Toronto Blue Jays @ Los Angeles Angels - May 7, 2025

As I look ahead to tonight’s matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels, I’m reminded of the old coaching adage: “Pitching wins games.” In this particular case, I believe that will hold true as the Blue Jays aim to break their three-game losing streak.

The Blue Jays will send out their right-hander who has shown glimpses of brilliance despite an inconsistent start to the season. With a record of 1-1 and a 4.4 ERA, he’s not exactly lighting up the scoreboards, but he brings an impressive strikeout rate into this game at just over nine per nine innings pitched. That ability to rack up strikeouts can be pivotal when it comes to shutting down opposing hitters; it’s crucial for relieving pressure on defense and minimizing scoring opportunities.

On the other side, we have a left-hander from Los Angeles who is still searching for his first win this season with an alarming 0-4 record and an even higher ERA in the 5s range. His struggles are evident in both runs allowed and in finding consistency through various lineups—a recipe for disaster against any competitive team like Toronto. With nearly seven strikeouts per nine innings, you might expect him to mitigate damage at times; however, without consistent run support or defensive backing, one bad inning can unravel everything.

Both teams have been experiencing some rough patches offensively lately. The Angels’ offense averages just above three and a half runs per game with a batting average hovering around .208—numbers that don’t typically inspire confidence when facing tough pitching opponents. Meanwhile, Toronto has managed slightly better metrics with nearly four runs scored each contest but still showcases room for improvement regarding their overall hitting approach.

Given that context along with recent performances—the last outing where Los Angeles triumphed over Toronto 8-3—I suspect they’ll be riding high off that momentum initially entering tonight’s game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. However, successful teams often rebound from losses stronger than before.

Considering all factors combined—the starting pitching match-up tilting heavily in favor of Berríos—and given how well he can punch out batters while limiting base runners effectively leads me to predict that Toronto comes out on top this evening.

With that said, I also foresee plenty of runs being scored again which could push totals bettors toward betting ‘over’ tonight’s set line at 8.5 given both clubs’ recent offensive outputs paired against susceptible starting pitching performances lately.

In summary? Expect a rejuvenated Blue Jays squad looking for redemption backed by steady starting pitching leading them past their rivals today while likely making way for fireworks offensively throughout!