TORONTO — Years from now, Game 1 of the 2025 World Series is going to be remembered for the sixth inning that shook Rogers Centre. Most of Ontario, really.
The Blue Jays loaded the bases with nobody out and chased Dodgers starter Blake Snell. They pounded the L.A. bullpen. Addison Barger hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. Alejandro Kirk kept the party going with a majestic two-run shot. The mighty Dodgers, for one night at least, were humbled.
Eventually, Toronto completed an 11-4 Game 1 victory that was stunning in its decisiveness. The game swung during a nine-run sixth inning. But in reality, the Blue Jays had the upper hand from the very beginning — after a 29-pitch grind of a first inning that put Snell on the ropes, even if it ended with a zero.
The most pivotal matchup of the World Series was always going to be this one: L.A.â€s seemingly unstoppable starting rotation versus the Blue Jays†relentless offense — and its ability to jump all over opposing starters.
“Youâ€ve got to give those guys credit,†said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “They certainly fought.â€
Like no lineup the Dodgers have seen so far this postseason. Consider this: Roberts†last seven starting pitchers had combined to allow five runs. When all was said and done on Saturday night, Snell himself had allowed five.
“We had a good approach off him,†said Daulton Varsho, whose two-run homer in the fourth inning tied the game. “We made him work. That was the biggest thing. They have a good pitching and starting staff. So I think for us just to be able to grind out at-bats knowing we needed to pass the baton to the next guy, that’s been our M.O. all year. And we trusted it.â€
Indeed, this World Series seems destined to come down to one of the most intriguing best-on-best matchups in recent memory. Entering play Friday, the Blue Jays were batting a collective .333 against opposing starters this postseason — routinely chasing those starters early in games. Dodgers starters, meanwhile, had combined to limit their opponents to a .132 average, regularly working deep into games.
Hereâ€s why that matchup is so critical: Starting pitching may be the Dodgers†biggest strength, but their bullpen represents their biggest weakness by far. In their romp to the National League pennant, that weakness was never exploited. Their starters were simply too dominant.
The Blue Jays needed to change that. From the start, they made it clear that was their intention.
Snell retired the first two hitters he faced, but from that point on, it was a battle. The next three Blue Jays reached, including Kirk, who worked a nine-pitch walk. Toronto didnâ€t score, but the tone was set.
“That’s kind of how we roll,†manager John Schneider said. “So much credit to the guys up and down the lineup.â€
Fast forward five innings. The game was tied at 2, and Snell — who was famously given a quick hook in his last World Series start, five years ago against the Dodgers — was afforded extra leash this time. A bit too much leash, as it turned out. But, really, what choice did Roberts have?
Snell was beginning to teeter. Yet Roberts preferred a teetering Snell to the options in his bullpen. As it turned out, Snell loaded the bases — walking Bo Bichette, before he allowed a Kirk single and plunked Varsho.
“Just frustrating,†Snell said. “Just a tough game. But a lot to learn.â€
Once into the Dodgers bullpen, the Blue Jays feasted. If theyâ€re going to win their first World Series in 32 years, thatâ€s how itâ€s going to have to go.
The pitching matchups donâ€t get any easier. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is lined up for Game 2, then some combination of Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani will pitch Games 3 and 4 for the Dodgers in L.A.
But if the Blue Jays can chase those starters, there are clearly runs to be scored against this bullpen. Emmet Sheehan allowed the first three hitters he faced to reach base, and all three of Snellâ€s runners scored. Anthony Banda followed by allowing homers to Barger and Kirk.
“We try to execute,†Banda said. “It’s something that we just didn’t do today, as far as the bullpen.â€
Clearly, the Dodgers have found something with Roki Sasaki at the back end. But those innings leading up to Sasaki? Right now, those innings are the greatest threat to L.A.â€s chances of repeating as World Series champs.
This was never a secret. The Reds, Phillies and Brewers were also keenly aware that chasing the Dodgers†starting pitcher would create the simplest path to dethroning the champs. Easier said than done.
But thatâ€s where these Blue Jays specialize.
“Just really good at-bats,†Schneider said. “Then [we] carried it over into their bullpen. So again, it was really a good approach from everyone today. Then, you got to get ready for tomorrow. Against another really tough pitcher.â€
New day, same challenge. Itâ€s how the 2025 World Series is likely to be decided. After one game, advantage Blue Jays.
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