The Los Angeles Dodgers have been a very solid team throughout the postseason when it comes to their starting pitchers, dominating two very contact-heavy offenses throughout the 2025 MLB season such as the Philadelphia Phillies with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber in the Division Series and the Milwaukee Brewers with William Contreras and Jackson Chourio in the National League Championship Series.
In large part, this dominance is due to the work of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani, starters who have been impeccable with their pitching, reducing the use of the bullpen with long outings and even Yamamoto already pitched a complete game in the second game of the Championship Series at American Family Field against the team with the best record in all of Major League Baseball.
But now, in the World Series, the challenge will be greater when facing another high-contact offense with players who can change the course of the game at any moment. The Toronto Blue Jays maintained a contact percentage of 80.5% in the regular season and now face the Dodgers’ fearsome postseason starting pitching, who have a strikeout rate of 39.4%, the best in the playoffs.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads Toronto Blue Jays’ offense in World Series against Dodgers
The 2025 season for the Toronto Blue Jays has been a real redemption after they finished last in the American League East in 2024 and they owe much of it to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a player who at the beginning of this campaign had not signed his contract extension and his permanence in Canada was not assured. However, he was patient in not going to free agency and ended up signing a 14-year, $500 million contract.
This decision by the organization has paid off and today the player has been a fundamental piece in reaching the World Series. Guerrero had a great performance in the Division Series against the New York Yankees with a batting average of .529, nine hits, three home runs and five runs scored.
And although he started the Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners badly, going hitless in two games, he was able to recover in the following games. In fact, in the third game he was close to completing the baseball cycle, missing the most complicated one, the triple. But his good performances are backed by his teammates, who have also been instrumental in the great moment that the Toronto organization is experiencing.
What other pieces do the Toronto Blue Jays have for the World Series against the Dodgers?
While it is true that Vladimir Guerrero is one of the main offensive weapons of the Toronto Blue Jays, John Schneider has managed to polish his batting order to complement his offense. And one of the players who has been on fire with the bat is George Springer, first in the order and designated hitter who has 11 hits this postseason and nine have been extra bases.
Although undoubtedly the most important was the three-run home run in Game 7 against the Mariners to turn the score around and get the pass to the World Series. Joining this nine is Mexican Alejandro Kirk, the team’s catcher, who has also contributed with home runs.
In addition, the Dodgers will have a new threat with the return of Bo Bichette, shortstop, who has not played since September 6 when he suffered a knee sprain. The World Series begins this Friday, October 24 at 8:00 pm (ET) at Roger Centre in what will be a clash of great impact and power at bat.
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