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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is rewriting the history book of series

The Blue Jays have one or two games left in their season in 2025. Will the club win the World Series? We’ll see.

In any case, we’ll agree that if the Blue Jays win the World Series, the chances of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting his hands on the World Series MVP title are good.

And if there were an MVP for the entire series, his chances would be even better. And why? Because he’s rewriting Major League Baseball’s record books.

Here are a few examples.

1. Randy Arozarena has the all-time record for most hits in playoff history (in a single playoff run) with 29, and Vladdy could surpass him with 27.

He still has one or two games to hit at least three.

2. With his eight home runs, Vladdy moved into second place all-time for most long balls in an elimination round. Several other players have had eight in the past – including Shohei Ohtani this year.

In 2020, two players also had at least eight home runs: Corey Seager had eight… and Randy Arozarena had 10. The former Rays is the only player in history to have had 10 long balls in the playoffs in the same year.

3. For the first time in history, two teammates had at least 25 safe shots each in the same elimination round. Vladdy is currently at 27, as has been said… and Ernie Clement is (for the moment) at 25.

With 25 sure shots, Clement is fourth in history for most sure shots in a single elimination round. That’s no mean feat.

It’s worth mentioning that Vladdy did all this without going through the wild card round . In 2020, with eight playoff teams per league, Arozarena faced the Blue Jays in a 2-of-3 before moving on to the division series.

But if the Blue Jays escape the World Series, all that won’t be worth much in Junior’s eyes. The same is probably true for Randy Arozarena in 2020, who lost to the Dodgers in the World Series.

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MLB en bref : Un gérant de 33 ans à Washington | Pire qu’on pensait pour Tarik Skubal

Un gérant de 33 ans à Washington

Blake Butera a été un gérant dans les mineures pour les Rays, récemment. Les Padres, les Braves et les Rockies cherchent encore, eux.

Voici de quoi la valse des gérants a l’air.

Pire qu’on pensait pour Tarik Skubal

Il y a un an, il s’est fait offrir moins de 80 M$ par les Tigers.

L’histoire joue en faveur des Blue Jays

Gagner le match #5 d’une série égale 2-2 est souvent synonyme de Série mondiale, dans l’histoire récente.

Il y a un an…

Ceci arrivait.

Les failles des Dodgers

Elles sont de plus en plus apparentes.

Trey Yesavage est aux études

Il étudie en même temps que les séries? Wow.

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Match #6: beating Yoshinobu Yamamoto won’t be easy for the Blue Jays

About two years ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers gave $325 million to a guy who had never pitched in the majors: Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Japanese came to L.A.

The 2024 season was synonymous with adaptation for the pitcher. That said, in the 2024 playoffs, the Dodgers were lucky to count on him because the club was rolling with three starters.

And in 2025, he really took off. He’ll certainly get Cy Young votes this season… and in the playoffs, he’s recently transformed into a simply unstoppable monster.

In fact, his last two starts (two complete games) have been historic.

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Game #2 against Milwaukee was truly excellent, as was the one against Toronto. In both cases, the opposing hitters had no answer to his many shots.

And now, just in time: he’ll be on the mound Friday night, as the Dodgers attempt to salvage their season. For the first time in 2025, they’ll be playing a no-hitter.

Yamamoto is THE guy you want on the mound in a situation like this.

Will the Blue Jays hitters, who have been doing well lately, be able to adapt? Because the more a club faces a pitcher, the better the chances are that the hitters will adapt just right.

We agree that the Dodgers (who have an all-or-nothing club and payroll) have pressure. If they don’t win the next two games in Toronto, in a hostile environment, answers will be expected in California.

Shohei Ohtani (who will still be on a plane to Toronto) will need help with the bat… and Yamamoto will need it on the mound.

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Bo Bichette is ready to risk his next contract to win the World Series

Since the start of the World Series, Bo Bichette has five hits in as many games.

To see that he’s able to accomplish this with a very bad knee and after many weeks off says a lot about the kind of player he is.

Of course, you won’t be surprised to learn that the last few weeks have not been easy for him. Seeing his club make a breakthrough in the playoffs without him has been hard on a personal level.

It’s been the biggest challenge of his life.

But right now, whether at second base or as a pinch-hitter in George Springer’s absence, Bichette is there. He can’t do everything (seeing him run past Alejandro Kirk is notably less than ideal), but he produced three runs.

That’s important.

In fact, playing right now is so important to him that he’s willing to risk his next contract to be in a position to win the World Series with the Blue Jays.

That’s what Ken Rosenthal reported in a paper on the subject.

In reality, Bichette feels some discomfort when he plays defensively. He also knows that his knee can’t heal when he plays baseball in that condition.

But as he told Ken Rosenthal, for a ring in Toronto, he’s willing to risk everything.

What the player tells himself is that if he suffers a setback in his progression, he’ll take a small contract this winter to rebuild his market value and get the contract he wants a year from now, instead. That’s how much he wants to win.

And right now, he’s one win away from doing just that.

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“I was terrible” – Mookie Betts

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bats went cold at the worst possible time, as they were only able to score a total of three runs in games four and five of the World Series.

And while Shohei Ohtani carried the California team on his shoulders after an ordinary start to the playoffs, Mookie Betts looked like a deer on the highway at bat against the Toronto Blue Jays, recording just three hits in 23 at-bats, all without producing a run.

In fact, the former American League MVP had been demoted to the offensive role by manager Dave Roberts prior to last night’s game (Wednesday). And after game number five, in which he didn’t put the ball in play in four attempts, Betts was honest about his difficulties so far.

I don’t want to talk about anyone else, but for me personally, I’ve been terrible. I’ve been terrible and I wish it was for lack of effort, I really do, but it’s not and that’s why I don’t have any answers.

It has the merit of being honest, because unfortunately, it’s the truth.

As we all know, it’s certainly not for lack of effort or hard work that Betts has entered this downward spiral. But we have to admit that it will be difficult for the 33-year-old to get out of it.

Despite all that has gone before, Betts will still have the opportunity to do something special in Game Six, and if he does, no one will be talking about his playoff career until now.

The main man will have the day off, and it will be interesting to see how he reacts, as the Dodgers will need him if they are to keep their championship prospects alive, who are now one loss away from no longer being the defending champions.

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Trey Yesavage: watch out for a Ken Dryden-style scenario

The Blue Jays won Game 5 of the World Series yesterday. That means they’re one win away from winning it all. They’ll have two chances to do so on Friday and Saturday, if need be.

And they won without George Springer, once again.

Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are to be congratulated for setting the tone. Bo Bichette, Ernie Clement and Isiah Kiner-Falefa also produced a point each in the match.

And what about Addison Barger, who hit well, ran well and played well defensively?

But hey. Everyone knows that if the Blue Jays won that game, it was because of Trey Yesavage. This guy pitched the best game of his life when it mattered most.

Seven innings pitched, one earned run, three hits, 12 strikeouts and no walks – that’s impressive.

It’s even more so when you realize that this is his first season in the pros, he was making his eighth start in the Majors and hadn’t pitched on the road yet in October.

Before his recall in September, we thought he might have an impact in relief in the playoffs. But in the end, he simply took the baseball world by surprise.

12 strikeouts and no walks is unheard of for a pitcher (rookie or not) in the World Series. 12 Ks for a rookie in the World Series is also unheard of.

The guy’s never going to buy a meal in Toronto in his life…

I don’t think he’ll do a Ken Dryden scenario (playoff MVP before being rookie of the year the following season) as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lines up to be World Series MVP, should the Blue Jays win. But just lifting the script speaks volumes.

Yesavage, who has 39 strikeouts since the start of the playoffs (a record for a rookie), hadn’t pitched more than six innings this season as the Blue Jays managed his workload in the minors.

His 11 strikeouts against the Yankees opened people’s eyes. And here, in the World Series at Dodger Stadium, he became the first rookie with two outings of at least 10 Ks in the same elimination run.

What an incredible performance.

10e Manche 19 1 9 2
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  • Mookie Betts knows he’s not doing enough.

  • What intensity.

  • A huge page turns at Dodger Stadium.

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Blue Jays one win away from World Series title

After the Toronto Blue Jays’ victory in game four of the World Series, the Fall Classic had now become a two-out-of-three series, with home-field advantage returning to the Canadian side of the border.

But first, one last game had to be played at Dodger Stadium, and for the occasion, young Trey Yesavage was once again sent into the fray with Los Angeles Dodgers opponent Blake Snell.

And the game got off to a flying start for the Jays, with the first two batters of the game sending a Snell offering over the fence.

The Dodgers then cut the deficit in half in the third inning, courtesy of a Kiké Hernandez solo bomb.

However, Ernie Clement immediately set the record straight on the following half-inning, scoring Daulton Varsho on a sacrifice fly, who had reached third on a catastrophic Teoscar Hernandez slide into right field.

Then, Toronto put the final nail in the coffin in the seventh inning thanks to a bad throw from Edgardo Henriquez, who had come on in relief of Snell, followed by a single from Bo Bichette.

Meanwhile, Trey Yesavage finished the game with twelve strikeouts in seven innings of work on the mound.

Final score: 6-1 Toronto.

The Blue Jays are now just one win away from the World Series title, and will have the opportunity to finish the job at home on Friday. It will be up to Kevin Gausman to close out the debate, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto will try to keep his team alive.

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Albert Pujols: a 10-hour interview with the Padres

In recent weeks, Albert Pujols’ name has been the talk of the MLB. What’s interesting, though, is that he’s been mentioned in connection with managerial vacancies throughout the Manfred circuit.

He’s mostly been linked to the Angels (who ultimately opted for Kurt Suzuki), but also to the Orioles (before Craig Albernaz got the job).

However, another club has expressed interest in Pujols: the San Diego Padres. The club is looking for a successor to Mike Shildt… and Pujols is one of the finalists for the job.

What’s interesting is that the Padres are serious about Pujols. Yesterday was a good example of this, as Pujols had a second interview for the job.

And that interview lasted… 9h30.

Pujols, who was supposed to be on MLB Network yesterday for game #4 of the World Series, was unable to make it (although he is on tonight). And what’s clear is that it all has to do with the fact that he’s a serious contender in San Diego.

When a team wants to talk to you for nearly 10 hours, it’s because they really believe in your candidacy, you know.

You’d think that Pujols, who is a sports legend, would quickly gain the respect of the club’s stars. But then again, we’re talking about a guy who’s never been a manager in North America.

But if it worked for Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens, maybe it’ll work for Pujols in San Diego (if he’s the club’s choice, of course). Remember that the club intends to name its new manager within the next few days: let’s see if Pujols will be the chosen one… because there are fewer and fewer positions available throughout the league, especially since Derek Shelton (the Pirates’ former manager) has just inherited the one in Minnesota.

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Two home runs to start the game: Blue Jays make World Series history

To say the Blue Jays were ready to start today’s game would be an understatement.

While in Los Angeles for Game #5 of the World Series, the Blue Jays did something that hadn’t been done since the series began: take the lead first.

And let’s just say it was done in grand fashion.

The Blue Jays sent Davis Schneider out as the first batter of the game… and on the very first pitch of the game, the mustachioed man sent Blake Snell’s offering over the fence.

And it inspired Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

On his second pitch, Vladdy hit a home run that looked a lot like Schneider’s. And so, in three shots, the Blue Jays gave Trey Yesavage a two-run cushion.

This is the second time in series history that such a phenomenon has occurred, but the first time in the World Series. The 2002 A’s, in the Division Series, also did it.

How will the Dodgers’ hard-charging forward react? The answer in the next few hours.

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Match #5: George Springer not in tonight’s starting line-up

This afternoon, George Springer worked hard to be ready to play tonight for the Blue Jays. He’s been practicing, no doubt receiving treatment, swinging, running, etc.

The Blue Jays waited as long as possible to announce their starting lineup for Game #5 of the World Series. But like yesterday, Springer won’t be able to start today’s game.

We’re guessing he was in too much pain taking a few swings, although he’s feeling better than expected.

John Schneider said he could have been a pinch-runner for Bo Bichette (DH) yesterday and could be a pinch-hitter tonight. But we don’t know if he’s telling the truth or trying to distract the Dodgers.

That’s possible, too.

But either way, Davis Schneider (playing in place of Nathan Lukes since left-hander Blake Snell is on the mound) will be the leadoff hitter for tonight’s game.

Bo Bichette (third row) is also there. He’s the leadoff hitter in Springer’s absence and would have played second base had Springer been able to start tonight’s game.

Note that Addison Barger is in tonight’s line-up despite the presence of a left-hander on the mound.

With the next game on Friday, two days away, one wonders if the Blue Jays have any prospects of Springer, who is capable of producing in October, being in the starting line-up for game #6. But we’ll see in due course.

Speaking of the Blue Jays, Chris Bassitt says he’s ready to pitch tonight.

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