UP: Jose Berrios
The numbers that Jose Berrios has produced this season have looked great, but if you’ve watched some of his starts this season, it’s easy to think that he has yet to put it all together. Outside of his Opening Day start against the Cleveland Indians, Berrios hasn’t looked like the dominant pitcher we’ve expected him to be, but he made up for lost time this week.
The right-hander shut down the Red Sox lineup for eight innings on June 17 allowing just one run on five hits while striking out 10. Berrios returned later in the week to shut down the Royals with seven shutout innings and may have been on his way to a complete game shutout if it weren’t for a blister that forced him out of the game in the eighth inning with a line of two earned runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
Berrios has pitched well all year long, but this is the dominant form he can achieve when he’s running on all cylinders. If he’s able to do that, the Twins will have a true ace for a potential postseason chase.