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There is a great sense of anticipation for one team, while it is do-or-die for the other. These types of games bring out the best in players. This has already been a fantastic postseason overall, with multiple series going the distance. Whether this one does will depend on how the participants in today’s game handle that pressure.
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World Series Wrapup
Blue Jays Seek To Close Out Dodgers
The Toronto Blue Jays know the position the Los Angeles Dodgers are in. After all, the Jays trailed 3-2 in the AL Championship Series before winning the final two games at the Rogers Centre to advance to the World Series. Now, the Dodgers trail the Jays 3-2 in the World Series, only they face the prospect of having to win twice on the road if L.A. wants to become the first repeat champion since the New York Yankees won three straight (1998-2000). The Jays, meanwhile, are looking to win their first title since going back-to-back in 1992 and ’93 as they play Game 6 at the Rogers Centre tonight.
The Dodgers, with the largest payroll in MLB history, will have one thing going for them: Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Japanese right-hander is coming off a rare feat these days, pitching back-to-back complete games. The second came in Game 2 of the World Series, needing 105 pitches while allowing one run on four hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in a 5-1 victory. Kevin Gausman, the Jays’ starter in Game 2 who will go again today, was almost as good that day. Gausman went 6⅔ innings, allowing three runs on four hits with no walks and six strikeouts, done in by seventh-inning homers from Will Smith and Max Muncy.
The prevailing sentiment entering the series was the Dodgers were the superior team based on how they steamrolled the Milwaukee Brewers, with MLB’s best regular-season record, in the NL Championship Series and the fact the Jays took seven games to advance. But the Jays have used a balanced attack and gotten consistent and excellent production from their best player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. That can’t be said for the Dodgers, who might tinker with their lineup again for Game 6. While Shohei Ohtani has been decent offensively, the same can’t be said for Mookie Betts, who is 3-for-23 in the World Series and 5-for-38 the last two rounds, and Freddie Freeman, who is 5-for-20 and 9-for-36.
There hasn’t been a real pattern to this World Series. Yamamoto going in Game 6 gives the Dodgers the confidence they might otherwise be lacking considering the circumstances. But with the Jays playing at home, the Rogers Centre is sure to be electric as fans anticipate the team’s first World Series championship in 32 years.
Back on Home Turf ❤️🇨🇦 #WANTITALL
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-31T03:10:16.000Z
Yoshinobu’s locked in.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (bot) (@dodgersbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-31T01:33:37.000Z
By The Numbers
⚾ This will be the first MLB season to begin and end outside of the U.S. The Dodgers and Chicago Cubs opened the season in Japan.
⚾ The Jays will seek to become the fifth team to win a seven-game League Championship Series to beat a team that swept its LCS. The 1988 Dodgers, 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, 2007 Boston Red Sox and 2012 San Francisco Giants previously did it.
⚾ The Dodgers are hitting .201 as a team against the Jays in the World Series.
Around The World Series
Springer Likely Returning For Game 6
After missing the last two games in L.A. due to right oblique discomfort, it is looking like Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer could be back for Game 6. Manager John Schneider said the Jays’ leadoff hitter could have been put into action in Game 5 after passing some tests pregame.
“I’m glad we didn’t need him (in Game 5) and got him an extra couple days, but hopefully he’s good to go tomorrow,” Schneider said.
Springer reached for his right side after fouling off the first pitch he saw in the seventh inning of Monday’s Game 3.
Dodgers’ Ohtani Conundrum
How the Dodgers potentially use Shohei Ohtani in the next two games as a pitcher will be interesting to watch. As a starting pitcher, Ohtani is also listed as a DH on the lineup card. As such, MLB rules allow Ohtani to come out of the game as a pitcher, but remain in as the DH. However, the rules work differently for a reliever. Ohtani can still start the game at DH, but if he comes in as a reliever, he is treated like any other pitcher and, if removed from the game, he is out of the lineup as well. That could mean Ohtani could be deployed as a closer if not used as a potential Game 7 starter. Tyler Glasnow is likely to start for the Dodgers if there is a Game 7. Taking Ohtani’s bat out of the lineup would remove a potent threat if the Dodgers are in a tight game. Ohtani started Game 4. Another possibility brought up by manager Dave Roberts was using Ohtani in the outfield.
Extra Bases
⚾ The Blue Jays felt the Dodgers were stealing signs during Game 4, which is why reliever Louis Varland kept stepping off.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Down Goes Roberts
Manager Dave Roberts participated in a drill Thursday, running the bases with Hyesong Kim. It did not go well for the skipper.
Noteworthy News
Nationals Go Young With Butera As Manager
In the first major move for the Washington Nationals‘ new regime, 33-year-old Blake Butera is being hired as the team’s new manager. Butera will become the youngest MLB manager since Frank Quilici, who was 33 years, 27 days when hired by the Minnesota Twins. Butera was 33 years, 84 days on Thursday. This is the first hire for new Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni. Toboni and Butera take over for Mike Rizzo and Dave Martinez, who were fired July 6 during what would end up being a 66-96 season, the fifth time in six seasons the Nationals finished last in the NL East after winning the World Series in 2019. Butera has served the last two years as the senior director of player development for the Tampa Bay Rays. Before that, Butera served in various roles, in the Rays’ system since 2018, when he was named the youngest manager in all of the minors at the time when he coached the short-season Hudson Valley Renegades. Currently, one player on the Nationals’ 40-man roster is older than Butera: pitcher Trevor Williams, who is 3½ months older.
Nationals will reportedly name Blake Butera as their new manager, per multiple reports including MLB's @JessicaCamerato.
Prominent Agent Banned 4 Years
Jim Murray, a notable player agent, was suspended for four years by the MLB Players Association for his double dealing with the commissioner’s office in 2020. Murray had worked with WME Sports until the first half of this year, before WME divested its baseball division. Murray is said to have revealed confidential information from the union to the commissioner’s office during negotiations of playing during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Extra Bases
⚾ A second company associated with the MLBPA is under federal investigation.
Articles You Should Read
Baseball buddies Guerrero, Bichette close to World Series title goal — Keegan Matheson, MLB.com
Daulton’s legacy lives on with Blue Jays’ Varsho — Alex Coffey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Twins needed a change in a big way. Is Shelton that change or a continuation of troubles? — Jim Souhan, Minnesota Star Tribune
This has been one of the most dramatic postseasons ever — Alex Speier, Boston Globe
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10 dynasty takeaways from 2025: Outfield — Jack Mueller
