Blue Jays Celebrate NLCS Victory
The excitement among Toronto Blue Jays fans reached new heights thanks to Alex Bregman’s memorable three-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 7, clinching a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory and securing a World Series berth after 32 long years.
Whatever the future holds, the 2025 season is already shaping up to be a success.
This is significant, considering many are backing the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are vying for a second championship in a row.
That makes sense. Los Angeles’ pitching has been extraordinary, stifling the Milwaukee Brewers by allowing just one run in each game of the NLCS, sweeping them in four games—a level of dominance that started earlier against the Phillies. Now, the challenge for the Blue Jays lies in facing the Dodgers’ formidable rotation, which has proven nearly impenetrable throughout the postseason.
While it may be a tall order for Toronto to topple the Dodgers in the World Series, it’s not out of the question. In fact, there are reasons for Jays supporters to remain optimistic about an upset.
Having a roster with experienced playoff contenders gives the team a stronger chance, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has certainly made his impact felt this postseason.
Guerrero, named ALCS MVP, leads the playoffs with six home runs and 12 RBIs, boasting impressive stats—only three strikeouts, a .442 batting average, an on-base percentage of .510, and an OPS of 1.440. Against Seattle, he recorded 10 hits in 26 at-bats (.385 average), with three home runs and an OPS of 1.330.
Though Shohei Ohtani is often cited as the best player in baseball, Guerrero stands out as the top batter. He has shone on the biggest stage, even as the playoffs continue.
Interestingly, the Blue Jays are tied with the Mariners for the most home runs in the postseason at 20, scoring 71 runs over 11 games, averaging 6.4 runs per game. In contrast, the Dodgers’ scoring average sits at 4.6, which is solid but not overwhelming. Toronto is also hitting decisively, averaging 10.4 hits per game, while the next closest teams, the Mariners and Dodgers, trail with 88 total hits.
Key contributions have come from George Springer, who hit four home runs—including one that secured his place in the Fall Classic—catcher Alejandro Kirk with three homers, and even the bottom of the lineup has made its mark through players like Addison Berger, Andres Jimenez, Dalton Varsho, Ernie Clement, and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa.
Furthermore, Bo Bichette, who was third in the American League for hits despite missing the final weeks of the season, is expected back for Game 1. However, integrating him into the lineup could pose challenges, given both he and Springer are facing foot injuries that may limit their availability.
In summary, the entire batting lineup for the Blue Jays contributes consistently, generating numerous base hits. Home runs play a vital role—historically, teams that outscored opponents in home runs have posted a 24-5 postseason record this year, a slight improvement over 23-8 from last year. As pointed out, home runs accounted for a notable 44.5% of total RBIs this October, reflecting a rise from 41.1% in the regular season.
On the other side, the Dodgers’ pitching has been impressive, striking out 24.8% of opposing batters thus far in the playoffs. However, they are now facing a Toronto offense that has the lowest strikeout rate in baseball this year, merely 17.8%.
While the Milwaukee Brewers had a similar profile, they lacked the power, finishing with a 20.3% strikeout rate but registering 41 strikeouts in their postseason series against the Dodgers, averaging over 10 strikeouts per game during that four-game sweep.
If the Blue Jays can avoid a similar fate and showcase exceptional skills against a stronger Dodgers rotation, they might just stand a chance.
Jeff Hoffman, who had an inconsistent season as Toronto’s closer with a 4.37 ERA and 33 saves, nonetheless showed promise down the stretch, closing out Game 7 effectively with a three-strikeout save and a 0.84 ERA over 10.2 innings last month.
Moreover, the trio of Braydon Fisher (1.85 ERA), Eric Lauer (1.76 ERA), and Yariel Rodriguez (2.88 ERA) supports Toronto’s setup, while starter Chris Bassitt proved capable in high-stress situations, pitching eight scoreless innings in Game 7.
This offers a considerable edge over the Dodgers’ bullpen, which Los Angeles may try to minimize using, especially since their starting rotation has momentarily masked a shaky bullpen. However, they may not find that luxury against Toronto’s more patient approach.
The Dodgers concluded their four-game winning streak against the Brewers last Friday, with Game 1 of the World Series set to kick off this Friday. Los Angeles has had a week to rest, while the Blue Jays have merely four days to regroup.
Will this break benefit the Dodgers, or will it disrupt their momentum? Or will both teams feel similar effects from the time off?
Interestingly, the Blue Jays finished with one more win (94) than the Dodgers (93), granting them home-field advantage in the World Series. That didn’t seem to help them much in the ALCS when they dropped the first two home games, although winning Games 6 and 7 at Rogers Centre must have provided a significant morale boost.
