronto last month. Colson Montgomery, one of the team's top prospects, went 0 for 3 with a walk in his home debut. The Blue Jays opened an 8-1 lead when they scored five times in the sixth. Barger hit a two-run drive off Sean Burke for his 12th homer, and Loperfido chopped a two-run single over a drawn-in infield. Burke (4-8) was charged with six runs and six hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander allowed two earned runs in 16 1/3 innings over his previous three outings.
