News Dodgers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Ohtani shines, but so does the rest of this team

Is there anything to discuss today besides Shohei Ohtani? Talk about waking a sleeping giant. Ohtani almost makes this look easy, and it’s hard to remember that this incredible skill didn’t happen by chance—Ohtani built himself this way over years and years of single-minded dedication. Makes you wonder what you can do if you really commit to something (honestly, I’m just hoping I can commit to waking up on time every day, never mind break records on a weekly basis…).

Anyways, the answer to that initial question, shockingly, is yes.

As Rowan Kavner at Fox Sports reminds us, the Dodgers’ starting pitching absolutely showed up to play this series. Blake Snell faced the minimum over eight innings in his start, Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a complete game (the first postseason pitcher to do so in eight years), and Tyler Glasnow threw nearly six innings with only one run allowed. All told, the Dodgers’ rotation combined for a 0.63 ERA with 35 strikeouts in the NLCS.

Those numbers are unbelievable, especially for a team whose pitching has been a liability in so many seasons before. It’s like the front office finally got fed up with fielding the same questions over and over and finally said “Ok, you want us to fix this? Fine.” And then shut those questions down hard, thank goodness.

And it’s not like this pitching staff was up against a low-quality offense. The Brewers won more regular-season games than any other team this season, thanks in large part to smart at-bats and speedy base running that put pressure on pitchers and forced their counts up. What they lacked in star power, they made up for in consistently impactful appearances by Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Brice Turang, and Jackson Chourio, who were largely shut down in the NLCS.

Compare that to the Dodgers, who had seven different players drive in at least one run, six score at least one run, and eight draw at least one walk, according to Houston Mitchell at the Los Angeles Times.

So, while it looks like Ohtani is doing it all by himself, remember—even without his three homers, the Dodgers would have won Game 4 (though those 10 strikeouts sure helped, too). It’s a team sport, and this Dodgers team is showing us all how it’s done.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/106188/ohtani-pitching-staff-nlcs-success

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dollars and sense: Dave Roberts comments after winning NLCS

On September 19, 2024, I had the luck and privilege to see what was easily the greatest offensive day in the history of the sport. Shohei Ohtani created the first 50/50 club with such aplomb, we were unlikely to ever see its like ever again. Never mind that he made another 50/50 club in 2025.

I wandered in a dazed haze afterwards, wanting to absorb every last instant. As I got into my Uber to go back to the hotel, I had a single sobering thought:

“Tonight isn’t even his final form.”

Last night, we saw something that has literally never happened before. Anyone lucky enough to be at Dodger Stadium to soak it in witnessed the event. Baseball is a team sport. One player is not supposed to be able to put the team on their back and literally dominate.

Football is similar to an extent, but the most obvious analogue is basketball. The greats just took over a game and bent it to their will — greats like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.

Add another to that list in an entirely different sport: Shohei Ohtani.

What was initially expected to be a lengthy, drama-filled affair made prognosticators look dumb. The pitching was historic. The offense was better, as Tommy Edman rebounded nicely from his goofs against the Phillies. I am still asking wherefore thou art, Mookie Betts? His glove was stellar, but even an average bat would significantly lessen the difficulty of repeating as champions.

Now the Dodgers have dispatched the Milwaukee Brewers with almost-clinical precision. The Dodgers celebrated, of course, but it had the novelty of winning a free cheeseburger at McDonald’s. Or put another way…

My two favorite bad predictions were from The Athletic, which has a couple of familiar names to our community:

Grant Brisbee (MIL): If they could make the Cubs’ defense sweat, they’ll do a number on the Dodgers’ defense.

C. Trent Rosecrans (MIL): Remember last October when the Dodgers made the Yankees look like a poorly coached high school team? Well, after the baseball world seemed to think the Dodgers invented the wheel play last week, wait until they see this Brewers team play. The Dodgers are more talented, but the Brewers just don’t make too many mistakes. Brewers in five.

The Cubs were middling and only advanced because, surprise, the Padres managed to faceplant in the face of any expectation — again. With all due respect to Mr. Rosecrans, who had the benefit of an extra two weeks of information, yes, the Brewers’ defense was impressive.

However, if you average a literal run per game, you aren’t likely to win. You cannot steal first base, but in your honor, let us re-live the goofy double play in Game 1 that likely reset the karmic scales.

And now we wait. We will break down just how outmatched the Brewers were in a couple of days. We now have the earliest possible preview for the upcoming World Series…against someone.

The waiting (is the hardest part)​

The Dodgers are now mild victims of their own success, able to literally rest on their laurels for a couple of days, as the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners have to travel back to Toronto as the American League Championship Series shuffles along to its sixth game.

Six games — in a championship series?!? In this economy?!? How bourgeoisie!

Mild kidding aside, the Mariners are currently up three games to two, which is a franchise record for proximity to the World Series. If it were not for Ohtani’s superhuman evening, the baseball world would be agog at the demonstrated power of Cal “Big Dumper” Raleigh and Eugenio Suárez, ensuring a novelty in the ALCS: a home victory.

It is pretty simple. If Toronto prevails, the Dodgers open the World Series in Canada. And yes, we will have a Guide entry for those ready to enjoy Rogers Centre. Spoilers: It’s kinda mid, but whatever. As an aside, if the Blue Jays prevail, old friend Buddy Kennedy will be this year’s Taylor Trammell – guaranteed both a winner’s ring and a loser’s ring regardless of who wins the World Series. As trivia, Kennedy was also a member of the Phillies organization this year, too.

And now, for no particular reason, snapshots of my visit to Rogers Centre from April 2024.

— Michael Elizondo (@elidelajandro.bsky.social) 2025-10-18T08:54:35.035Z

If the Mariners prevail, they will have to schlep back from Toronto to Los Angeles, as the Dodgers will have home-field advantage for the first time since the Wild Card round. I will update my Guide entry for T-Mobile Park because the food is unexpectedly good, but the park now suffers from logistical failures that make one feel like they are trapped in a human ant farm.

Imagine the psychic horror of trying to enter or leave Dodger Stadium…but now, you are on foot.

Dodger fans who want to be a bit sneaky should be rooting for the Mariners to prevail in the ALCS, preferably in seven games. In this scenario, the Mariners will have to make two transcontinental flights after being locked in a dogfight with the Blue Jays. Regardless of who they play, the Dodgers return to action this coming Friday, October 24th.

Also, in the Mariners as AL Champ scenario, I already bought a Game 7 World Series ticket (if necessary) and have already secured my way to and from Los Angeles. If the Dodgers don’t play seven games or face the Blue Jays, I get my money back, as I still don’t believe in the no-win scenario. Personal scheduling is a bit of a bear right now, and the only way I could attend any World Series game is by going to a potential Game 7 at home against the Mariners.

After being the villains of the NLCS, the Dodgers are already the villains of the World Series, as Dave Roberts confirmed the quiet part out loud after Game 4 with unexpected and refreshing candor.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: "Before this season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let's get four more wins and really ruin baseball!" ️ #MLB #NLCS #WorldSeries

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing.bsky.social) 2025-10-18T03:53:34.665Z

I think the Dodgers are collectively getting tired of the cries of poverty and haplessness coming from the rest of the league. Folks used to call the Dodgers chokers or paper tigers, and after the 2022 faceplant, which remains the San Diego Padres’ only moment of triumph in this window, or the 2023 desert debacle, the mockery was well-earned.

Everyone and their mother outside of the Dodgers’ faithful are gnashing their teeth and already claiming that the Dodgers have ruined baseball. The Dodgers are ruining baseball, but not in the way one might initially think. Today, we address the bogus argument.

Here comes the money!​

Here is the dumb argument that the Dodgers are breaking baseball:

The Dodgers have so much money from their largest-in-the-league payroll to buy up all the good players, leaving everyone to get scraps. Therefore, MLB needs a salary cap to curtail those ruffians from Los Angeles!

If the Dodgers repeat, then it’s time to shut down the sport in 2027 to get a salary cap in place.

I cannot overstate what a stupid argument the above is. League revenues hit a record high last year. Television ratings are up. Attendance across the league overall is up. To think that there are franchises and fanbases right now that are willing to set all of that on fire is shocking yet not surprising.

At the start of the year, Ken Rosenthal discussed the general state of financial play and why a lockout would be disastrous for the sport.

As we covered before, with slightly outdated numbers, baseball is more dependent on local television deals and ticket sales for annual revenue. With the regional sports network model dying, there has been disruption to the gate receipts or local/regional television deals can impact a team’s bottom line and revenue. The Dodgers have the largest and most stable television deal.

how the big 4 US sports leagues make their money pic.twitter.com/e1NdpkFRvw

— BrooksGate (@Brooks_Gate) July 16, 2024

The problem with discussing finances in baseball is what parts of the puzzle are clearly missing.

What is known is how much each team has spent on payroll. The luxury tax threshold in 2025 was $241 million and only seven teams are payers this year: the Dodgers (estimated $150 million), New York Mets ($71 million), New York Yankees ($52 million), Philadelphia Phillies ($45 million), San Diego Padres ($10 million), Toronto Blue Jays ($10 million), and Boston Red Sox ($91,000).

Even with such a generous threshold, sixteen teams did not even spend $200 million on payroll in 2025.

Ten teams did not even spend $150 million on payroll this year: Colorado Rockies ($142 million), Cincinnati Reds ($139 million), Washington Nationals ($137 million), Milwaukee Brewers ($137 million), Cleveland Guardians ($132 million), Pittsburgh Pirates ($112 million), Sacramento Athletics ($111 million), Tampa Bay Rays ($100 million), Chicago White Sox ($87 million), and Miami Marlins ($86 million).

As the Atlanta Braves are the only U.S. team to have open financial books as being owned by a publicly traded company, Forbes magazine has done its best over the past few years to approximate the revenue streams of teams and their payroll spending proportions. Rather than sift through every team, @Brooks_Gate mercifully collated that data into one easy-to-read chart.

how much revenue each MLB team generated last year, and how much of that is going towards their payroll this year pic.twitter.com/UAZmHhaR8a

— BrooksGate (@Brooks_Gate) March 29, 2025

As the chart may not fully display, the last three teams are:

• 28th: Tampa – $297 million revenue / $100 million 2025 payroll + tax / $100 million tax payroll / No Luxury Tax / Payroll/Revenue 33.8%
• 29th: Chicago White Sox – $277 million revenue / $87 million 2025 payroll + tax / $87 million tax payroll / No Luxury Tax / Payroll/Revenue 31.6%
• 30th: Miami Marlins – $317 million revenue / $86 million 2025 payroll + tax / $86 million tax payroll / No Luxury Tax / Payroll/Revenue 27%

It makes sense to look at these figures with a healthy seasoning of salt and skepticism, but at first glance, the Dodgers pulling in the most money last year makes sense as the team won a solid 98 games and led MLB in attendance by a healthy margin. Even Dave Roberts has acknowledged that the team is reinvesting money into the club to build a winning product.

"I can't speak to what revenue we're bringing in, but our ownership puts it back into players, a big chunk of it… that's the way it should be with all ownership groups."

Dave Roberts when asked about critics who say the Dodgers are "buying a championship" pic.twitter.com/rXy1KGcb3u

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 18, 2025

Built differently​

As we covered last time, the Dodgers won 93 games with a significant amount of dead or ineffective cash on the payroll. In fact, some of these contracts were so bad that the team significantly improved when effectively shelving Michael Conforto and others for the postseason run.

Imposing a salary cap misses a larger point. It is not as if dynasties in other sports have not occurred in a salary cap. Off the top of my head, I can think of the Golden State Warriors in basketball, the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots in football, the Tampa Bay Lightning in hockey.

Putting restrictions on the Dodgers is not going to keep them from signing top-level free agents, which will we discuss momentarily. Putting restrictions on the Dodgers would keep them from signing players like Hyeseong Kim or Michael Conforto or Chris Taylor.

The Dodgers front office is not infalliable, but it is generally smarter than most other teams. Remember that the 2025 Dodgers prevailed in the regular season having approximately 20 players with negative bWAR for the year.

To be fair, some of these players are no longer with the team like Austin Barnes (-.3 bWAR), Chris Taylor (-.6 bWAR), Buddy Kennedy (-.3 bWAR), and Dustin May (-.4 bWAR) or are victims of small sample size like Ben Rortvedt (-.1 bWAR). Yates, Tanner Scott, and Blake Treinen collectively had a -1.7 bWAR during the regular season. Yikes.

If baseball were purely a spender’s paradise, we would have had a Mets/Dodgers NLCS and a Yankees/Blue Jays ALCS. Moreover, the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers would have playoff spots instead of the Guardians and Mariners. Obviously, these events did not happen.

Yes, the Dodgers and Ohtani agreed to terms of a $700 million contract with defferals. Ohtani’s effective salary is $2 million per year with the remaining $68 million being held in deferral per league rules. Moreover, I have seen reporting I have seen that the Dodgers have already recouped the entire value of Ohtani’s contract in new licensing deals and merchandise sales through the exponential explosion of interest caused by Ohtani’s signing.

Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract is enormous, but according to sources, the Dodgers made back the entirety of the contract in Ohtani’s first season in tickets, marketing deals in Japan/global, merchandise.

His impact on baseball’s growth cannot be understated.

— Joon Lee (@joonlee) October 18, 2025

At first glance, I thought the Dodgers had already recouped the first year (i.e. $70 million) of Ohtani’s contract, but further investigation will be needed to confirm this reporting as the Dodgers have suddenly brought in an extra $700 million in the span of a year.

Even with that eye-popping increase aside, I generated a list of moves that Dodgers had done to demonstrate how shrewd they have been. I updated it to show the argument that the Dodgers are just buying everyone to be nothing but sour grapes.

• Did the Dodgers trick the Boston Red Sox into trading Mookie Betts for what turned out to be cannon fodder and Alex Verdugo in 2020?
• Did the Dodgers trick the Atlanta Braves into discarding Freddie Freeman in favor of Matt Olson in 2021?
• Did the Dodgers trick the Tampa Bay Rays into putting Evan Phillips on the waiver wire in 2022?
• Did the Dodgers trick the Seattle Mariners into not offering Teoscar Hernandez a qualifying offer after 2023? And further, did the Dodgers trick the rest of the league to not signing Teo last winter?
• Did the Dodgers trick the Anaheim Angels into not trading Ohtani in 2022 to the Padres for a package with Jackson Merrill?

Actually, this story is so good, we need to pause for a moment to reflect on Ken Rosenthal’s reporting on the subject from a few months ago that largely slipped below everyone’s collective radar, before continuing this list.

A universe where Ohtani ended up a Padre is indeed a dark one, but the institutional incompetence of the Anaheim Angels cannot be overstated or underestimated. Back to the list…

• Did the Dodgers trick the Anaheim Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays into either being unwilling to accept or being a less attractive option for Shohei Ohtani to sign in 2024?
• Did the Dodgers trick the Rays into trading Tyler Glasnow for Ryan Pepiot in 2024?
• Did the Dodgers trick the Yankees into failing to exceed Mr. “Should-Have-Covered-First-Base” Gerrit Cole’s contract, allowing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to come to Los Angeles in 2024?
• Did the Dodgers trick both the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox when trading for Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech in 2024?
• Did the Dodgers trick the Giants into bungling their handling of Blake Snell by both being a poor fit and then letting him opt out only to sign with the Dodgers in 2025?
• Did the Dodgers trick the Padres into trading their second-best, fourth-best, fifth-best, and twenty-fourth-best prospects to the Miami Marlins for half a season of Tanner Scott, only to sign in Los Angeles for reportedly less money? (To be fair, this deal has not worked so far for the Dodgers, but what can you do?)
• Did the Dodgers trick the New York Mets into spending $765 million (non-deferred) over 15 years on Juan “Still doesn’t pitch” Soto in 2025?
• Did the Dodgers trick Roki Sasaki into leaving NPB and joining the team on a minor league deal and converting him to a closer for the postseason run?

The answer is no, but it is easier to blame others than admit fault and try to do better. It would be nice if these cheapskate owners that refuse to even try to field a competitive team for more than pennies on the figurative team could sell for a profit and leave our sport alone. Something tells me we will not be that lucky.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...ld-series-preview-salary-cap-busted-narrative

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers World Series scouting game chat: Mariners vs. Blue Jays ALCS Game 6

The Dodgers are already in the World Series, and await the winner of the American League Championship Series.

Game 6 is Sunday night at Rogers Centre in Toronto, with the Mariners up three games to two over the Blue Jays in the series. Seattle can clinch their first pennant on Sunday night, while Toronto needs a win to stay alive.

ALCS Game 6 info​

• Teams: No. 1 seed Blue Jays vs. No. 2 seed Mariners
• Seattle leads best-of-7 series, 3-2
• Ballpark: Rogers Centre
• Start time: 5:03 p.m. PT
• TV: FS1 (Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
• National radio: ESPN Radio (Karl Ravech, Eduardo Pérez, Tim Kurkjian)

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...gers-world-series-scouting-mariners-blue-jays

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers World Series scouting game chat: ALCS Game 7

The winner of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series will play the Dodgers in the World Series on Friday.

ALCS Game 7 info​

• Teams: No. 1 seed Blue Jays vs. No. 2 seed Mariners
• Ballpark: Rogers Centre
• Start time: 5:10 p.m. PT
• TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
• National radio: ESPN Radio (Karl Ravech, Eduardo Pérez, Tim Kurkjian)

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-game-threads/106243/dodgers-world-series-mariners-blue-jays

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers will play Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series

The 2025 World Series matchup is set, and it’s one we’ve never seen before in the Fall Classic. The Los Angeles Dodgers will play the Toronto Blue Jays, beginning on Friday, October 24 at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

The Blue Jays beat the Mariners in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night in Toronto. The Dodgers, who swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series that ended on Friday, held a second straight workout at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.

This is the third trip to the World Series for the Blue Jays, who won back-to-back championships in 1992-93. Their offense is leading all of baseball this postseason by scoring 6.45 runs per game and 20 home runs in 11 games, fueling their .523 slugging percentage as a team.

Every game of the World Series has a start time of 5 p.m. PT, and will be televised by Fox.

2025 World Series schedule​

• Game 1: Friday, October 24 in Toronto, 5 p.m. PT (Fox)
• Game 2: Saturday, October 25 Toronto, 5 p.m. PT (Fox)
• Game 3: Monday, October 27 in Los Angeles, 5 p.m. PT (Fox)
• Game 4: Tuesday, October 28 in Los Angeles, 5 p.m. PT (Fox)
• Game 5*: Wednesday, October 29 in Los Angeles, 5 p.m. PT (Fox)
• Game 6*: Friday, October 31 in Toronto, 5 p.m. PT (Fox)
• Game 7*: Saturday, November 1 in Toronto, 5 p.m. PT (Fox)

*if necessary

The Dodgers won two of three games against the Blue Jays during the regular season from August 8-10 at Dodger Stadium.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-schedule/106237/dodgers-blue-jays-world-series

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers set pitching rotation for start of World Series

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are sticking with the same pitching rotation order for the World Series that worked wonders for them in the National League Championship Series. Blake Snell will start Game 1 of the Fall Classic on Friday night, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 on Saturday.

“Then we’ll kind of see in Game 3 and Game 4,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday on a conference call.

Roberts later said he hasn’t yet decided whether Shohei Ohtani will start Game 3 or Game 4. Tyler Glasnow would start the other game. During the NLCS, Glasnow started Game 3 and Ohtani in Game 4.

The schedule format of the World Series mirrors that of the League Championship round, with potentially seven games over nine days in a 2-3-2 format. Snell gets Game 1 because he’d be available to start again in Game 5 on four days rest, while Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani get extra rest between their starts. Similarly, Tyler Glasnow starting in Game 3 would make him available to start Game 7 on four days rest. Though in a Game 7 of the World Series, just about everyone would be available in relief if needed.

Starting pitching is driving the Dodgers bus this postseason, and it’s been a smooth ride so far with nine wins in 10 games. The rotation has a minuscule 1.40 ERA and 33.5-percent strikeout rate in 64 1/3 innings, and has pitched at least six innings in eight of 10 games, plus 5 2/3 innings in one of the other shorter starts. They’ve already surpassed the total from Dodgers starters during last year’s championship run (60 innings), which lasted 16 games.

In the NLCS, Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and Ohtani accounted for 79.6 percent of the innings pitched, and allowed a total of only two runs in 28 2/3 innings, with 35 strikeouts. That included Snell facing the minimum in eight innings of Game 1 in Milwaukee, and Yamamoto in Game 2 pitching the Dodgers’ first postseason complete game in 21 years.

“As an offense, you just have so much confidence in these guys to keep matching zeroes or throwing zeroes up, where we can get going,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said Tuesday. “We’re all facing the best pitching in the game right now. You’re not making the World Series without great pitching.”

Snell in particular has been the stingiest, allowing two runs in 21 innings in his three starts, with 28 strikeouts against only five walks. None of those runs have come in the first six innings of his three postseason outings. Since returning from the injured list on August 2, after missing four months with left shoulder inflammation, Snell has a 1.96 ERA and 34.3-percent strikeout rate in 73 1 /3 innings, allowing only 16 total runs in 12 starts.

“With every great starting staff, you’ve gotta have that anchor. Blake’s always been a finisher,” Roberts said. “The way the season started, to have him back, to pitch the way he did sort of raised the bar. I thought he got Yamamoto even better, got [Glasnow] better, Shohei. It allowed for us to not ony prevent a couple few-game losing streaks, but to just win games, win series.”

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...ching-rotation-blake-snell-yoshinobu-yamamoto

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Why the Dodgers can win the 2025 World Series

The stage is set. In a matchup that represents teams from two different countries, the 2025 World Series will feature the defending champion Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays, a team that clinched their first World Series appearance in 32 years.

The Dodgers were the overwhelming favorite against the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card series, but were considered the underdog by regular season record against both the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS and NLCS. Orion Kerkering threw the series and his team’s season away with an errant throw home in Game 4 of the Division Series, and the Brewers could muster up just one single run against the Dodgers in every game of the NLCS. The NL pennant stays within the NL West for a third year in a row, and the Dodgers now embark on the final act of their mission of becoming the first repeat champions in a quarter century.

The Toronto Blue Jays are no slouch. In a contested American League East division, they came away with not only with their first division title in nine years but with the best regular season record in the AL. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. terrorized the New York Yankees in a four game series win in the ALDS, and although the Seattle Mariners took them to a seven game series in the ALCS, George Springer’s late inning heroics brought Toronto to the World Series for the first time this century.

It is the third straight postseason series where the Dodgers are considered the underdogs on paper, as Toronto hosts the first two games of the series, but they are a juggernaut.

Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are once again the frontline starters for the Dodgers for the first two games of the World Series, and they are both coming off impressive outings against the Brewers. Snell faced the minimum through eight innings of work, allowing one single hit and racking up 10 strikeouts. Yamamoto became the first Dodger to throw a complete game in the postseason in 21 years in the following game.

Snell has posted remarkable numbers in his career against the Blue Jays, posting a 2.39 ERA with 97 strikeouts across 79 innings. In his most recent start against Toronto, Snell secured a win as he struck out 10 over just five scoreless innings despite allowing three hits and three walks. Yamamoto, on the other hand, will make his first career start in Canada having never faced the Blue Jays.

Tyler Glasnow has posted overwhelmingly unfavorable results in his career against the Blue Jays in his career, but since joining the Dodgers, he’s managed a respectable 2.31 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 11 2/3 innings over his last two starts against Toronto.

For Shohei Ohtani, it will also be his first go around on the mound against Toronto, but he has been a force on offense. In his career against the Blue Jays, Ohtani carries a .314 batting average with 11 home runs, 27 RBI, and 27 runs scored across 33 games. Ohtani has yet to show off his prowess on both sides against an American League team in the postseason, but Game 4 of the NLCS demonstrated what that could potentially look like.

Toronto has had nowhere near the leisurely experience than that of the Dodgers’ postseason journey. While the offense has been a wrecking crew headlined by the likes of Springer and Guerrero, the pitching staff has been the biggest concern. Blue Jays starters failed to toss a single quality start in the ALDS, even when factoring in rookie Trey Yesavage’s masterful 11 strikeout performance in Game 2. They had marginally better results in the ALCS (3.86 ERA across 37 1/3 innings), but the bullpen, outside of Louis Varland and Jeff Hoffman, managed a combined ERA of 8.52, and their overall pitching staff has the third worst ERA out of all 12 teams this postseason.

The Blue Jays offense has been the most destructive force of any team this postseason, clobbering 20 home runs and posting an .878 OPS as a team. That aspect will be the biggest concern to the Dodgers pitching, but if the rotation can repeat their success they’ve had throughout the postseason, then they’ll be once again be a four-headed monster that no team wants to face. The Dodgers offense has struggled to lift off after the Wild Card series, but with a Blue Jays pitching staff that has been inconsistent at best, adequate run support is more than enough to supplement the rotation.

Recent history has not been kind to teams like the Dodgers in this situation. The last four World Series between one team that swept through the ‘CS and the other that went to Game 7, the team with the longer road came away victorious, including the 1988 Dodgers. This time around, the Dodgers enter with a desire to repeat, unlike the other eight teams before in these situations. With a vaunted pitching staff and offense looking to fully break out, the Dodgers will demonstrate superteam traits and unleash their dominance against the Blue Jays.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/106269/dodgers-world-series-2025-blue-jays

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy up for Silver Slugger Awards

Louisville Slugger announced the “finalists” for 2025 Silver Slugger Award, which is a fancy way of saying they unveiled the top three to six players in voting for the best offensive performer at each position. The voting is already complete, selected by managers and up to three coaches on each major league team. There is no other round of voting coming.

Four Dodgers are among the top four at their position offensively, as deemed by managers and coaches — Shohei Ohtani at designated hitter, Will Smith at catcher, Freddie Freeman at first base, and Max Muncy at third base.

Designated hitter​

Ohtani has won three Silver Sluggers in the previous four seasons, including in 2024 with the Dodgers. With apologies to Christian Yelich of the Brewers, who was in the top three at the position, this Silver Slugger is between Ohtani and the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber.

Ohtani: .282/.392/.622, 55 HR, 25 doubles, 9 triples, 20 steals, 146 runs, 102 RBI, 109 walks, 172 wRC+
Schwarber: .240/.365/.563, 56 HR, 23 doubles, 2 triples, 10 steals, 111 runs, 132 RBI, 108 walks, 152 wRC+

If Schwarber wins this Silver Slugger, it’ll be because of his 30 more RBI than Ohtani and possibly one more home run. Ohtani also stole 10 more bases. Ohtani had eight more extra-base hits and 40 more total bases, reached base 20 more times, and scored 35 more runs, while making 10 fewer outs.

Catcher​

Smith was the best-hitting catcher in the National League, but suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand after getting hit by a foul ball on September 3, and missed 22 of the final 23 games of the regular season, hurting his raw totals. William Contreras of the Brewers and Hunter Goodman of the Rockies are the other two in the top three of voting.

Smith: .296/.404/.497, 153 wRC+, 17 HR, 20 doubles, 61 RBI, 64 runs, 78 wRC, 4.7 oWAR (Baseball Reference)
Contreras: .260/.355/.399, 113 wRC+, 17 HR, 28 doubles, 76 RBI, 89 runs, 88 wRC+, 3.8 oWAR
Goodman: .278/.323/.520, 118 wRC+, 31 HR, 28 doubes, 91 RBI, 73 runs, 90 wRC+, 3.8 oWAR

The last Dodgers catcher to win Silver Slugger Award was Russell Martin in 2007.

Your 2025 National League @SluggerNation Silver Slugger Award finalists

NL winners will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 6. American League finalists will be announced tomorrow, with AL winners on Friday, Nov. 7. pic.twitter.com/LppycGSfiu

— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2025

First base​

Freeman is a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, all won while with the Atlanta Braves. The top three in voting at the position are Freeman, Pete Alonso of the Mets, and Matt Olson of the Braves.

Freeman: .295/.367/.502, 139 wRC+, 24 HR, 39 doubles, 90 RBI, 81 runs, 27.6 Offense (FanGraphs), 4.2 oWAR
Alonso: .272/.347/.524, 141 wRC+, 38 HR, 41 doubles, 126 RBI, 87 runs, 29.2 Offense, 4.4 oWAR
Olson: .272/.366/.484, 136 wRC+, 29 HR, 41 doubles, 95 RBI, 98 runs, 26.1 Offense, 4.2 oWAR

The last Dodgers first baseman to win a Silver Slugger was Adrián González in 2014.

Third base​

Max Muncy missed 47 games on injured list stints for a left knee bone bruise and oblique strain, but impressed enough during his time on the field that he is at least in the top four in voting at the hot corner for a Silver Slugger. Others at the position are Matt Chapman of the Giants, Manny Machado of the Padres, and Austin Riley of the Braves.

Muncy: 388 PA, .243/.376/.470, 137 wRC+, 19 HR, 10 doubles, 67 RBI, 48 runs, 17.4 Offense, 3.3 oWAR
Machado: 678 PA, .275/.335/.460, 123 wRC+, 27 HR, 33 doubles, 95 RBI, 91 runs, 17.8 Offense, 3.8 oWAR
Chapman: 535 PA, .231/.340/.430, 118 wRC+, 21 HR, 23 doubles, 61 RBI, 76 runs, 12.5 Offense, 3.6 oWAR
Riley: 447 PA, .260/.309/.428, 103 wRC+, 16 HR, 20 doubles, 54 RBI, 54 runs, 0.2 Offense, 1.5 oWAR

Adrián Beltré in 2004 was the only Dodgers third baseman to win a Silver Slugger Award.

The 2025 Silver Slugger Award winners will be announced on Thursday, November 6.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...i-will-smith-freddie-freeman-max-muncy-voting

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Highlighting the magnitude of the Dodgers dominance in the NLCS

Easy narratives are common for obvious reasons, and with a similar path to that of last year’s playoff run, perhaps being challenged the most in the NLDS, it’s not particularly hard to be somewhat dismissive of what the Dodgers accomplished in the NLCS. Overlooking the Brewers as an adversary that the Dodgers were obligated to beat ignores key aspects of what postseason baseball is, and most importantly, it undermines an impressive accomplishment.

Let’s forget about the names, salaries, and everything that goes into a preconceived notion of what a player is, and let’s simply focus on who was this team that the Dodgers smoked right through on their way to another World Series appearance.

Much was made of what Milwaukee did on the basepaths and through their defensive work, stealing runs through unorthodox play in what is a modern game without as much action on the basepaths as in previous eras. Those things are important, but the reality of the situation is that if you don’t perform well in more traditional ways, like actually hitting the ball well, no amount of baserunning, a good offense makes. Do you want to guess who is the only team that stole more bags than Milwaukee in the regular year, and finished second to Milwaukee’s first in Base Running Value? It was the Tampa Bay Rays, who are not in the playoffs, a team that scored roughly 100 fewer runs than Milwaukee and finished the year with a losing record.

Milwaukee earned value on the base paths, but they also featured tremendous depth in their lineup, with eight hitters finishing the year with a wRC+ above 110. For context, the Phillies only had five. Now, this gets to the second and rather obvious point of star power. You’re right to point out that Milwaukee didn’t have a Kyle Schwarber or a Trea Turner hitting for them, but the Average Joe’s bit was perhaps a bit overplayed.

Yes, Milwaukee had plenty of out-of-nowhere production from the likes of Isaac Collins, Jake Bauers, and Andrew Vaughn, which warranted great skepticism of how it’d hold up against elite pitching. On the other hand, William Contreras, Jackson Chourio, and Christian Yelich form a rather formidable trio, particularly for a small-market team. That the Dodgers’ starting pitching was able to shut these guys down with authority isn’t the cakewalk that some would lead you to believe. Over the last three seasons, Yelich and Contreras have each had an OPS north of .800 and could easily be considered among the best at their respective positions in the whole of the National League.

Moving to the pitching side of things, Milwaukee didn’t have the star power there either, but here is a bullpen that pitched to the tune of a 2.52 ERA against the Dodgers. Freddy Peralta doesn’t owe anything to the Dodgers starters, as his outstanding campaign will earn him some Cy Young votes. Jacob Misiorowski, who was a big factor in driving down that bullpen ERA, pitched like a dominant starter in a bulk-innings role. These aren’t smoke-and-mirrors type of pitchers; their elite stuff holds up with anybody.

For a fan base that’s seen this team roll out World Series contenders year after year for over a decade and, more often than not, come up short, it’s important not to lose perspective. And the 93-win record is indeed a complete illusion of the team’s true talent level, and there is a reason why they were heavy favorites to begin with, but it’s not as if they shattered a facade of a team. The Brewers earned every single one of those 97 wins, which is all the more impressive in a year in which no team was able to hit the 100-win mark.

Which makes the Dodgers dominance of the NLCS all the more impressive.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...83/dodgers-nlcs-dominance-brewers-perspective

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

How to watch Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series Game 1

The 121st Fall Classic begins with the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 on Friday night at Roger’s Centre in Toronto.

Blake Snell gets the start for the Dodgers, with two consecutive scoreless starts and only two total runs allowed during his three starts this postseason. He’s the third Dodgers pitcher to start three Games 1 in the same postseason, joining Clayton Kershaw in 2017 (NLDS, NLCS, World Series) and Walker Buehler in 2020 (wild card series, NLDS, NLCS).

The Blue Jays are turning to rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage, their first-round draft pick in 2024, to make his seventh major league start in Game 1 of the World Series. Four of those seven starts will be in the postseason, including an 11-strikeout win over the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS, and a win over the Mariners in an elimination Game 6 of the ALCS last Sunday.

World Series Game 1 info​

• Teams: Dodgers at Blue Jays
• Ballpark: Rogers Centre, Toronto
• Start time: 5 p.m. PT
• TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smotz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
• National radio: ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi, Eduardo Pérez, Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney)
• Local English radio: AM 570 (Stephen Nelson, Rick Monday)
• Local Spanish radio: KTNQ 1020 AM (Pepe Yñiguez, José Mota, Luis Cruz)

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...ays-world-series-game-1-television-start-time

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

How to watch Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series Game 2

The Dodgers allowed nine runs in the sixth inning to turn a close Game 1 into a Blue Jays rout on Friday night. On Saturday in Game 2, Los Angeles will try to leave Rogers Centre in Toronto with a split.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the rock of the Dodgers pitching staff this season, the only starter to remain on the active roster all season, posting a 2.49 ERA and 2.73 xERA in 30 starts and 173 2/3 innings, the first Dodgers pitcher to qualify for leaderboards since 2022. Yamamoto has a 1.83 ERA in 19 2/3 innings in his three starts this postseason, and is coming off the team’s first playoff complete game in 21 years, 11 days ago.

Kevin Gausman has been as dependable as they come, starting at least 31 games for the last five years in a row, including a 3.59 ERA and 3.70 xERA in 32 starts and 193 innings this season. The 34-year-old right-hander has allowed only four runs in his three postseason starts and recorded exactly 17 outs each time. Gausman also pitched a scoreless inning in relief in Game 7 of the ALCS on Tuesday, working around three walks.

World Series Game 2 info​

• Teams: Dodgers at Blue Jays
• Toronto leads best-of-seven series, 1-0
• Ballpark: Rogers Centre, Toronto
• Start time: 5 p.m. PT
• TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smotz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
• National radio: ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi, Eduardo Pérez, Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney)
• Local English radio: AM 570 (Stephen Nelson, Rick Monday)
• Local Spanish radio: KTNQ 1020 AM (Pepe Yñiguez, José Mota, Luis Cruz)

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...ays-world-series-game-2-television-start-time

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Blue Jays put on an offensive clinic to beat Dodgers in Game 1

The script for how a particular game could go south for the Los Angeles Dodgers was followed to a tee in this blowout Blue Jays win to open the World Series. Much was made of the battle between elite swing-and-miss stuff from the Dodgers starter and a contact-oriented approach from the Blue Jays lineup. Contact alone will only take you so far, and it’s important not to gloss over the many home runs hit by Toronto in Game 1. At the heart of the Blue Jays’ success was an innate ability to avoid strikeouts, keeping Blake Snell from getting in a groove throughout the whole evening.

As was the case in the matchup against the Brewers, Snell faced a righty-heavy lineup in Toronto with Daulton Varsho and ninth-hole hitter Andrés Giménez as the only two lefty presences. This once again led the Dodger starter to a changeup-heavy approach. The big difference is that, unlike the Brewers, the Jays were able to put it in play consistently, making contact at over 80 percent of the changeups thrown both in and out of the zone.

While they didn’t score early, Toronto was capable of setting the tone with a pivotal 29-pitch first inning out of Snell—even before the blowup in the sixth that saw the home team take a commanding lead. By that point, Snell had already labored enough that in the best-case scenario, he’d be out after six in a close game. Now, you can claim that while it was close, the Dodgers had as much a chance to get to the Blue Jays bullpen as the other way around; the big difference is the starting point was one of great advantage for Los Angeles with a far superior starter.

Looking back at the NLCS, the complementary nature of Milwaukee’s lineup was praised in the regular season, and it simply didn’t show up in the playoffs. Nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to this Blue Jays lineup at the moment. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer delivered good at-bats, and Bo Bichette gave them a clear spark back from injury, and all of that would’ve been for naught without the key contributions from the likes of Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho, and Addison Barger. These three hit the crucial home runs in this game that was filled with star power.

Focusing on Barger and the following games in this series for a minute, he poses the threat of an improved Blue Jays lineup against a sequence of right-handed Dodger starters. To the surprise of no one, John Schneider defaulted to his lefty killer in this game, starting a cold Davis Schneider and batting him second. It’ll undoubtedly be the last game he starts until Snell takes the ball again, especially with Barger coming off the bench to hit a grand slam against a lefty. In fact, it’s feasible that Schneider takes a chance at Barger even against a lefty if he is able to replicate this at any point in the series.

With Snell out before recording an out in the fifth, that dreaded prolonged bullpen exposure for the Dodgers comes to fruition, even more worrisome now minus one Alex Vesia in this series. Assessing specifically the moves made by Roberts once he got Snell out of there, everyone’s uneasiness is matched by the doubt as to how much better Roberts could have handled this. Emmet Sheehan was thrust into a bases-loaded, no-out situation and couldn’t put away anyone. And then, Los Angeles brought Anthony Banda in, again with the bases loaded, this time with just one out and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. looming on deck.

This is entirely a moot point, as it was the lefty Barger taking Banda deep for a grand slam to make this a blowout; however, it’s difficult to get over the idea of having Banda pitching to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in that spot if he was successful in his first matchup. While a double play would have ended the inning, it isn’t the type of play you can bank on as a manager, thinking you’ll avoid the next at-bat. That felt rather obviously a spot for a right-hander, any right-hander. In a world of conciliating results and processes, it’s a move that makes us more wary of the Dodgers’ plans this series, if/when they have other games in which they need to use the bullpen a lot. While the lack of righties in the bullpen without having to default to your leverage arms (Roki Sasaki and Blake Treinen) is a problem, Will Klein or Edgardo Henríquez would’ve been better options, and it being the case should ring alarm bells.

Over an entire series, there is still a great chance Dodger starting pitching takes over in a commanding way; only the opening round went to the Blue Jays lineup, not one star player or even two, but the whole batting order.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...itching-blue-jays-offense-game-1-world-series

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Starters lead the show, what else is new? Yamamoto goes the distance in Game 2

Even though the Dodgers, as a team, won Game 2, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong to claim that Yoshinobu Yamamoto singlehandedly took over this one, doing so with what could only be described as an anachronistic effort. While our loyalties lie with teams, we often fall in love with individuals to take us to that place of fandom. It’s no stretch to ponder if Yamamoto inspired a bunch of new Dodger fans in the US and particularly overseas with what he did on the mound.

Perhaps the biggest compliment one could come up with for what Yamamoto and the entirety of the Dodgers rotation have done in the playoffs is this: with no basis other than simple logic, Dave Roberts has surely broken the record for most time spent sitting back on the dugout in a single postseason. Notice his posture in many of these outings in which we’ve seen a Dodger starter mowing down hitters like they belong in a separate league, and the word tense, commonly associated with playoff baseball, wouldn’t even cross your mind.

Following a rocky Blake Snell outing, Yamamoto overcame early struggles and cruised to the point that any questions for a change were never posed. Sure, Roki Sasaki stayed loose in the ninth in case the Blue Jays built a rally, only as a precautionary move. Yamamoto was so locked in that a one-two-three ninth felt inevitable, and that’s exactly what we got.

Inevitable, though, is a dangerous word for moments and performances such as these, for it often devalues the effort level and skill to stand out so spectacularly. Saying Yamamoto felt inevitable is more a figure of speech than anything else, for up until the very end, the need to execute at a high level remained the same. Nothing is automatic, as Snell’s Game 1 outing proved, and even here, Yamamoto’s outing could’ve gone in an entirely different direction early on.

Scoring in the top of the first to take the air out of the building a bit, the Dodgers nearly gave that lead back right away with the first two reaching off Yamamoto. While the splitter was his most utilized pitch in this performance, Yamamoto zeroed in on the curveball to get him out of that jam.

Yamamoto had the scorching-hot Vladimir Guerrero Jr. up with runners at the corners and no outs in the first. Down in the count 2-0, the Dodger starter refused to cave and got Vladdy to swing over the top of a splitter at the bottom of the zone.

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A few pitches later, with the Jays’ star hitter fouling off multiple splitters, Yamamoto threw the first curve of the at-bat and managed to miss Vladdy’s bat without leaving the zone once again.

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There was no inevitability in this battle of heavyweights that could easily be interpreted as game-defining given the outing’s progression. Yamamoto located his pitches well and executed an outstanding game plan, eventually getting out of the inning with a soft liner and another strikeout on a curve, this time against Daulton Varsho.

The second time through the order, once again this same portion of the lineup gave him fits, but he minimized the damage to one run, getting Varsho to chase a splitter out of the zone for a weak contact.

Getting nastier as the game progressed, Yamamoto outlasted Kevin Gausman, who eventually caved, in what was an outstanding pitcher’s duel, allowing a couple of key homers to Will Smith and Max Muncy in the top of the seventh. Those long balls are yet another example of the unwavering focus to do what Yamamoto did, as his opponent was almost as impressive but paid the price for the mistake of throwing one too many fastballs to Smith. Muncy’s home run—there is nothing you can do about it, just a great piece of hitting.

If one complete game was impressive, two in a row is the type of accomplishment that’ll generate everlasting memories from a pitcher who’s everything the Dodgers hoped they were getting, and then some.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/106576/dodgers-yoshinobu-yamamoto-world-series-game-2-blue-jays

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

How to watch Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series Game 3

LOS ANGELES — The 2025 World Series is now a best-of-five series, with the next three games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, beginning with Game 3 on Monday night.

Tyler Glasnow makes the start for the Dodgers, having allowed one run over 13 1/3 innings in his three postseason starts to date — one spot relief appearance and two starts — with eight walks and 18 strikeouts.

Max Scherzer is on the mound for the Blue Jays, the 27th career postseason start for the 41-year-old.

World Series Game 3 info​

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays
• Best-of-seven series tied, 1-1
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
• Start time: 5 p.m. PT
• TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smotz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
• National radio: ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi, Eduardo Pérez, Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney)
• Local English radio: AM 570 (Stephen Nelson, Rick Monday)
• Local Spanish radio: KTNQ 1020 AM (Pepe Yñiguez, José Mota, Luis Cruz)

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...ays-world-series-game-3-television-start-time

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers Blue Jays Game 3- Boo Birds for some Jays

And so now, the World Series moves back to the US, back to the West Coast, back to Los Angeles, for a pivotal Game 3.

After an abysmal Game 1, where the offense couldn’t get going, and the bullpen couldn’t get out of its own way, the Dodgers did much better in both respects in Game 2. Some key hits and home runs and another complete outing from Yamamoto Yoshinobu allowed the Dodgers to tie the series heading into their home part of the series.

Tyler Glasnow will take the mound for the Dodgers. In his last outing, against the Milwaukee Brewers, Glasnow went 5.2 innings while striking out eight, and allowing only one run. The Dodgers had to use five pitchers total in that game, and it would be better if that didn’t have to happen again.

While the bullpen is rested, having not been used in Yamamoto’s outing and the off day, that’s where things went wrong for the Dodgers in Game 1. Granted the Dodgers did not use their high leverage arms in that game, but not much of the bullpen inspires confidence these days. The Dodgers are also without Alex Vesia, who pitched in Glasnow’s last outing as one of the five. (Continued well wishes to the whole Vesia family).

Glasnow went six innings in the NLDS against the Phillies, allowing no runs. It would be great if he could go deeper into games, but the Dodgers will most likely have to cover three innings with the bullpen.

Vladimir Guerro Jr and George Springer are a combined 12-for-20 off Glasnow, with four extra base hits. And an oddly specific, and worrisome in this case stat, the Blue Jays rank first in MLB against pitchers who generate seven feet or more of extension.

Toronto will send their grizzled veteran Max Scherzer to the mound. Many Dodger fans would love to see the offense just tee off on him, because of the whole Dead Arm Gate of 2021 when Scherzer was with the Dodgers. Scherzer has only pitched in one game so far this postseason, going 5.2 innings against the Seattle Mariners where he allowed two earned runs, one homer, striking out five. He did walk four, and if the Dodgers play their usual patient selves at the plate, they could get to him and knock him from the game early.

And then of course, the top of the first will be filled with loud boos for George Springer, who famously didn’t apologize for his part in the cheating scheme when he played for the Houston Astros.

Keys of course will be shutting down Springer and Guererro Jr, jumping on Scherzer, and minimizing the bullpen usage. Easier said than done of course, as the Blue Jays have a track record of having bigger offensive explosions after being held to minimal runs, and Scherzer could absolutely be Mad Max on the mound and mow down the Dodgers offense. But I do feel this will be a battle of the bullpens, and please guys, be the good version this time.

World Series Game 3 info​

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays
• Best-of-seven series tied, 1-1
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
• Start time: 5 p.m. PT
• TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smotz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
• National radio: ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi, Eduardo Pérez, Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney)
• Local English radio: AM 570 (Stephen Nelson, Rick Monday)
• Local Spanish radio: KTNQ 1020 AM (Pepe Yñiguez, José Mota, Luis Cruz)

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-scores-standings/106646/dodgers-blue-jays-game-3-boos-early

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Freddie Freeman walk-off home run give Dodgers another 18-inning World Series win

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers made multiple outs on the bases, several errors and misplays in the field, and couldn’t get five innings from their starting pitcher, a rarity this postseason, in a game that needed a combined 44 players and 18 innings to decide. After six hours and 49 minutes and several close calls, Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off home run to beat the Blue Jays 6-5 in Game 3 of the World Series.

FREDDIE FREEMAN, OCTOBER LEGEND. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/SW3XeFihxq

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 28, 2025

Will Klein was the 10th Dodgers pitcher of the night, and their last reliever on the roster. He pitched longer than he ever has in five years of professional, throwing four scoreless innings to get the Dodgers through 18 innings, matching their own record for longest-ever game in the World Series.

Klein’s previous career high was three innings, done five times in High-A Quad Cities in 2021 in the Royals system, and once this year on August 30 with Triple-A Oklahoma City. On Monday night, Klein struck out five and worked around two hits and a walk.

WILL KLEIN IS NASTY. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/d50jBe4XCm

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 28, 2025

Game 2 starter and completer Yoshinobu Yamamoto was warming up to pitch the 19th inning of Game 3, but Freeman made sure it didn’t get that far.

Nine times?​

Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs and two doubles, tying a World Series record with four extra-base hits in a game, something previously only accomplished by second baseman Frank Isbell with his four doubles for the “hitless wonders” Chicago White Sox in Game 5 of the 1906 Fall Classic.

Ohtani’s second double drove in a run in the sixth inning and he scored the tying run later that frame. His second home run tied the game again in the seventh.

With eight home runs in 13 games, Ohtani tied the Dodgers record for one postseason. Corey Seager also hit eight in 2020, in 18 games. The major league record for a single postseason is 10 homers, by Randy Arozarena for the 2020 Rays.

Ohtani was having such a good game that Blue Jays manager John Schneider intentionally walked him with one out and nobody on in the ninth inning of a tie game, putting the winning run on base. But in keeping with the theme of the game, Ohtani was thrown out trying to steal second because he came off the bag.

Ohtani was also walked intentionally with two outs and nobody on in the 11th, and with two outs and a runner on third in the 13th, and then worked a walk in the traditional manner in the 17th as well. Ohtani reached base nine times in a World Series game, three more than the previous of six times on base, by Stan Hack in 1945 and Kenny Lofton in 1995.

Early relief​

Justin Wrobleski got five outs to get into the seventh inning, then came Blake Treinen for his team-leading eighth appearance in 13 games this postseason. Treinen needed only one out to finish the inning, but allowed three singles beforehand. The middle hit ricocheted off the right field wall in foul territory (including apparently off the leg of a Fox sound person).

Teoscar Hernández, who was thrown out at third base by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a busted play to end the bottom of the sixth inning, couldn’t return the favor in the top of the seventh with terrible throw home, allowing Guerrero to score the go-ahead run.

It was a great relay that kept the game tied in the top of the 10th inning. With pinch-runner Davis Schneider on first base, Nathan Lukes doubled into the right field corner. This time, Hernández got off a very good throw to Tommy Edman, who made an error earlier but this time fired a great relay home to Will Smith to nail Schnieder with room to spare.

Edman also made a glove toss on the run to get the final out of the 12th inning to retire Nathan Lukes, the only batter Clayton Kershaw faced.

In addition to Wrobleski and Klein, Edgardo Henriquez also worked his way up the bullpen trust tree with two scoreless innings of his own, preceding Klein.

Starters for short​

Max Scherzer allowed solo home runs to Teoscar Hernández — who had one hit in his previous 16 at-bats with nine strikeouts — and Ohtani for a 2-0 lead by the inning. Freddie Freeman walked and stole second base later in the frame, and had another extra base on his mind when Will Smith singled to right field. Only this time, Addison Barger’s throw home nailed Freeman with plenty of time to spare to end the inning without additional runs.

Tyler Glasnow started the second inning by allowing a single, walk, and single. But after the first single, Bo Bichette wandered off first base after an absurdly-late strike call on what might have been ball four to Daulton Varsho. Will Smith threw down to nail Bichette in no-man’s land, which neutered a potential rally.

Glasnow in the fourth inning was not as fortunate, walking Guerrero to start the inning, then a possible double-play grounder got past Tommy Edman at second base for an error, putting runners at the corners. One out later, Alejandro Kirk unloaded on a first-pitch curveball for a three-run home run to turn a Toronto deficit into a one-run lead. Two more singles and a sacrifice fly made for a four run inning, two of the runs earned.

Manager Dave Roberts tipped his hand during an interview with Tom Verducci on Fox in the bottom of the fourth inning, saying he’d like to get a scuffling Glasnow through Bichette, the third batter due up in the fifth. Glasnow issued his third walk of the night, putting Nathan Lukes off to open the fifth, but Glasnow did get Guerrero and Bichette to end his night.

Anthony Banda was called in, and had a much better time than his two-homer appearance in the sixth inning of Game 1 in Toronto, inducing an infield popout to end the frame.

Scherzer got one out in the fifth but wasn’t allowed to face Ohtani a third time, pulled with one out. Ohtani, who doubled and homered off Scherzer, greeted left-hander Mason Fluharty with another double to score Kiké Hernández, giving the Dodgers three runs off Scherzer for the first time since the 2016 NLDS, 12 starts ago.

Freeman followed with a single inside first base off Fluharty to score Ohtani to even the score, officially turning the game over to the bullpens.

But nobody realized the game still had over four more hours to go.

World Series Game 3 particulars​

Home runs: Teoscar Hernández (5), Shohei Ohtani 2 (8), Freddie Freeman (2); Alejandro Kirk (5)

WP — Will Klein (1-0): 4 IP, 2 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

LP — Brendon Little (0-2): 1+ IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Up next​

Shohei Ohtani is on the mound for the Dodgers in Game 4 on Tuesday (5 p.m., Fox), with Shane Bieber pitching for the Blue Jays.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...ddie-freeman-home-run-will-klein-world-series

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Will World Series Game 4 give another Sho?

Wow. So, where do they go from here? Last night’s game was epic in every way. All of us are exhausted. Personally, after going to be at 3:15 am Eastern, I’m surprised my brain is functioning enough to write this.

That fatigue will be the story line for Game 4, starting most notably with the Dodgers starting pitcher. You know, that guy who did nothing more than hit two doubles and two homers and got on base all nine times he was at the plate. (Insert Ferris Buehler’s principal’s Nine Times meme here).

The last time Shohei Ohtani pitched a game at Dodgers Stadium, he delivered a game for the ages. Three homers on top of pitching six shutout innings.

We can say for certain that won’t happen again. Well, the six shutout innings very well might, but not the three homers. After Game 3, Toronto manager John Schneider said that they will not be pitching to Ohtani. “You know, he had a great game, he’s a great player, but I think after that you just kinda take the bat out of his hands.” When asked by a reporter is that’s what to be expected going forward, Schneider replied “yeah”.

Indeed, Ohtani was walked his last five at bats. (What an insane sentence). As such, that means the rest of the team needs to step up, and more specifically Mookie Betts. Mookie started the postseason hot, garnering four hits in the first Wild Card game. Since, he has only had one multi-hit game, and four games where he did not have any hits. In last night’s marathon game, he had only one hit in nine plate appearances.

The Dodgers will be facing Shane Beiber, a right hander the Blue Jays acquired at the trade deadline. He has allowed exactly two runs in each of his three postseason outings. However, two of those outing were less than four innings. With both teams having to use all of their available arms, he will be pressed to go deep into the game. In fact, he was loosening up in the Blue Jays bullpen last night. The Dodgers would do well to get to him early.

Another thing to watch is if George Springer will be in the lineup. The Blue Jay’s leadoff guy left the game in the seventh inning, dealing with right side tightness. He went for an MRI and it remains to be seen if he will appear in any more postseason games.

So, lets see what Game 4 has in store. A tidy little win would be nice. Please no more extra innings. (stifles yawn)

World Series Game 4 info​

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays
• Los Angeles leads best-of-seven series, 2-1
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
• Start time: 5 p.m. PT
• TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smotz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
• National radio: ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi, Eduardo Pérez, Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney)
• Local English radio: AM 570 (Stephen Nelson, Rick Monday)
• Local Spanish radio: KTNQ 1020 AM (Pepe Yñiguez, José Mota, Luis Cruz)

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-scores-standings/106748/world-series-game-4-give-sho

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

The Dodgers have an Andy Pages problem, and it’s not good

It would sound obscure to say that the Dodgers’ secondary leader in home runs in the regular season is also the same player that is hitting under .100 out of the nine hole in the postseason.

That is the situation that Andy Pages finds himself in, and he has become a major detriment for the Dodgers offensively.

To his credit, Pages has had a couple moments of productivity, as he his batted ball in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 4 of the NLDS helped the Dodgers take the series, thanks in help to an errant throw from Orion Kerkering that’ll forever haunt the Phillies. He also collected an RBI double off of Freddy Peralta in Game 2 of the NLCS that gave the Dodgers the lead.

Since that moment, he has a batting average of just .091. He has outdone himself in the World Series with a putrid .067 average and was replaced by Alex Call in both Games 3 and 4, with the fate of his role as a starter looking more dim with every missed opportunity at the plate.

With the Dodgers in need of a shuffle in the lineup, the starting nine for Dave Roberts might look a bit different. When Roberts was asked by Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times about potential lineup changes, Roberts commented that changes could be made as the season winds down to three games at most. Roberts did not specify as to who will bear the brunt of a demotion from the starting lineup.

“I’m gonna think about it long and hard, and it might look a little bit different tomorrow.”

Links​

Shohei Ohtani wasn’t able to replicate the same dominance he had against Milwaukee on the mound, as he handed Toronto the lead via a two-run home run from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before being pulled in the seventh inning for a second straight start.

Eager to give his team needed length on the mound, Ohtani failed to meet his own expectations of going seven full innings, as he regretted not being able to provide enough before the bullpen let Toronto’s lead ballon out of sight, per Jim Alexander of the Orange County Register.

“Whether it’s during the regular season or the postseason, my goal is to be able to pitch six innings,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “And the situation, this game, I wanted to go seven, and it was regrettable that I wasn’t able to finish that inning.”

Speaking of the bullpen, the duo of Anthony Banda and Blake Treinen fed into the Blue Jays’ four run seventh inning which ultimately left the Dodgers struggling to find answers against Toronto’s heavily depleted bullpen.

Treinen, who has now allowed runs (both off the bat of Bo Bichette) in back to back games, spoke on Toronto’s knack for being able to put the ball in play and do so in succession, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

“They do a good job of battling tough pitches,” Treinen said, “and putting pitches that are mistakes in play.”

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-links/106804/dodgers-andy-pages-shohei-ohtani-blake-treinen

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Trey Yesavage dominates Dodgers, Blue Jays take World Series Game 5

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers head to Toronto facing a daunting task, needing two wins in two road games to stay alive, after falling 6-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium to a Blue Jays team that has outplayed them thus far in the World Series.

Trey Yesavage brought the hammer in Game 5, riding a dominant slider and splitter to 12 strikeouts in seven innings, allowing only one run.

“We are always a team that gets starters 70 to 90 pitches by the fourth,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said before Game 5. ”We got to do that again and just build innings, keep putting pressure on ’em, and not have quick 1-2-3 innings.”

Yesavage didn’t get to 90 pitches until the seventh inning, allowing only three hits, one of them a solo home run by Kiké Hernández, who made his first start in center field since September 7. Yesavage had four 1-2-3 innings.

The rookie right-hander broke Smokey Joe Wood’s record for the 1912 Red Sox for most strikeouts in a World Series game by a pitcher 22 or younger.

The Dodgers in Game 1 chased Yesavage after 80 pitches through four innings and scored twice against him, but also left four on base, including not adding on from a bases-loaded, no-out situation last Friday.

“It was a 180 on his command from the first game,” Freeman said after the loss. “He had everything working tonight.”

“At-bat quality is not just pitches. It’s hitting mistakes,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I do think that the first time through the at-bat quality was good as far as kind of gathering information. But I think in total, two times through the order, there were a lot of pitches that we missed.”

The Dodgers swung and missed 23 times against Yesavage, with 21 of those coming on his 75 combined sliders and splitters. He also didn’t walk anybody, giving him the most strikeouts in a World Series game with no walks.

11+ strikeouts, 0 walks in World Series​

• Trey Yesavage (2025 Game 5): 7 innings, 12 strikeouts
• Don Newcombe (1949 Game 1): 8 innings, 11 strikeouts
• Clayton Kershaw (2017 Game 1): 7 innings, 11 strikeouts

Poor fastball command doomed Blake Snell in his Game 1 loss, and establishing the pitch has been the talk the last few days heading into his Game 5 start. Problem was, Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each homered on inside fastballs within Snell’s first three pitches, putting the Dodgers behind before many Dodger Stadium seats were even warm.

Schneider and Guerrero are the first pair of batters to start a World Series game with home runs.

Potential double play balls in the middle infield turned into only one out thanks to a molasses-slow turn in the first and a poor throw by Mookie Betts in the third inning, rushed even though a slowed Bo Bichette was the trail runner. Those weren’t cashed in, but an ill-advised dive by Teoscar Hernández in right field turned a double into a triple to lead off the fourth was, adding a free run thanks to a sacrifice fly.

Déjà vu​

After the two home runs, Snell was mostly solid, getting through 6 2/3 innings in his final start of the year. He walked four but struck out seven. He left trailing by two in a similar situation to Shohei Ohtani in Game 4, with two runners on. This time there was only one out to get, instead of three.

Edgardo Henriquez was first in the relief saddle on Wednesday, and walked Guerrero with a wild pitch on the final ball that allowed one inherited run to score, then allowed a single to Bichette to bring home the other inherited runner. Henriquez did not retire any of his three batters.

“It’s hard because you can only push a starter so much,” Roberts said of Snell’s 116 pitches. “I thought Blake emptied the tank.”

Two nights in a row the Dodgers tried to stretch out a starting pitcher because their bullpen has been terrible, only to see said starter struggle at a point of fatigue. Then when the bullpen finally came in, they did poorly. A real vicious cycle.

“The guys have got to be better. They certainly had a good game in Game [3] or whatever it was,” Roberts said. “Everyone’s got to do their job.”

With a fully-functioning offense and a competent bullpen, getting consecutive six-inning starts with two and three runs allowed, respectively are both winnable games. But the Dodgers have neither right now, which is a problem.

The Dodgers have averaged 3.54 runs per game after the wild card round, and scored three or fewer runs six times in their last 11 games. They’ve scored four runs in their last 27 innings.

Now their backs are firmly against the wall, with two days and a long flight to try to find that offense.

World Series Game 5 particulars​

Home runs: Kiké Hernández (1); Davis Schneider (1), Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (8)

WP — Trey Yesavage (3-1): 7 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 12 strikeouts

LP — Blake Snell (3-2): 6 2/3 IP, 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks, 7 strikouts

Up next​

The MLB season reaches its final destination with everyone headed to Toronto for Game 6 on Friday (5:10-ish p.m. PT, Fox). Yoshinobu Yamamoto will try to keep the Dodgers alive, while Kevin Gausman is pitching for the Blue Jays.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...esavage-dodgers-blue-jays-world-series-game-5

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers relying on experience in facing elimination

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers need to win or the season is over, adding clarity and immediacy of purpose after two home losses that followed frustratingly similar patterns.

A winnable start through six innings goes south in the seventh inning with a shaky handoff to a struggling bullpen, and an offense not performing anywhere close to their capabilities making for lopsided final scores.

“It doesn’t feel great,” manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday’s Game 5 loss. “You clearly see those guys finding ways to get hits, move the baseball forward, and we’re not doing a good job of it.”

The Blue Jays have outscored the Dodgers 29-18 in this World Series, with Toronto hitting .261/.341/.389 with a 105 wRC+ as a team compared to just .201/.296/.354 with a 79 wRC+. With runners in scoring position, the Blue Jays are hitting .282/.392/.436 with 51 such plate appearances in five games, while the Dodgers are 6-for-30 with no extra-base hits (.200/.286/.200) in only 36 PA.

“Hitting creates energy and we weren’t getting hits, so we weren’t really doing what it took to find that energy,” said Kiké Hernández, whose solo home run provided the Dodgers’ only run of Game 5.

Down 3-2 in the World Series, the Dodgers are facing elimination for the first time in 2025. But not only do they have to beat the Blue Jays on the road. They have to do it twice, something done eight times previously in a best-of-7 World Series:

• 1926 Cardinals (at Yankees)
• 1934 Cardinals (at Tigers)
• 1952 Yankees (at Dodgers)
• 1958 Yankees (at Braves)
• 1968 Tigers (at Cardinals)
• 1979 Pirates (at Orioles)
• 2016 Cubs (at Cleveland)
• 2019 Nationals (at Astros)

That 2019 World Series was an odd one, with the road team winning all seven games. Winning an elimination game is hard, doing on the road is even more difficult, and having to do so twice in a row is even more daunting. But the Dodgers have to first win Game 6 to earn the right to have to win Game 7.

“It sucks, but we get a day off, you go there and we just have to win one game. You win one game at a time, that’s what I keep saying all the time,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “It’s not going to be easy, but you can’t think about trying to win two games on the road. You just take it one game at a time, and we have to focus on the next game.”

Making the playoffs in all 10 seasons thus far under Roberts provides for many opportunities for playing in elimination games. They’ve done pretty well in such games, winning 13 of 20, while the rest of MLB since 2016 is 78-96 (.448) when facing elimination.

The Dodgers are 5-4 on the road when facing elimination, while the rest of MLB since 2016 is 27-47 (.365). The wins for Los Angeles in these games were the 2016 NLDS Game 5 in Washington D.C., 2018 NLCS Game 7 in Milwaukee, 2020 NLCS Game 5 “at” Braves (at Globe Life Field in Texas), 2021 NLDS Game 5 in San Francisco, and 2024 NLDS Game 4 in San Diego.

The 2025 Dodgers, as you might imagine, are leaning heavily on their experience from 2024, when they were down two games to one in the Division Series. They beat the Padres in San Diego in Game 4, and closed them out at Dodger Stadium in Game 5.

“We all know what we’re capable of, and we haven’t done it for two games. Maybe a day off will cool them down and reignite us,” Freeman said. “We’ve been here before. We were down 2-1 to the Padres last year and won two in a row. So we can do it again.”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be on the mound for the Dodgers in Game 6 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, coming off two complete games in a row, facing Kevin Gausman who took a 1-1 tie into the seventh inning against Yamamoto in Game 2 before home runs by Will Smith and Muncy gave the Dodgers one of their two wins in this series.

“We’ve got to make some adjustments. We have seen Gausman a ton, a lot of our guys have seen him, so we just got to continue to — I just think we just got to come in fresh,” Roberts said. “We’ve been in elimination games, a core group of these guys, and we got to find a way to win a game. That’s it.”

“As a group it’s time to show our character, put up a fight, and see what happens,” Hernández said. “We’re a more talented team than we were last year. We found a way to do it last year, and I thought we were in a bigger hole given the situation with our pitching staff last year.

“Right guy on the mound at the right time for us in Game 6 in Yoshinobu. It’s time for the offense to show up.”

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...gers-elimination-games-world-series-blue-jays