It is no surprise that the Toronto Blue Jays have given right-handed starting pitcher Jose Berrios the Opening Day nod. Berrios aka “LA Makina” has gotten the Opening Day nod for the third consecutive season since 2022.
Berrios has been a reliable and consistent starter for the Blue Jays. His top-tier defense as a pitcher was established in 2023, where he earned his first Gold Glove Award. Berrios and the Blue Jays will be facing AL East rivals the Baltimore Orioles with Zach Eflin getting the nod on March 27th to open up the season.
Lead the way, José
La Makina is our #OpeningDay starter! pic.twitter.com/4VaiV3KEud
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 17, 2025
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Berrios Earns Third Consecutive Opening Day Assignment
Last season for the Blue Jays, Berrios stood out in the rotation. He sported a 16-11 record with a 3.60 ERA along with 153 strikeouts across 192.1 innings pitched. Berrios had continued to get the job done in camp this season, recording a 1-0 record with a 2.35 ERA and 13 strikeouts across 15.1 innings pitched. While the nod comes as no surprise ace Kevin Gausman was also in the running and had a good chance of earning the Opening Day Nod.
Despite not putting up his best numbers last season due to a lingering shoulder injury that left him to start the season on the injury list, he still showcased dominance. He finished third in the AL Cy Young voting. Gausman earned two Opening Day nods in his career in 2017 (Orioles) and 2021 (San Francisco Giants). Chris Bassitt was also a possible option for getting the nod. The workhorse earned an Opening Day nod in 2021 with the Athletics.
But Berrios highly deserves the nod for his athletic prowess and dedicated mentality to the mound. In addition, he stabilizes the rotation by being on point and accurately hitting his spots. His strength and mobility are also two defying characteristics that make him a valuable asset to the rotation. His strong performances on the mound have led to him making clutch defensive plays and adjustments. With the addition of free agent signing Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays have an elite rotation this season. It is stacked with veterans and youngster Bowden Francis. He is getting an opportunity since he performed well in the late stretch of the season last year.
Main Photo Credits: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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