Postgame
Well, the strategy coming in was get the starter out as soon as possible and bash the bullpen. Snell lasted into the sixth before the runs rolled in for Toronto as 12 men came to the plate and they hit both the starter and the relievers. The Jays looked every bit as formidable as they did v the Yankees and Mariners. The key? Limiting the big inning. The Dodgers had chances to put up cooked numbers early, but left with a pair of single runs – not nearly enough against a Jays team that can break out at any time.
So Toronto win Game 1, meaning they are in great shape: even if they lose tomorrow, one more Jays win guarantees a Game 6 right back at the Rogers Centre, where they’re very difficult to beat.
So that’s it for our live coverage of Game 1 of the World Series – thanks for following along with is, and wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and goodnight!
Updated
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, Final
Betts strikes out and the ballgame is over! The Toronto Blue Jays have stunned the heavy favorites in Game 1 of the World Series, thanks to a nine-run sixth inning!
Updated
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 9th
Ohtani is ruled safe, saving him years of embarrassment. It’s 0-1 to Betts.
Updated
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 9th
Lauer nearly picks off Ohtani! It was very close and the Jays are going to challenge. Really? OK!
Is this how it ends?
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 9th
Jays fans cheer “we don’t need you” to Ohtani, who turned down a huge offer to play in Toronto. At least for tonight, they’re right!
He walks, Betts is next.
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 9th
Eric Lauer is in for Toronto and the lefty gets right to work, retiring Tommy Edman on a pop out to the catcher in foul ground.
Now Pages lines to right. One out to go!
Now, will Ohtani hit his second gar-bage time homer of the night?
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, bottom 8th
Falefa lines out to left and that’s the inning. Three more outs for the Jays to take a 1-0 World Series lead.
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, bottom 8th
Vlady pops to center – that’s the second out. Kiner-Falefa is next.
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, bottom 8th
Someone named Will Klein is now pitching for LA. He gets Springer to fly to left before Barger gets his second hit of the night, this time a single to left. Slightly less dramatic than his previous at-bat.
One out, one on for Vlady, who hasn’t had to do any heavy lifting tonight.
THE FIRST PINCH-HIT GRAND SLAM IN WORLD SERIES HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/eQHuu1t4S8
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 25, 2025
re-live this instant classic.
Updated
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 8th
Bassitt blows Kike away! Inning over!
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 8th
Hernandez walks, then Muncy strikes out. Two down, as our gar-bage time coverage continues.
Email:
Michelle De Clair says:
“I think the Dodgers might be just a little bit happy the sixth inning is over…”
The same way the Yankees were happy when the fifth inning ended in Game 5 of the World Series last season.
Hunter Felt!
Esteemed Guardian writer returns to the fray to tell us:
“Sometimes in baseball, the entire game happens in a single inning.”
Hunter is absolutely right! He is always right. Baseball is about the big inning, absolutely.
We miss you Hunter!
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 8th
Jays starter Chris Bassitt is on in relief, fresh off his impressive bullpen outing in Game 7 of the ALCS. He gets Smith to ground out to first. Now Hernandez steps to the dish.
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, bottom 7th
Clement flies to center, Lukes grounds out to third. This is all against Dodgers reliever Justin Wrobleski who is in to mop up the mess.
After gimenez bounces out to second, this 1-2-3 inning is over.
On to the eighth!
Ronald is back
US president Ronald Reagan is back from the grave, talking about the dangers of trade wars in a commercial that was commissioned by the Province of Ontario, airing right on FOX TV in the US, and right as a Canadian and American team battle for MLB supremacy.
If anyone was still watching in the US it could possibly raise an eyebrow. Jays by seven.
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 7th
Freeman skies to right. Inning over. It’s stretch time in Toronto!
Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 7th
A Betts check swing – did he go? He did – strike three! Two outs.
HOME RUN! Dodgers 4-11 Blue Jays, top 7th
Ohtani crushes a curve to right field to get two runs back for LA. That cuts the Blue Jays lead to seven.
He ran around the bases quite quickly – I think he was unhappy.
Dodgers 2-11 Blue Jays, top 7th
Fisher comes on in relief and issues a four-pitch walk. What? Why is that exactly. So Edman is on first before Pages is caught looking for the first out.
That brings up the 0-3 Ohtani. Will his goose-egg continue?
Snell
He was a different pitcher tonight from the one who was so dominant earlier in the playoffs, and the proof is in the line:
5IP 8H 5R 5ER 3BB 4K 1HR
You may remember Snell faced quite a few batters in the sixth inning, but did not retire a batter, which is why his line reads five innings.
Ugly.
Updated
Dodgers 2-11 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Varsho flies out to left and this epic inning is finally over!
Can you believe this? Actually? Yes!
HOME RUN! Dodgers 2-11 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Kirrk’s second hit of the inning is a home run to center! It’s all Jays as they break out in the sixth, hanging nine runs and counting this frame. Absolutely astonishing!
Dodgers 2-9 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Kiner-Falefa, who pinch ran for Bichette in this very same inning is now at the plate – kind of amazing. And he pops to right for the second out.
Now Kirk is back for his second swings of the inning – he singled not so long ago.
Dodgers 2-9 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
John Schneider pushing all the right buttons tonight in Toronto, lifting Schneirder for Barger who delivered in the biggest possible way for the Jays!
Now Vlady bloops a single as this inning keeps on truckin’!
GRAND SLAM HOME RUN! Dodgers 2-9 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
The Rogers Center erupts! It’s an Addison Barger grand slam that breaks this ballgame wide open! Wow!
Updated
Dodgers 2-5 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Here’s the pinch hitting Barger who replaces Schneider. It’s 1-1 to the outfielder.
Dodgers 2-5 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Springer bounces to Betts who fires home for the force. Betts bobbled it so they can only get one out on the play.
After seven batters the Dodgers finally get an out, and here comes Roberts to get Sheehan as the Dodgers skipper goes to his bullpen again. Lefty Anthony Banda is heading in.
Reminder, they could have really used Vesia to shut down that inning right there, but he’s not available due to unforeseen personal circumstances.
RUN! Dodgers 2-5 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Gimenez delivers a base-hit to right field! That scores Varsho and the Jays extend their lead!
And the bases are loaded and there’s STILL nobody out! Oh, and here comes George Springer, who knows a little bit about hitting in October.
RUN! Dodgers 2-4 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Sheehan loses Lukes and Kirk walks home! That’s the danger of bringing in a starter during a dirty inning – a lot of pressure on the young man right there!
A Gimenez strike can blow this thing right open!
Dodgers 2-3 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
The count is full to Lukes!
Dodgers 2-3 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Not a soul sitting at the Rogers Centre – it’s 2-2 to the pinch hitter southpaw Nathan Lukes, who flew off the pine to face the righty Sheehan.
Updated
RUN! Dodgers 2-3 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Clement at the plate for Toronto, batting with the bases full of Blue Jays.
The crowd is up as Clement hits a fastball foul.
Next pitch: he delivers a base hit to left! Kiner-Falefa crosses the plate and the Jays are on top!
The bases are still loaded with nobody out!
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Snell’s 101’st pitch hits Varsho in the arm! The bases are loaded and nobody out for Clement, and Snell will finally exit.
Here comes Emmet Sheehan, who was an effective starter for LA down the stretch. Can he execute coming in during a dirty inning?
Stick with us to find out!
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Vasho, a mamoth blast down the right field line…foul!
Oh boy!
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Snell bounces a ball in the dirt – full count!
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
It’s 2-2 to Varsho and he wastes a pitch. It’s fouled back.
Huge at-bat here.
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Bichette is coming out in favor of Kiner-Falefa because Bichette just can’t run and just about field.
Now Kirk pokes a base hit through the hole on the right side of the infield! Two on, nobody out and here comes the home run hitter Varsho!
Pitching coach Mark Prior comes out for a chat with Snell. Robertson clearly isn’t into going to this bullpen in a big spot.
It’s 2-0 to Varsho.
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Snell works the count back to full before issuing a lead off walk to the Jays slugger.
Is that it for Snell?
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 6th
Meanwhile, Snell is out for the sixth approaching 90 pitches, facing Bo Bichette to start off the frame.
And it’s quickly 3-0…
Yesavage
I promised you the line on the 22-year old, who somehow figured out a way to keep his team in this game, bending but not breaking while avoiding the big inning. He deserves a lot of credit for hanging in there, because he didn’t’ quite have it tonight.
4IP 4H 2R 2ER 3BB 5K
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, top 6th
It’s 1-2 to Hernandez – he whiffs at a slider away! Inning over and a strong performance from Dominguez!
Updated
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, top 6th
Muncy pops out ion foul territory on the right side of the infield – Clement puts it away for out no2.
It’s up to Hernandez now in LA’s sixth inning.
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, top 6th
Dominguez is back after his one pitch end to the fifth inning. Teoscar Hernandez is ahead in the count before the righty throws hot buttered popcorn by the outfielder.
The fans are in Toronto as Dominguez paints the corner and strikes out Hernandez! One down, here’s Muncy.
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 5th
Schneider works a full count before grounding out into a double play – third, to second to first to get the stumbling left fielder, who fell over himself at the bag. So that wipes out the lead off single, and it means Vlady comes to the plate with nobody on, which is exactly how the Dodgers like it.
They also like that Vlady bounces to second – it’s easy for Edman, who tosses to first for the final out of the inning.
To the sixth, tied at 2!
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 5th
Drake watches Springer rip a lead off single v Snell. And Snell may be on his way out soon, I get the feeling.
Here’s Schneider.
Richard Woods says:
“Many argued when Gurriel Jr and Moreno went to the World Series with the D-Backs that the Jays lost that trade by only collecting Varsho in return. They were wrong.“
That first year, when Varsho was catching a lot, was a bit rough if I am remembering correctly. He looked great in the fourth inning though!
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, top 5th
Dominguez has given up three runs in five playoff relief innings, but threw a key blank v Seattle in Game 7 of the ALCS.
He makes quick work of Smith who skies out to right. After just one pitch from Dominguez, the inning is over.
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, top 5th
Freeman gives a breaking ball a ride, but it lands safely in the hands of Varsho for the second out.
Will Smith is next, but Fluharty won’t face him – he’s outta here. Schneider goes back to the well, this time for righty, Seranthony Domínguez.
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, top 5th
Betts rips a base hit to center. One on and one out for Freeman.
By the way, I’ll get you the line for Yesavage after the inning. Why isn’t he still in? He looked great last inning. I know, third time through the lineup, blah blah.
Where’s my cloud to yell at?
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, top 5th
Here comes Ohtani, who has been quiet so far. Except he’s not facing Yusavage, who is done for the evening. Instead it’s another rookie, southpaw Mason Fluharty who is in to face the baseball God.
And he punches Ohtaniout with a borderline strike over the plate! Ohtani doesn’t like it, but of course he’d never really show it, which is kind of annoying. He’s 0-3 tonight and here somes Betts.
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 4th
Gimenez looks at a call third strike and the inning is over, but not before Varsho’s blast ties the game at two! We’re all even after four!
Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 4th
Clement pops to center, then Straw hits a line drive that a running Hernandez spears in left-center field. So after the big noise, two quick out. Here’s the shortstop Gimenez.
HOME RUN! Dodgers 2-2 Blue Jays, bottom 4th
Kirk crushes a ball off the wall in right field for a long single, and then Varsho rips a first-pitch fastball over the wall in dead center field!
Home run! We’re tied!
Updated
Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, top 4th
Yesavage is ahead again, this time to Tommy Edman. And he waves at a splitter! Strikeout no5 for the kid, and now Andy Pages heads to the plate.
The center fielder quickly skies to right for the third out! That inning is exactly what Jays manager John Schneider was looking for.
It’s Kirk, Varsho and Clement coming up for Toronto.
Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, top 4th
Yesavage is back on the hill, 71 pitches into his start. Pitch 74 is a swing and a miss by Kike Hernandez for the first out.
If Yesavage can manage to get through the fifth without yielding any more runs it would be absolutely huge for Toronto.
Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, bottom 3rd
Ground ball to first – Freeman gathers it, fires to second for one, then Betts throws back Freeman to get the painfully slow Bichette. That’s an inning ending double play for Snell whose efficiency has picked up significantly: music to Dave Roberts’ ears.
Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, bottom 3rd
Guerrero walked in his fist at-bat, but here he rips a base hit through the hole on the left side of the infield.
So a base runner on for Toronto and Bichette, who takes a big rip at a high fastball to start off the at-bat.
Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, bottom 3rd
Scheider whiffs on a 3-2 change up. Is Snell settling in?
Here’s Vlady stepping in.
Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, top 3rd
Muncy can’t handle a splitter away! It’s strike three and Yesavage dances through the rain drops yet again. He’s allowed four hits and three walks in three innings and has only allowed two runs – how crucial is that?
Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, top 3rd
Ground ball in the hole at second – Bichette moving to his right makes the grab and first to first for the out! Not bad for a guy who has not played since September with a gimpy knee, and not bad for a guy who has not played second base in MLB!
It’s a big out, two down. Can Toronto get out of this cheaply again. Here’s Muncy, who is 1-1 tonight.
Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, top 3rd
Yesavage is missing high often enough. He’s behind 2-1 before getting Hernandez to chase a slider. It’s a 2-2 count.
Teoscar lays off another slider, this one in the dirt. Full count!
RUN! Dodgers 2-0 Blue Jays, top 3rd
Smith has an opposite field single that scores Betts as the Dodgers double their lead. Then Freeman gets caught on the bases and is tagged out, while Smith lands safely at second base.
Teoscar Hernandez heads to the plate with one out and a runner in scoring position.
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, top 3rd
Yasavage gets ahead 0-2 on the Dodgers catcher before a ball away makes it 1-2. Now a fastball just misses high. Not sure where that one missed! It’s 2-2.
Now a slider on the corner is outside. Full count! Is Yesavage going to walk the bases loaded?
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, top 3rd
Now Freeman walks. Gulp.
Two on and nobody out – this will be a real test for the kid. Here’s Smith, who comes up to the plate looking to cash in those free passes.
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, top 3rd
Mookie Betts leads off the third inning for the Dodgers.
By the way, I applaud Clemens being aggressive and trying to get to third on that last play of the second inning. That’s just the type of chance Toronto has to take to against a club that has more talent.
Meanwhile Betts is issued a lead off walk, which is a real no-no, and here comes Freddie Freeman.
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, bottom 2nd
Gimenez’ foul tip is caught by Smith – that’s the second out.
Now Springer grounds to first – Freeman’s momentum has him moving left. There’s nobody at second for him to throw to, but he fires to first and Springer is safe! But wait, Clement is heading to third! Snell fires over and guns down Clement! Inning over!
Wow! That’s a wild play right there, a rare 3-1-5 finish to an inning as the Jays strand a lead off runner.
Krikey!
Updated
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, bottom 2nd
Straw strikes out – which is something of a rarity for the contact hitting Jays. Here’s the ex-Mets, ex-Guardians shortstop Gimenez, looking to move that runner over and extend Snell’s rising pitch count.
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, bottom 2nd
So Toronto survives, what now? Well, Clement starts off their second inning with a base hit to left field. Bottom of the order contributions would really boost this Toronto team. Straw is next.
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, top 2nd
Ohtani grounds up the first base line and Vlady is there to make the play. He’s got it and is racing to the bag, trying to win the footrace. Ohtani is a step late and that’s the third out – inning over!
Toronto avoids the big inning, which is absolutely the only way to beat the Dodgers. Yesavage passes yet another test!
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, top 2nd
Ohtani is ahead in the count 2-1!
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, top 2nd
Pages chases a slider away! Two down!
That’s a huge out and here comes, gulp, Ohtani, who stuck out in his first at-bat.
WIth Ohtani on deck, turning two would be well advised.
It’s 1-2 to Pages beforw Yesavage deals a high fastball to even the count.
Now the fastball is low. The count is full! This is trouble for Toronto!
Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, top 2nd
Yesavage benefited from some timely double plays against Seattle in the ALCS – how about now?
Well, Eman dribbles a ball up the third base line and Clement has to put it in his pocket! No throw, which is smart by the way, and the bases are loaded.
The ninth hole is up and Andy Pages heads to the plate looking to blow this thing up early.
It’s a tense Toronto crowd looking on.
RUN! Dodgers 1-0 Blue Jays, top 2nd
Kike Hernandez delivers again in the postseason! It’s an RBI base hit, right up the middle! Hernandez crosses the plate and the Dodgers are on top!
See why the Jays missed opportunity last inning is a problem? You can’t miss chances against these Dodgerts – they’re just too good!
Updated
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, top 2nd
FOX calls Yesavage the second youngest World Series starter, and I’ll take their word for it. The kid gets Hernandez to bounce to short – Gimenez whips a throw over to second for the first out, but the throw over to first base is not in time.
So it’s a 6-4 force out before Max Muncy lifts the first Dodgers hit into left field! Smith moves to second, and so it’s two on and one out for Kike Hernandez, who has a habit of making things happen in the postseason.
How about now?
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, top 2nd
Yesavage walks Smith, which is never a good way to start off an inning. Now here comes Hernandez, a once beloved Blue Jays outfielder who comes back to Toronto in the wrong uniform.
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, top 2nd
It’ll be Smith, Hernandez and Muncy coming up for LA.
Yesavage falls behind 2-0 against the hard-hitting Dodgers catcher.,
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, bottom 1st
Varsho pops up to center – it’s easy for Pages who puts it away and ends the Jays threat. Not before Snell runs up 29 pitches though, many of which came under duress. Still, Toronto must take advantage of their scoring opportunities, and that didn’t happen. Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts will be quite happy about that result.
Updated
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, bottom 1st
Kirk lays off ball four in the dirt and the bases are loaded! FOX TV tells us this is the most pitches Snell has thrown in a single inning in his four playoff starts.
Here’s Varsho, up looking for some runs!
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, bottom 1st
Kirk nearly dumps a blooper into right field, but it’s foul. This will be pitch 25 coming up!
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, bottom 1st
Kirk wastes a fastball, fouling it back into the stands. And another! The Jays are working Snell’s pitch count to perfection here.
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, bottom 1st
Snell is just a bit off balance, and Smith heads out for a quick chat to settle his man down some.
Kirk runs the count full – how will it end?
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, bottom 1st
Snell falls behind 2-0. Then misses high with a fastball to run the count to 3-0.
Does Bichette have the green light? Yes he does, and Bichette pokes a ground ball through the right side of the infield for a base hit! Vlady heads to third, and the Jays have runners at the corners with two outs!
Here comes the dangerous Alejandro Kirk, all 5’8” and 250lbs of him!
The guy is a monster – can he come through here?
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, bottom 1st
Snell uses two change ups to help him run the count full. Vlady wastes a pitch to the left side extending the at-bat, before laying off a breaking ball in the dirt. That means Vlady has walked, and here comes Bichette to the plate with a runner on first!
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, bottom 1st
George Springer, whose historic Game 7 three-run blast helped to send the Jays to the World Series begins his Fall Classic with a bouncer to short, which is easy for Betts, who throws to first for the first out.
Then David Schneider follows with another bouncer to Betts, which is simple enough to handle – that’s an easy second out.
Now here comes the only Canadian citizen on the Toronto Blue Jays roster, the Montreal born Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Michelle De Clair is impressed!
“We just struck out Ohtani!! Giddy-up! This game is off to a great start!”
From where she’s sitting, that’s the truth, Ruth.
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, top 1st
Savage is ahead 1-2 before Freemen bounces gently to second base. It’s a grounder not hit hard enough to test Bichette’s knee, and it’s an easy third out.
Three up and three down for the kid, who passes an early gut check with flying colors! Here come the Blue Jays!
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, top 1st
Another 2-2 count, Yesavage deals a slider away, and Betts is able to lay off the pitch. Now the full count offering is chopped to shortstop – Gimenez makes the stab, throws over to first, in time to get Betts.
Two up and two down for the inexperienced rookie who seems poised and in control. Now Freddie Freeman is stepping in.
Dodgers 0-0 Blue Jays, top 1st
The count is even at 2-2 before Ohtani waves at a nasty splitter! Strike three! Ohtani is retired, so now all you have to do is get by Mookie Betts, who has been rolling for two months after an uncharacteristically poor season by his lofty standards.
Updated
Here we go!
The World Series is underway! Yesavage, a tender 22 year of age, delivers a fastball inside and in the dirt to Ohtani…gulp.
Incidentally, the Dodgers are apparently just 1-11 in the opening games of the World Series, according to FOX TV in the US. Kind wild, isn’t it?
First pitch is coming up really REALLY soon – please stand by!
E-mails
David Athya has written in:
“I think all the neutrals want a 7 game thriller. The Dodgers starting pitching was scarily good against the Brewers but with Bichette returning the Jays have more depth in their line up. Also some of the Dodgers hitters have yet to catch fire. I guess I’m talking myself into a Toronto win tonight to get the series off to a flier.”
They have to get this first game for reasons explained earlier!
Regular Roger Kirkby says:
“Hi Dave, what a set of playoffs we have had to get here, one of the best set of games to end up with two teams left. It’s had it all, pitching, batting and errors. It’s amazing how games change from bobbing along nicely then an error and one team smells blood. It can happen to any player and they must all dread it. Who’s gonna win it all? It’s hard to say. And that’s why I love baseball."
I do say Jays in seven!
John Keefe gets right to the point:
“Go Jays Go!”
Clean and concise. I like it!
Richard Woods has a word or two:
“As a Jays fan who has followed the downs and ups of this team over the past few years until the drama and joy of this season, may I suggest the most significant improvement has been the outstanding hitting? Fewest strikes out in the majors, consistent significant contact with two strikes, production up and down the order. That hasn’t happened by accident, so in all the talk of players who have made a difference to the team this season may I recognise the addition of David Popkins to the coaching staff?”
I agree, and consider Mr Popkins recognized.
National Anthems
Why on this night do we hear two national anthems rather than one? Well son, because Toronto is in Canada and Los Angeles is in the United States.
Pharrell Williams and a choir called Voices of Fire are singing the anthems tonight, because Nickleback presumably weren’t available.
This rendition of the The Star-Spangled Banner sounds more like a Christmas song than the national anthem. Awful! I give it a 3/10.
O Canada isn’t much better, maybe a 3.5/10.
This is no good!
Updated
O Canada!
Canada and the US share a long border and a long history, most of which has been friendly. Sure, there was that border dispute back in 1844, which was actually between the US and the UK, but mostly, it’s been peaceful. Now we have a tariff dispute that has really rubbed Canadians the wrong way, and so this series certainly has a bit more spice than it might have under more normal circumstances. Ontario has been making news by running a commercial spot featuring President Ronald Reagan speaking about free trade, trying to highlight what they believe are bizarre, punishing tariffs against their oldest ally. They’ve even run it during the ALCS, which is excellent ad placement. I’m sure the American audience will be watching it tonight, bringing another dimension to an already enticing match-up
Starting Lineups!
Los Angeles Dodgers
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Mookie Betts, SS
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Will Smith, C
5. Teoscar Hernandez, RF
6. Max Muncy, 3B
7. Kike Hernandez, LF
8. Tommy Edman, 2B
9. Andy Pages, CF
And Blake Snell on the hill for LA.
Here’s the lineup for John Schneider’s Toronto Blue Jays
1. George Springer, DH
2. Davis Schneider, LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero, 1B
4. Bo Bichette, 2B – running gingerly out of the dugout
5. Alejandro Kirk, C
6. Daulton Varsho, CF
7. Ernie Clement, 3B
8. Myles Straw, RF
9. Andres Gimenez, SS
And Trey Yasavage on the hill for Tdot.
Updated
Changes
Slugger Bo Bichette, out since September with a knee injury is back in the lineup, a substantial boost for a team that had little issue scoring this postseason. According to Steve Phillips, former Mets GM and current pundit, Bichette looked absolutely awful running, limping around the bases. So of course, he’s not only playing, but starting at second base, a position he hasn’t played in earnest since suiting up for the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2018. But hey, you can’t argue with logic!
Meanwhile, one of the few trustworthy arms Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has in his bullpen, Alex Vesia, will not be in uniform due to a “deeply personal family matter”.
The Dodgers released this statement:
“It’s with a heavy heart that we share that Alex Vesia is away from the team as he and his wife Kayla navigate a deeply personal family matter. The entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family, and we will provide an update at a later date.”
I hope whatever that is can be resolved, but clearly he will be missed.
The starters
Trey Yesavage is on the hill for the Jays, with all of three regular season games in the can in his young career. Toronto’s former no1 pick stunned the Yankees, who believed incorrectly they would stomp all over the rookie in Game 2 of the AL Division Series. The kid struck out out 11 in 5.1 innings in a game that was pure unadulterated joy for haters of the Bronx Bombers. Yesavage was hit hard in Game 2 v Seattle, but came back strong, going 5.2 innings while striking out seven in a Game 6 win at the Rogers Center.
LA’s starter Blake Snell needs no introduction, having won Cy Young Awards in both leagues. Once criticized for being a five inning pitcher incapable of hurling deep into games, Snell has pitched into the eight inning once and the seventh inning twice in five postseason starts, which is most definitely scary.
How has he performed at the Rogers Centre? He’s made eight starts, struck out 43 batters in 37.2 innings, and pitched to a 2.63 ERA. Most of those starts were with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Jays AL East rivals, and Snell’s record was 3-3 ion those starts. He’s also fresh, having made just 11 starts in the 2025 regular season while sidelined with injuries.
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It’s a numbers game
Here’s another stat set I heard on the radio today on my way home from the day gig. The last four teams to sweep their league championship series and then faced a team that went seven games in their league championship series, all lost!
The Dodgers have been on ice for around a week after winning four straight v Milwaukee, while the Jays went the distance against Seattle.
Baseball is bizarre in the sense that rest really isn’t all that helpful, at least to lineups. Hitters, who are creatures of habit, need to hit every day to keep their timing in tact. Sitting around for a few days is OK, but nything more than that is clearly a net negative. I was at the 2006 World Series when the Tigers swept Cleveland and had to wait for the Cardinals who beat the Mets in seven. The Tigers lost in five game and were a total train wreck at the plate, batting .199 and scored just 11 runs.
LA say they’ve been keeping warm by playing split squad games and feel good, but given the history, do you think the Dodger bats will be ready for Game 1?
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…at our rolling coverage of Game 1 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays!
On a plane? Camping in the mountains with no access to a radio? In the Gobi desert with no television? Good news, I’m going to personally guide you through this opening act to the Fall Classic.
Can we be honest with each other? It’s been a long time since I’ve been this giddy about a World Series. I am absolutely 100% brought in on this set providing each and every one of us top-shelf, elite October baseball, no question. It’s gonna happen, you just watch, or read.
We’ve got the Dodgers, with all their pomp, circumstance and star power, v a Toronto baseball team with some thumpers of their own. They actually care about putting the ball in play and avoiding strikeouts! And can even pitch a little bit as well. Yes indeed, this series has it all, and when you sprinkle in the tension between the U.S. and Canada, it has even a little more than that!
Of course, the Dodgers and their traveling team of all-stars, a ballclub that has the five best players in all of baseball - two of which are Shohei Ohtani - do have the edge here. So yeah, Toronto must get off to a good start, establish their offense early, get to that LA bullpen and at the very least, walk out of the Rogers Centre with at least one win in the two first games. Actually, now that I think about it, it’s really the first game that must be won. Why? Because the stats say so. World Series winners have taken Game 1 63% of the time. In the Wild Card era, 24 of 30 teams to win first won it all. Such numbers are extremely difficult to poke holes in.
Do the Jays have a chance? Oh, definitely, and Toronto fans tempted to bow their heads and pray pre-game should know they don’t need a divine strike to win this thing, because they have both the right style of play to counter the Dodgers, and they also have a few formidable horses of their own. Sure, LA is starting Blake Snell tonight, Yoshinobu Yamamoto tomorrow, Tyler Glasnow in Game 3 and finally, Ohtani in Game 4. It’s a formidable rotation, but win a game in Tdot, steal a game in LA, and you’re right back north of the border for a Game 6. That’s what we want - a long dramatic series to take us into winter, please!
So gear up for what I believe will be a long, drama-filled World Series. That means getting your beers, peanuts and cracker jacks ready, which should be done now while there’s still time! You can also join the blog and send me all your thoughts and feelings. E-mail me right here and I’ll put your name in pixels – your mom will be so proud!
More to come. Stick with us!
David will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at our experts’ predictions for the 121st Fall Classic.
Dodgers 4-2 Blue Jays. This will be a closer series than people expect. Expect the Blue Jays to score at least one lopsided victory after knocking out one of the vaunted Dodgers starting pitchers early in the game. The problem for the Blue Jays will be an inconsistent bullpen, not their starting pitching, that will struggle against a patient group of veteran Dodgers hitters. GB
Dodgers 4-1 Blue Jays. It feels predestined that the Dodgers will win. If they have a weakness, it’s their bullpen (a shaky 4.27 ERA in the regular season) – but the return to fitness of Sasaki and his devastating splitter should help them stabilize things if anything starts to go wrong. Meanwhile Toronto need absolutely everything to go right. Maybe they can ride Guerrero and Gausman to one upset, but four wins is an enormous ask. AE
Dodgers 4-3 Blue Jays. Their rotation depth is unmatched, their stars rested and Ohtani’s presence elevates the entire lineup’s confidence. This should be a cakewalk for the Dodgers, but baseball is funny sometimes. Toronto’s offense will make the most of their home-field advantage, but the Dodgers’ combination of starting pitching, discipline and star power will simply prove too much to prevent baseball’s first repeat champion in a quarter-century. BAG
Blue Jays 4-3 Dodgers. Yamamoto, Snell, Ohtani, Glasnow? What are you supposed to do with these guys? They’ve been so good, their beleaguered bullpen only pitched seven innings in their sweep of the Brewers. That’s positively old school by LA. It’s hard to imagine Toronto pulling it off, but now, really try. Imagine Bichette returning to the lineup and picking up where he left while Guerrero and Springer stay white hot. How about Gausman pitching twice at the Rogers Centre where the Jays are so hard to beat? Contact hitters waste pitches and put the ball in play: anything can happen and it does. Suddenly we’re in Game 7 when Addison Barger touches them all in the 10th inning, helping the Jays to their first title since 1993. Not bad, eh? DL
