Listen, I don’t think anybody could’ve foreseen Monday’s game between the Jays and Astros going the way it did. Sure, Bowden Francis had one tough matchup, taking on a potent Astros lineup that scored just 11 runs in four games against the Yankees.
But a Ronel Blanco no-hitter? Come on. Nobody could’ve guessed that.
Nonetheless, the beat goes on and the Blue Jays will look to rebound as they officially turn roll through the starting lineup for the first time. Jose Berrios will take the mound at Minute Maid, coming off a season-opening win over the Rays, where he threw six innings, allowing two earned runs off six hits and one walk.
The outlook doesn’t get a ton better tonight, either, as Berrios has struggled against a number of Astros bats. He’s given up a .882 OPS to Jose Abreu, going 18-for-65 with three home runs, a 1.375 OPS against Chas McCormick, who is 5-for-8 at the plate, while Alex Bregman is 4-for-12 with a home run and a .934 OPS. Oh yeah, and that Kyle Tucker guy who launched two home runs Monday night is 4-for-12 with a home run and a 1.053 OPS.
Framber Valdez, who the Astros are sending to the mound, has kept the majority of Jays hitters in check over the years. Beyond Cavan Biggio going 2-for-5 with a home run and Bo Bichette going 3-for-10 with a home run, the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2-for-9 with two walks), George Springer (0-for-6, two walks) and Justin Turner (1-for-5) have struggled.
The hope is that Valdez’s rough start to 2024 continues. Against AAA+ competition in Spring Traning, he posted a 7.71 ERA across nine and one third innings, allowing eight earned runs and two home runs, while his season debut saw the Yankees get five hits, and take six walks, while scoring three earned runs in four and two third innings.
First pitch: 8:10 p.m. EST. TV & Radio: Sportsnet.
Weather: N/A.
Moneyline: TOR +130; HOU -154.
Spread: TOR +1.5 -161; HOU -1.5 +130.
Over/Under: o8.5 -102; u8.5 -118.
*Odds available at the time of writing. Odds subject to change.
Starting pitchers:
| Name | Team | GS
|
W
|
L
|
IP
|
ERA
|
xERA
|
ERA-
|
FIP
|
WHIP
|
K/9
|
BB/9
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Berríos | TOR | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6.0 | 3.00 | 4.06 | 77 | 4.19 | 1.17 | 9.00 | 1.50 |
| Framber Valdez | HOU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.2 | 5.79 | 6.81 | 148 | 5.88 | 2.36 | 9.64 | 11.57 |
Lineups:
TORONTO:
- G Springer (R) RF
- V Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
- B Bichette (R) SS
- J Turner (R) DH
- D Schneider (R) LF
- A Kirk (R) C
- E Clement (R) 3B
- I Kiner-Falefa (R) 2B
- K Kiermaier (L) CF
- J Altuve (R) 2B
- Y Alvarez (L) LF
- K Tucker (L) RF
- A Bregman (R) 3B
- Y Diaz (R) DH
- J Abreu (R) 1B
- C McCormick (R) CF
- J Peña (R) SS
- V Caratini (S) C
Need to bide the time until first pitch?
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Happy Hour with Andrew Stoeten, as and Nick Ashbourne try to make sense of Monday’s no-no, and the starts from multiple Blue Jays.
🎧BJHH: 122. Getting Blanco’d
It’s been boom-or-bust so far for the #BlueJays and this week @NickAshbourne and I check in on post-no-no vibes, and look at the starts from Vlad, George, Kirk, Varsho, Francis, & more! @nationnetworkhq @thejaysnation https://t.co/t7vBh7oc6w pic.twitter.com/YtRB6PrHC3— Andrew Stoeten (@AndrewStoeten) April 2, 2024
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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.
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