The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels are set to conclude their three-game series in Anaheim on Wednesday evening. Both teams have entered a phase of reflection, preparing for the final six weeks of what has been a challenging season. The pitching duel will feature Blue Jays’ right-hander Jose Berrios (10-9, 3.97) against Angels’ lefty Tyler Anderson (9-10, 2.99). The first pitch is slated for 9:35 pm EST.
Blue Jays Lean on Berrios
The Toronto Blue Jays entered the season with high expectations, boasting All-Stars like Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr., and a pitching rotation that promised to be one of the best in the American League. However, the reality has been quite different. Bichette has faced difficulties at the plate and is currently sidelined with an injury, while the pitching staff has struggled to perform consistently. Currently sitting at the bottom of the AL East, the Blue Jays are anticipated to make significant roster changes as the season winds down. In a positive turn, the Jays secured victories in the first two games of the series, highlighted by home runs from Guerrero Jr. and rookie Spencer Horwitz.
The Blue Jays are counting on veteran Jose Berrios for the third game in this series. Once considered a trade candidate, Berrios remains with the team as they approach the final stretch of the season. He holds a record of 10-9, with a 3.97 ERA and a WHIP of 1.21 over 24 appearances, including 14 quality starts. He has surrendered 130 hits in 142 innings, striking out 111 batters and allowing 26 home runs. In his most recent outing, he pitched 6.1 innings in a tightly contested 3-2 win, allowing eight hits and two unearned runs while striking out five.
Key Injuries: Shortstop Bo Bichette, Orelvis Martinez, relief pitcher Jordan Romero, starting pitcher Alek Manoah, and catcher Payton Henry are unavailable.
Angels Rely on Anderson
The Los Angeles Angels have faced a tumultuous season, which began in the offseason when they were unable to retain 2023 AL MVP Shohei Ohtani. This setback has compounded with numerous injuries, particularly affecting former MVP Mike Trout, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the year due to a knee injury. As a result, the Angels find themselves in fourth place in the AL West, with slim hopes of playoff contention. They will aim to avoid a series sweep against the Blue Jays after struggling offensively in the first two matchups.
The Angels will turn to Tyler Anderson for Wednesday’s game. Anderson has proven to be a steady presence on the mound, with a record of 9-10 and an impressive ERA of 2.99, along with a WHIP of 1.15. Over 141.2 innings, he has allowed 111 hits and has recorded 109 strikeouts, though he has also given up 17 home runs this season. In his last start, he earned a win against the Yankees, pitching 6.1 innings while yielding just three hits and one run, striking out seven batters.
Key Injuries: Center fielder Mike Trout, relief pitchers Adam Cimber and Andrew Wantz are sidelined.
Analysis and Betting Insights for Blue Jays vs. Angels
Berrios has had a season of contrasting performances. At home, he has excelled with a record of 8-2 and a sub-3.00 ERA. Conversely, on the road, he struggles significantly, tallying a 2-7 record with an elevated ERA of 5.37, while allowing a troubling 26 home runs, one of the highest in the league. In contrast, Tyler Anderson has been a reliable option for the Angels, with a consistent ERA of 2.99 and the most quality starts on the team. He tends to pitch to contact, which may prevent the Blue Jays from capitalizing on Berrios’s road difficulties. This matchup appears to favor the Angels if Anderson maintains his form.
