Keegan Matheson
Sonja Chen
Anthony Castrovince
TORONTO — The Blue Jays and Dodgers pushed each other to the physical, mental and emotional limit in a thrilling 18-inning game earlier in this World Series.
But that was nothing compared to what’s coming.
Game 7 of the World Series is set for Saturday night at Rogers Centre after the Dodgers avoided elimination with the help of an odd and intense bottom of the ninth in their 3-1 victory in Game 6.
If you thought that — or the marathon Game 3 at Dodger Stadium — had you on the edge of your seat, brace yourself for a ballgame in which both of these clubs will be pulling out all the stops in pursuit of glory.
We haven’t had a Game 7 in the World Series since the 2019 affair between the Nationals and Astros. Max Scherzer started that game for the victorious Nats, and he’ll start this one for Toronto.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, will turn to their two-way wonder Shohei Ohtani on short rest.
Two potential future Hall of Famers starting a World Series Game 7? Yeah, that seems worth watching.
“To the fans,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider, “I say be loud, be rowdy. We're going to be ready to play.”
By now, you know the narratives. The Blue Jays are trying to go from last place in 2024 to World Series champs in 2025 and capture their first title since 1993. The Dodgers are trying to become MLB’s first repeat champs since the 1998-2000 Yankees, a dynastic ambition.
But those narratives are heightened — and new heroes are made — when it’s one baseball game for all the marbles.
As is always the case in a Game 7, a bevy of bullpen arms will be at the ready.
“This is Game 7,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, “so there's a lot of things that people haven't done, and you've just got to trust your players and try to win a baseball game.”
In best-of-seven series with the current 2-3-2 format, teams that have won Game 6 in order to force a Game 7 have won that series 35 of 56 times (62.5%). That includes these Blue Jays rallying against the Mariners, at home, in the ALCS.
When the Game 6 winner has forced a Game 7 on the road, that road team has won the series 14 of 22 times (63.6%). And in all of postseason history, teams playing any winner-take-all game in their home park are 69-67, including 31-29 in best-of-seven series.
The Dodgers haven’t been in a Game 7 since they beat the Braves in the 2020 NLCS, in the COVID bubble. They lost their last World Series Game 7 to Series MVP George Springer’s Astros in 2017.
The Blue Jays haven’t been in a Game 7 since … a couple weeks ago in the ALCS to get here. But the franchise has never been in a Game 7 in the World Series.
Though the Dodgers were considered heavy favorites coming into this Series, the Jays seized control with two emphatic wins in Dodger Stadium earlier this week before losing it in Game 6. These two clubs have proved to be evenly matched after all.
But of course, only one can celebrate Saturday night.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 7 is live on FOX.
All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB's exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Dodgers: RHP Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87 ERA)
Using Ohtani to serve as the opener on three days' rest will allow L.A. to use him on the mound without risking losing its designated hitter. Ohtani had a decent, if underwhelming, start in Game 4, allowing four runs in six-plus innings. Tyler Glasnow, who pitched in Game 6 but only threw three pitches, should be available for bulk innings. Blake Snell could also be used in some capacity. The starting pitchers have been the Dodgers' best arms this postseason, so it's only fitting that they will be the primary options as L.A. looks to close out a championship.
Blue Jays: RHP Max Scherzer (5-5, 5.19 ERA)
The 41-year-old Scherzer gets the ball in Game 7 of the World Series for the Blue Jays. What a script this is. The future Hall of Famer has been fighting against time all season long and given this organization some glimmers of greatness in the postseason, including Game 4 of the ALCS in Seattle, the full “Mad Max” experience. In Game 3 of this World Series against the Dodgers, Scherzer allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings, including home runs to Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández. Home runs have been a problem for Scherzer this season with 19 allowed over 85 innings in the regular season and, against a Dodgers lineup that can explode at any moment, that will be the biggest threat to the Blue Jays.
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What are the starting lineups?
Dodgers: The last two lineup shakeups didn't make a marked difference, but the Dodgers managed just enough run support to force a Game 7. Despite a few players trading spots, the Dodgers are rolling out the same starting nine as in Game 6, which dropped Mookie Betts to fourth and saw Edman start in center to make room for Miguel Rojas at second base.
Blue Jays: With George Springer back in the lineup after playing through his right side discomfort in Game 6, there’s little reason for the Blue Jays to make a change here. The offense struggled in the Game 6 loss, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto isn’t on the mound for Game 7 and the Blue Jays are rolling with their best lineup for right-handed pitching.
How will the bullpens line up after the starters?
Dodgers: Everyone except Yamamoto will be available, but the starting pitchers should be up first. It would not be surprising if Roberts tries to stay away from traditional relievers, including his closer. Roki Sasaki, who seized that role after dominating since his shift to the 'pen, threw 33 pitches in Game 6 and wasn't particularly sharp. If L.A. does need to use its bullpen arms, then Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski and Jack Dreyer may be some of the best options. The Dodgers have been without Alex Vesia for the World Series as he and his wife handle what the team described as a "deeply personal family matter."
Blue Jays: Well, Louis Varland pitched, because of course he did. Varland has pitched in 14 of the Blue Jays’ 17 postseason games, tying him for the all-time postseason record with Brandon Morrow (2017) and Paul Assenmacher (1997). He’ll surely be available for Game 7, though, and given that Thursday was an off-day and Kevin Gausman gave the Blue Jays six innings in Game 6, they should have everyone available. While closer Jeff Hoffman and setup man Seranthony Domínguez figure to play major roles, don’t forget Chris Bassitt, whom Schneider trusted in a close Game 7 in the ALCS and again to pitch the ninth of World Series Game 6. The Ohtani decision will loom over this game, too, and Schneider once again went to lefty Mason Fluharty in the eighth inning of Game 6, resulting in a double.
Any injuries of note?
Dodgers: Will Smith, who is dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand, returned to the starting lineup during the NLDS and hasn’t missed a start since. Edman continues to manage his right ankle, which landed him on the injured list twice this year. While the Dodgers had been reluctant to use him in center field, Edman started there in Game 6 and will play there in Game 7 as well. Reliever Tanner Scott was not included on the World Series roster as he continues to recover from a lower body abscess procedure.
Blue Jays: Springer left Game 3 with “right side tightness” and there was every reason to worry his season ended at that moment, but the 36-year-old returned to the lineup for Game 6 in Toronto. The Blue Jays are confident that this is not something that will get worse with playing, but is simply a matter of tolerance for Springer, and he was right back in there at DH in Game 7 for one of the biggest games of his career.
Bichette’s left knee sprain had been looming over this team, but he was finally activated for the World Series and has played in parts of each game. Bichette played the full game at second base in Game 6, but the Blue Jays are still open to lifting him for a pinch-runner late in a close game given that he’s clearly not close to 100% on the bases.
Anthony Santander was removed from the Blue Jays’ ALCS roster in the middle of the series with a back injury, which made him ineligible for the World Series.
Who is hot and who is not?
Dodgers: "Hot" is a relative descriptor for this team, which has been limited offensively since the NL Wild Card Series. The Dodgers had only four hits in Game 6, one apiece for Ohtani, Smith, Betts and Edman. Only three Dodgers have an OPS above .800 since the beginning of the NLDS: Ohtani (1.472), Freeman (.824) and Smith (.810). Andy Pages, who's hitting .080 overall, was left out of the starting lineup for the first time this postseason in Game 5.
Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled in Friday’s Game 6 loss, but when you zoom out for a look at what he’s accomplished this postseason, he still may be the most dangerous hitter left in the World Series. If Guerrero is going to have his trademark moment, when better than Game 7 of the World Series at home? Ernie Clement remains the quiet star of this run, too, now batting .397 after a two-hit night, while Bichette seems to be rounding back into form after missing the seven weeks leading up to the World Series with a knee injury. The pocket of Daulton Varsho, Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger needs to give the Blue Jays something in this Game 7, and all three are capable of changing the game with one swing.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• The Blue Jays become just the sixth team in MLB history to play in two Game 7s (ALCS, WS) in the same postseason, joining the 2017 Astros, 1991 Braves, 1987 Cardinals, 1986 Red Sox and 1985 Royals. Of those five previous teams, two went on to win the World Series (Springer’s '17 Astros and the '85 Royals).
• Ohtani tied Corey Seager's franchise record set in 2020 for the most homers in a single postseason with his eighth in Game 3.
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