The 2025 World Sequence is again in Canada for Recreation 6 on Friday night time with the Toronto Blue Jays one win away from dethroning the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Will the Blue Jays end the deal at Rogers Centre or will the Dodgers discover a strategy to rebound? And who’s the World Sequence MVP by means of 5 video games?
Our MLB consultants break down what Toronto and L.A. should do within the ultimate recreation(s) of this Fall Traditional.
How shocked are you that this collection is heading again to Toronto with the Blue Jays up 3-2?
David Schoenfield: Hey, I picked the Blue Jays in seven, and one of many important causes I went with them has come into play: concern in regards to the Dodgers’ bats. They’re hitting simply .201 within the World Sequence and .236 general within the postseason (and .214 for the reason that begin of the NLDS, whereas averaging simply 3.5 runs per recreation).
It appears like except Shohei Ohtani is hitting the ball over the fence, they will have issues scoring runs. Mookie Betts’ struggles are particularly problematic: He is 3-for-23 within the World Sequence with out an extra-base hit or RBI. He has six hard-hit balls (95-plus mph), however just one ball in play at 100 mph, and he is 1-for-6 in these six plate appearances.
Jorge Castillo: I would not have been shocked if introduced with this situation earlier than the collection began since I picked the Blue Jays to win in seven video games. However I assumed Toronto was in bother after not solely dropping Recreation 3 in that style however dropping George Springer to harm. The Blue Jays bouncing again from these two setbacks — beating Shohei Ohtani in Recreation 4 earlier than Trey Yesavage made extra historical past in Recreation 5 — was past spectacular.
Who’s the MVP of this collection by means of the primary 5 video games?
Jesse Rogers: With all due respect to what younger Yesavage did in Recreation 5, the Blue Jays would haven’t any likelihood on this collection with out the contributions of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He is been essentially the most fixed — in addition to dominant — hitter on any group this postseason, this collection included. That is saying one thing contemplating a few of Ohtani’s heroics, however that is how good Guerrero has been. He is hitting .364 with two vital dwelling runs in Video games 4 and 5. He is perhaps your MVP it doesn’t matter what occurs in Video games 6 and seven.
Alden Gonzalez: I agree with Jesse on Vlad. However Addison Barger truly has a better OPS than Vlad on this collection, at 1.147. And Alejandro Kirk is correct behind Barger at 1.125. And so, although it is clearly not potential, I would like to present the MVP to this complete Blue Jays offense — for doing what the Milwaukee Brewers could not in opposition to a dominant rotation, and for displaying the Dodgers what is feasible in opposition to the high-end pitching groups face this time of 12 months.
The Blue Jays have been with out Springer over these final couple of video games and are enjoying a really restricted Bo Bichette, and but they’ve outscored the Dodgers by 11 runs on this collection and by a whopping 36 runs in the whole postseason. In all three of their wins, they’ve completely adopted the blueprint to beat this Dodgers pitching employees — make the beginning pitcher work, then tee off on the center relievers.
What do you count on for Yamamoto vs. Gausman 2.0 in Recreation 6 after their Recreation 2 pitching duel?
Bradford Doolittle: Yoshinobu Yamamoto is on a roll. The Dodgers’ offense could be very a lot not. That implies a low-scoring duel and a recreation determined by one or two runs. The possibilities of Yamamoto throwing one other 9 are slim from a pure likelihood standpoint, and admittedly the Dodgers should not want him to do it with simply two extra video games to cowl and the supply of starters like Ohtani and Blake Snell within the bullpen for an all-hands-on-deck Recreation 7.
After the 15 whiffs in Recreation 5, the Dodgers can be antsy for contact and it will be telling how aggressive they’re in opposition to Gausman early on. It is a robust stability. Kevin Gausman will stroll guys, however you may’t be too passive with him as a result of he’ll bury you as soon as he will get the sting in a depend. It will be a terrific cat-and-mouse recreation on either side.
Castillo: One other duel. Yamamoto has been the most effective pitcher on this postseason and nothing suggests he is about to get roughed up. A 3rd straight full recreation is asking for lots, however he ought to give the Dodgers not less than a high quality begin. On the opposite facet, Gausman has been superb within the playoffs and matched Yamamoto in Recreation 2 till the seventh inning. The struggling Dodgers offense won’t want a lot to help Yamamoto, however Gausman will not make it simple.
The Blue Jays can be World Sequence champions if …
Rogers: They merely hold the strain on on the plate. Regardless of some stellar moments on the mound for the Dodgers, Toronto’s pesky lineup has brought about simply sufficient havoc to earn a collection lead. If they do not get a lot off Dodgers starters the following recreation or maybe two, their capability so as to add on late in opposition to L.A.’s pen is all the time a menace. Toronto has confirmed it has the lengthier and higher lineup to date. It is their key to profitable this weekend.
Schoenfield: Vlad Jr. retains hitting bombs. The Jays can win with out him — they received Recreation 7 of the ALCS although he went 1-for-4 with no run or RBI — however he’s, as Reggie Jackson would possibly say, the straw that stirs the drink.
As alluded to above, even when they lose Recreation 6, not less than knocking out Yamamoto and forcing Dave Roberts to make use of Roki Sasaki can be one other key. It appears like if it goes to a Recreation 7, Roberts’ circle of belief is perhaps restricted to starter Tyler Glasnow, Sasaki, Ohtani and perhaps Snell. Glasnow has topped out at six innings in his three playoff begins, so if the Blue Jays can not less than drive Sasaki into Recreation 6, perhaps that limits Roberts’ reduction choices in Recreation 7 — or forces him to make use of another person from an unreliable bullpen.
The Dodgers can drive a Recreation 7 (and win it) if …
Doolittle: For me, Recreation 6 is the Blue Jays’ finest likelihood to shut out the collection. I similar to the Dodgers’ pitching outlook for a Recreation 7 far more, from the starter to the choices in expanded bullpens. They should get to Gausman early on the scoreboard, ideally by stringing some disciplined at-bats collectively that revs up his pitch depend.
I really feel like Yamamoto, full recreation or not, will pull his weight. However one or two or extra of the Dodgers’ struggling stars should remind us of why L.A.’s offense was such a beast through the common season, as a result of you may’t depend on the Blue Jays’ offense being fully shut down. They’re simply too constant.
Gonzalez: Their offense will get again to manufacturing runs. The Dodgers are slashing simply .214/.306/.360 for the reason that wild-card spherical. In that stretch, they’ve scored three or extra runs in simply three of their 123 half-innings. Two gamers particularly must step up: Mookie Betts, who hits between Ohtani and Freddie Freeman however is simply 3-for-23 within the World Sequence; and Alex Name, who will in all probability change the struggling Andy Pages within the No. 9 spot as soon as once more and who wants to succeed in base in order that the highest of the lineup can see extra RBI alternatives.