Category Archives: World Series

November 2, 2025

Outscored and Winning

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The Dodgers won the 2025 World Series while being outscored 34 to 26. Much of that difference came in game one, an 11-4 Toronto victory. Three of the four Dodgers win came by one or two runs, including two one-run wins in extra innings.

Toronto produced a .269/.347/.398 slash line, the .347 OBP extremely impressive against a championship team. They drew 28 walks and were hit by pitches seven times to go with their 75 hits. The Dodgers slash line came in at .203/.294/.364. The Dodgers produced more power (isolated power won .161 to .129), but the Blue Jays did a better job of getting on base. That matched the team profiles coming into the series.

Neither hit well situationally. The Dodgers hit .191/.317/.213 with runners in scoring position, Toronto .231/.346/.385. Note the use of defensive walks by both teams, looking at this from the pitching side. The big win in power for the Blue Jays came in damage from home runs. The eight Toronto home runs produced 18 runs. The ten Los Angeles home runs produced 12 runs.

On top of that, the Blue Jays received the better starting pitching. Toronto starters (as starters) owned a 3.35 ERA with 9.6 K per 9, 2.4 BB per 9, and 1.2 HR per 9 IP. The Dodgers starters came away with a 4.76 ERA, 8.8 K per 9, 3.2 BB per 9, and 1.4 HR per 9 IP. The big difference came from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, shutting down the Jays for 17 2/3 innings, including the last 2 2/3 innings of game seven. He was a fitting MVP.

Note that two great defensive plays behind him kept him from blowing the game.

It’s a tough loss for the Blue Jays. Toronto fans should be proud of this team, however. There were plenty of moments when a ball might have been hit a foot longer, shorter, to the right or to the left where they win the series. Although, the home run by Miguel Rojas should cause some consternation. On the other hand, can you imagine someone that low on the depth chart being the hero in the NBA or NFL?

These were too evenly matched teams, and it’s tough to imagine a more tightly played series. As a neutral observer, It certainly was one of the most enjoyable I’ve seen.

November 2, 2025

Dodgers Win World Series

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The Los Angeles Dodgers win the 2025 World Series 5-4, in one of the best World Series played in a long time. These were two evenly matched teams, and it came down to extra innings in game seven to decide the series.

One thing I love about baseball is that anyone can he the hero. Miguel Rojas hit the ninth inning home run for the Dodgers that tied the game, then made a great defensive play in the bottom of the ninth to save the game.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will probably win the MVP. He pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up a hit and a walk and a hit batter, but got out of trouble. He finishes with a 1.45 ERA for the post-season.

Congratulations to the Dodgers on an amazing post season and an extremely memorable series win.

November 2, 2025

Smith Smashes

With two out in the top of the eleventh inning, Will Smith does. He homers to leftfield off Shane Bieber to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead, and put them three outs away from repeating as World Champion.

Update: That’s it as the game goes to the bottom of the 11th.

November 1, 2025

Wild Dominguez

Seranthony Dominguez pitches the top of the tenth inning for the Blue Jays. He helps the Dodgers load the bases with one out by issuing two walks to go with a single.

Update: Andy Pages grounds into a force out at the plate with the infield in. Two out.

Update: Enrique Hernandez grounds to first, and Dominguez covers just in time. To the bottom of the tenth.

November 1, 2025

Bo Gets On

After a long fly out by Vladimir Guerrero Jr leading off the bottom of the ninth inning, Bo Bichette singles to put the winning run on base. Isiah Kiner-Falefa pinch runs.

Update: Addison Barger takes a 3-2 pitch for a walk and IKF is in scoring position for Alejandro Kirk.

Update: The Dodgers replace pitcher Blake Snell with yesterday’s starter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Update: Kirk gets hit on the hand on an 0-1 pitch. The bases are loaded for Daulton Varsho.

Update: Varsho gets to live the dream, with a chance for a walk off grand slam to win the World Series.

Update: Varsho falls behind 1-2. He hits a ground to Miguel Rojas, pulled in, and he throws home and the call is out. Replay confirms that.

Update: Ernie Clement, who set the record for most hits in a post season, drives a ball deep to leftfield. Enrique Hernandez and Andy Pages (just in) converge on the ball. Pages catches it, but takes out Hernandez.

The Blue Jays fail to score, and the game goes to the eleventh inning. That last two outs were a matter of inches.

November 1, 2025

Top of the Ninth

the Blue Jays lead the Dodgers 4-3 as Los Angeles comes to bat needing a run to stay alive. Jeff Hoffman is scheduled to face Enrique Hernandez, Miguel Rojas, and Shohei Ohtani.

Update: Hernandez falls behind 1-2. He swings and misses at the next pitch, and there’s one down.

Update: Rojas gets ahead 2-1. He works the count to 3-2, then homers to left field! Wow. The game is tied!

Update: Ohtani hits the first pitch to the leftfielder for the second out.

Update: Will Smith falls behind 0-2. He works the count full then takes strike three.

I gave the Blue Jays a 51% chance of winning this series due to home field advantage. That may turn out to be my best prediction ever.

November 1, 2025

Max Homers

Trey Yesavage pitches a scoreless seventh inning, but hangs a pitch to Max Muncy in the eighth inning. That cuts the Blue Jays lead over the Dodgers to 4-3.

Muncy is the Dodgers all-time leader in pots-season home runs with 16.

Yesavage gets the second out of the inning, then yields closer Jeff Hoffman.

Update: Hoffman gets a ground ball to end the inning, and the Blue Jays are three outs away from a World Championship.

November 1, 2025

Inching Forward

The bottom of the Blue Jays lineup gets the run back in the bottom of the sixth. Ernie Clement singles and steals second, then Andres Gimenez doubles him home. Toronto now leads Los Angeles 4-2 with a man on second, none out, and the top of the order up.

Update: Tyler Glasnow gets the next three batters, and Toronto takes a two run lead into the seventh inning,

November 1, 2025

Inching Back

The first two Dodgers batters in the top of the sixth reach base, and Mookie Betts scores on a sacrifice fly after a lead-off walk. That cuts the Blue Jays lead to 3-2, and the Dodgers bat with men on first and second with two out, but Miguel Rojas grounds out to the pitcher, and the Dodgers trail by one.

November 1, 2025

Some Words

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Justin Wrobleski comes in close twice on Andres Gimenez, hitting him the second time. Gimenez looked like he was trying to get hit on the first one, they took exception to being drilled. Both benches empty, but it was a mostly peaceful confrontation.

The Blue Jays have a man on first with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, and both teams have been warned.

Update: George Springer, next up, hits a line drive off Wrobleski’s leg for Springer’s third single of the game.

Update: The Blue Jays do not score, and they take a 3-1 lead to the fifth inning.

November 1, 2025

Third Not a Charm

Max Scherzer takes the Blue Jays three-run lead into the bottom of the third inning and runs into trouble, too. He loads the bases on a double, single, and walk, the latter coming with one out. Teoscar Hernandez hits a line drive to centerfield, and Daulton Varsho makes a shoestring catch to hold it to a sacrifice fly. Then Tommy Edman hits a hard line drive down the first base line, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. snags it for the third out. Scherzer gets saved by his defense and Toronto leads Los Angeles 3-1.

We’ll see if Scherzer comes out for the fourth inning.

November 1, 2025

Bo Gets a Really Bichette

The Blue Jays get batters on base again in the bottom of the third. George Springer leads off with a single for the second time in the game, he’s bunted to second, and moves to third on a wild pitch. That causes the Dodgers to issue an intentional walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bo Bichette then hits the first pitch from Shohei Ohtani over the fence in centerfield and the Blue Jays lead the Dodgers 3-0 in game seven of the World Series. Bichette knew it was gone and just stood at the plate until it went out.

The Dodgers went too long with Ohtani, and now they are in a hole. Ohtani off the mound.

November 1, 2025

Loaded Up

A walk and two singles load the bases in the bottom of the second inning as the Blue Jays keeping dinging Shohei Ohtani. He gets Andres Gimenez to swing and miss with two out, however, to end the threat. No score in game seven at the end of two innings.

November 1, 2025

Springer Answers

George Springer singles to start the bottom of the first off Shohei Ohtani, matching Ohtani’s single int he top of the inning. We’ll see if Springer can go all the way, rather than getting stopped at third base.

Update: Springer is erased on a K-DP as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. thought the pitch was a ball, and I think Springer did, do.

November 1, 2025

Starter Versus Starter

Starting pitcher for the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani, bats first in game seven of the World Series against Toronto starting pitcher Max Scherzer, and Ohtani wins that battle with a lead-off single. The final game of the season is underway.

Update: Ohtani gets to third base but does not score. Scherzer gets the next three batters to blank Los Angeles.

November 1, 2025

Playoffs Today

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It’s game seven of the World Series, the game that even mildly interested baseball fans will watch. MLB went through a long game seven drought, the last one taking place in Houston in 2019. Both Max Scherzer and George Springer started that day, although on different team. Scherzer did not pitch great, walking four and striking out just three in five innings, leaving with the Nationals down 2-0. The bullpen gave up just two hits in four innings, striking out five, giving Washington time to come back and win the game 6-2.

The word on the street gives the Dodgers start to Shohei Ohtani. This will be his fourth post-season start, his first on three days rest. By starting the game Ohtani will be able to stay in as the designated hitter. He could come on in relief, but then the designated hitter disappears, so Ohtani would need to stay in the field to keep batting. This is the one weakness of the Ohtani two-way player situation. Los Angeles gets less flexibility. They can’t rest other players by allowing them to DH once in a while, and they can’t bring Ohtani on in relief without complicating the lineup for the rest of the game.

Ohtani pitched well in terms of three true outcomes, striking out 25, walking five, and allowing one home run in eighteen innings. He is charged with seven runs, however, so his 3.50 ERA doesn’t match his FIP. Part of that comes from a weak Dodgers bullpen.

Scherzer makes his third start of this post season and he has not pitched well. He struck out eight and walked five in ten innings, giving up three home runs along the way. He allowed five earned runs, but also three unearned runs. So Max didn’t help out his fielders when they let him down.

Of course, it’s all hands on deck, so don’t be surprised to see anyone coming out of the bullpen with the exceptions of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Kevin Gausman.

Enjoy this rare treat of a game!

October 31, 2025

Jays Look for a Walkoff

Down 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Roki Sasaki starts the ninth after pitching the eighth inning. He hits Alejandro Kirk after getting two strikes, then gives up a double to Addison Barger, who hit the ball so far to the wall that it stuck under the padding, preventing pinch runner Myles Straw from scoring.

Tyler Glasnow comes on to try to save the game in an old time fireman situation.

Update: Ernie Clement pops up the first pitch to the first baseman Freddie Freeman. One out.

Update: Andres Gimenez hits a dying line drive to leftfield. Enrique Hernandez charges the ball, catches it, and throws to second to get Barger who wandered too far off second base.

The Dodgers win game six 3-1, and there will be a game seven in Canada Saturday night!

October 31, 2025

Playing Through Pain

George Springer grimaces with every swing tonight. He manages, however, to single with a man on third and two out in the bottom of the third inning to drive in the first Blue Jays run of the game. The Dodgers’ lead is down to 3-1 at the end of three innings.

October 31, 2025

Dodgers Strike First

Doubles in the third inning by Tommy Edman and Will Smith bring in the first run of the game, the Dodgers taking a 1-0 lead over the Blue Jays. Kevin Gausman struck out two so far in the inning, and issued an intentional walk to Shohei Ohtani.

Update: Freddie Freeman walks to load the bases for Mookie Betts, batting fourth today.

Update: Betts singles with two strikes and drives in two runs to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

October 31, 2025

K Gausman

Kevin Gausman of the Blue Jays strikes out all three Dodgers he faces in the top of the first inning to start game six of the 2025 World Series. He now owns 21 K in 25 2/3 innings with just 14 hits allowed in the post season.

Update: Gausman strikes out two more in the second inning as the Dodgers have yet to see a batter reach base still no score.

October 31, 2025

Playoffs Today

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Game six of the World Series kicks off Friday night at 8 PM EDT/ 5 PM PDT in Toronto with Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers taking on Kevin Gausman of the Blue Jays in a rematch of game two. The Dodgers won that game 5-1 after Yamamoto pitched a second complete game in the post-season. Note that he never pitched a complete game in the regular season. Note that even if Yamamoto pitches another complete game tonight, he won’t make the top 10 in post-season innings, missing it by 1/3 an inning. Madison Bumgarner in 2014 pitched 52 2/3 innings with a 1.03 ERA. Note that a number of pitchers are tied for tenth place at 38, and the top ten include Dodgers greats Orel Hershiser (42 2/3 innings, 1.05 ERA in 1988) and Fernando Valenzuela (40 2/3 innings, 2.21 ERA in 1981, the first year of three rounds due to the strike). Yamamoto comes into this game with a 1.57 ERA, walking just four batters in 28 2/3 inning with just 17 hits allowed.

Gausman owns a 2.55 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. He has not delivered the strikeouts, just 18, but still managed to limit hits, allowing just 14 in the post season. Four of them went for home runs, however, The four solo shots account for most of his seven runs allowed.

Both pitchers throw the split finger fastball. The pitch experienced a renaissance, after being dropped due to injury concerns. I suspect that since pitcher injuries kept going up after the pitch went on leave, people started to realize that maybe it’s just the act of pitching that causes injuries.

Both Yamanoto and Gausman get an extra day of rest due to the two travel days, so if they pitch well, expect both of them to go deep tonight.

Enjoy!

October 29, 2025

Jays Take the Lead

The Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-1 in game five of the World Series to take a 3-2 lead in the best of seven series. Toronto got their second great start from rookie Trey Yesavage, then collected nine hits and six walks to plate their six runs. The Dodgers threw four wild pitches in the game, and made a couple of defenses miscues that did not result in errors.

The teams travel back to Toronto for game six on Friday. No word if they will wear scary uniforms. The game takes place at 8 PM EDT, 5 PM PDT.

October 29, 2025

Yesavage Goes Seven

Trey Yesavage just finished seven innings against the Dodgers by inducing a double play. He allowed three hits and struck out twelve without walking a batter, throwing 104 pitches. That’s two gems in the post season for the rookie, and he is in line to get the win as the Blue Jays lead the Dodgers 5-1 as Game 5 heads to the top of the eighth inning.

October 29, 2025

Born to Be Wild

Addison Barger of the Blue Jays singles in the top of the seventh, then scores on two wild pitches and a passed ball. The last also resulted in a walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bo Bichette follows with an RBI single and the Blue Jays lead the Dodgers 5-1.

October 29, 2025

10K

Trey Yesavage of the Blue Jays just completed five innings against the Dodgers, striking out ten batters without issuing a walk. At 77 pitches, he should have another inning in him. The only blemish came from the Enique Hernandez HR, and the Blue Jays lead 3-1.

October 29, 2025

Slide Triple

Daulton Varsho of the Dodgers hit a dying line drive down the rightfield line. Teoscar Hernandez tried to make a sliding catch, but missed the ball and Varsho winds up with a triple. Ernie Clement followed with a sacrifice fly, and the Blue Jays lead is back to two runs, now 3-1 over the Dodgers.

October 29, 2025

Hernandez Again

Trey Yesavage retired the first seven Dodgers he faced in Game 5 of the World Series, striking out the last five in a row. Number eight hitter and post-season menace, Enrique Hernandez, takes him deep to leftfield, however, for the first Los Angeles run of the game. The Blue Jays still lead 2-1.

October 29, 2025

Three Pitches, Two Runs

Davis Schneider steps into the leadoff slot for Toronto with George Springer still injured, and takes the first pitch from Blake Snell just over the wall in leftfield for a 1-0 Blue Jays lead over the Dodgers. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. does the same thing! Toronto takes 2-0 lead before the first out of Game 5 of the World Series.

October 29, 2025

Playoffs Today

Game five of the World Series takes place Wednesday evening at 8 PM EDT/ 5 PM PDT in Los Angeles. Game one starters Trey Yesavage of the Blue Jays and Blake Snell of the Dodgers take the mound once again. Neither pitched especially well in game one. Yesavage lasted just four innings, giving up four hits, three walks, and two runs. Snell went five innings, allowing eight hits, three walks, and five runs.

Yesavage pitched more in the post-season than in the regular season in his brief career. In a total of 33 innings he struck out 43 batters, walked 17, allowed two home runs and fourteen runs. Despite his great performance against the Yankees, he is not invincible.

Snell owns an excellent post-season history, 7-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 74 2/3 innings. He blows batters away with 93 strike outs, leading to just 52 hits. Only 15 of those hits went for extra bases, giving him a career opposition slugging percentage of .316 in the playoffs. The Blue Jays are the type of team that can get to Snell, as we saw in game one, but we also saw Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is similar, find a way to miss Blue Jays bats.

Enjoy!

October 28, 2025

Blue Jays Will Return

The Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in game four, evening the series at two games apiece. There will be a game six in Toronto on Friday. After a great bullpen performance on Monday Dodgers reliever participated in a four run seventh inning after Shohei Ohtani allowed two hits to start the inning. The Jays bullpen allowed one run in the ninth when the lead was fairly safe.

Game five takes place Wednesday at 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT.