Monday night was not the bounce-back start to the 2023 MLB season José Berríos was hoping for. The 28-year-old starter was tasked against a 0-3 Royals team that struggled offensively and hit .180 coming into the game. The Royals torched Berríos for eight runs on nine hits and two walks over five-and-two-thirds of an inning.

It was deja-vu in Kansas City as the Blue Jays found themselves down multiple runs in the first inning for the second consecutive game. The top of the order struggled to get things going offensively until it was too late when Bo Bichette blasted the team’s first home run of the 2023 season in the top of the ninth, a solo shot to left-centre.

After a stellar 2021, Berríos had issues controlling his fastball in 2022, leading all AL starters in earned runs allowed and slugging percentage against (.732). The Puerto Rican worked on his hanging fastballs during Spring Training, but his first start did not show much progress from how he finished his 2022 season.

The Blue Jays will look to snap their three-game losing skid Tuesday when Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound against Kris Bubic in game two of the four-game series.

Berríos will get his next start on Saturday, April 8, against Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels. He has a 2-4 record in his career against the Angels.