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TORONTO — The Blue Jays have joined their counterparts on the Los Angeles Dodgers in paying tribute to Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia during the World Series.

Vesia is away from the team because of a “deeply personal family matter,” the Dodgers said in a statement posted on social media before Game 1. Pitchers on the Dodgers have been playing with Vesia’s No. 51 on the side of their caps.

In a show of solidarity, Blue Jays relievers have started doing the same thing. Toronto’s Chris Bassitt, Seranthony Dominguez, Mason Fluharty and Louis Varland all had the No. 51 written on the side of their caps in Friday’s Game 6, a 3-1 Dodgers win that forced Game 7.

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Vesia, 29, has been a dependable bullpen arm for the defending champions. The left-hander went 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 68 regular-season games. He was 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in seven postseason appearances.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was touched to see the Blue Jays recognize an opponent amid the heightened competition of the World Series.

“It’s everything,” Roberts said before Saturday’s Game 7 in Toronto. “I didn’t learn that until after the game last night. I think it really speaks to the brotherhood of athletes. … It just speaks to how much respect and love they have for one another. It’s a huge, huge tribute to Alex.”

Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez was staring at the stadium big screen as he walked back to the dugout after striking out in the ninth inning Friday when he noticed the number written on Bassitt’s cap.

Seranthony Dominguez is among Blue Jays relievers wearing “51” on the side of their caps in support of the Dodgers’ Alex Vesia, who is away from the team because of a “deeply personal family matter.” Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Imges

“I was looking up at the board to see the replay, and that’s when I saw that he had 51,” Hernandez said Saturday. “Instead of being mad that I struck out, I was kind of going back to the dugout thinking ‘Did Bassitt play with Vesia at some point?’ And then after the game I saw that everybody had them. For those guys to do that, it’s incredible. They’re trying to win a World Series, but they understand that life is bigger than baseball, and baseball’s just a game.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the tribute to Vesia showed the quality of character among the players in his team’s clubhouse.

“We have a lot of good people, a lot of good humans in there that are husbands and fathers and all that kind of stuff, that just appreciate what we all do and the hardships that come with it,” Schneider said.

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TORONTO — A signature staple of this Blue Jays offense has been its ability to grind out at-bats, so often making life miserable for opposing pitchers by pushing them to the point of exhaustion and an early exit.

It took all the way until Game 2 of the World Series. But this pesky bunch of Toronto hitters finally ran into a buzzsaw capable of truly shutting them down in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pulled the series even at 1-1 with a complete-game one-run gem on Saturday night in the Blue Jays†5-1 loss to the Dodgers at Rogers Centre.

Yamamoto, who became the first pitcher to throw back-to-back complete games in the postseason since Curt Schillingâ€s three straight in 2001 with the D-backs, kept the Blue Jays in a constant state of confusion by effectively mixing six different pitches.

It was the first time a pitcher had thrown a complete game against Toronto in 2025. Only two pitchers came relatively close during the regular season: Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet (Sept. 24) and Royals righty Michael Wacha (Aug. 1), who each went a season-high eight innings by an opposing pitcher against the Blue Jays.

“Second complete game in a row in the postseason; that’s pretty impressive,†Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He made it hard for us to make him work. He was in the zone, split was in and out of the zone. It was a really good performance by him.â€

The first inning against Yamamoto was promising. Much like the opening frame of Game 1 — which saw the Blue Jays wear out Blake Snell with 29 pitches — Yamamoto labored on Saturday with 23 pitches in the first before escaping a first-and-third, no-out jam scoreless.

It looked like the Blue Jays might break through in the third, when they tied the score on a sacrifice fly by Alejandro Kirk. Instead, that sac fly was their last semblance of life, with Yamamoto finishing the game by retiring his final 20 batters and finishing with a total of 105 pitches (73 strikes).

“He was just putting pitches where he wanted them,†said Blue Jays left fielder Nathan Lukes. “He escaped a pretty nifty inning in the first. He just made his pitches. He did his job.â€

What stood out about Yamamoto was not much different than what he has done for most of this year. There was the funky delivery, unique with a leg kick and short arm path that makes it difficult to find any sort of rhythm at the plate.

“Like everyone, you do a lot of work to get ready for it,†Schneider said. “[We] were ready. I think that you just give him credit. He tunneled everything really well, held his velo, spotted his heater really well. I don’t think it was for a lack of prep. It’s deception. There’s definitely some deception in the delivery, too. He was on his game.â€

The assortment of pitches was also on point, whether it be the curveball that served as the putaway pitch on four of his eight strikeouts or the nasty splitter that accounted for six of his 17 total whiffs.

At its best, this Blue Jays lineup can also draw walks with the best of them. Yamamoto made sure there was no chance that a rally was going to start as a result of free bases. Though Yamamoto did hit a batter, he issued zero walks. Toronto went only seven regular-season games without a walk, tied for fourth fewest in MLB in 2025.

“Heâ€s not a guy that you can sit back and kind of wait for him to make a mistake,†Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer said. “He didnâ€t make a lot of mistakes tonight. Again, hats off to him. Back-to-back complete games, thatâ€s special.â€

When Yamamoto is on like this, itâ€s likely going to be a long night for any group that stands in the box against him. If the Blue Jays are looking for any kind of hope should they encounter him again over the next week, perhaps itâ€s that they were able to put the ball in play with 11 groundouts and three flyouts, which could lead to a better result next time out.

“Balls didnâ€t go through for us,†Lukes said. “That definitely limited what we were able to do against him. Hats off. On to the next one.â€

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NEW YORK — Wanting to cap Torontoâ€s season with a title, Jeff Hoffman suggested changing hats.

Six losses in seven games had dropped the Blue Jays into a tie with the New York Yankees for the AL East lead. That prompted the 32-year-old reliever to send Scott Blinn, Torontoâ€s director of major league clubhouse operations, scrambling to find those retro caps with white panels in the style the Blue Jays wore when they won the 1992 World Series.

Toronto is 5-0 in the historical headgear over the past two weeks as it takes a 2-0 lead into Game 3 of the best-of-five AL Division Series against the Yankees.

“I didnâ€t pack another hat,†manager John Schneider said with a smile.

Following a 7-1 loss to the Red Sox at Rogers Centre on Sept. 24, Hoffman suggested to Binn a switch to the 1992 headgear, which was used during Major League Baseballâ€s Hall of Fame weekend promotion from July 25-27 — not because heâ€s superstitious, but because he liked the look. Wearing the white panels, the Blue Jays had taken two of three at Detroit to finish a four-game series.

“`We need a new combo. What should we wear?â€â€ Hoffman said, recounting the player discussion. “And I said, `I know what we should wear. We should wear the blues, the blue jerseys with the white-panel hat.†And they all kind of like perked up because they didnâ€t know I knew about them.â€

Blinn found the caps in a Rogers Centre storage room. Toronto beat Boston 6-1 on Sept. 25, wearing blue alternate jerseys and the white-panel chapeaus. The next night, a Friday, the Blue Jays were required to wear Nike Connect uniforms topped by pitch-blue caps, suggested by Lake Ontario at night. They beat Tampa Bay 4-2 to remain tied with the Yankees.

On most days, players get to decide which uniforms to wear. Given that option for the final weekend of the regular season, the Jays stuck with the blue jerseys and white-panel hats. They closed with 5-1 and 13-4 wins over the Rays to win the division on a tiebreaker over New York.

Toronto finished the season 58-45 in blue caps, 20-17 in the two-tone hats with powder blue visors and navy crowns that were launched with the return of powder blue alternate jerseys in 2020, 8-3 in Nike Connect games and 5-1 in the white-panel throwbacks. They were also 1-2 in Armed Forces caps with beige camouflage crowns and olive visors from May 16-18, 1-0 in red for Canada Day on July 1 and 1-0 in light blue crowns and red visors for July 4.

The Blue Jays stayed with the white-panel caps and blue jerseys in the first two games of the Division Series, romping over the Yankees 10-1 and 13-7.

“I just wear whatâ€s in my locker. I just will wear what weâ€re told to wear,†four-time All-Star outfielder George Springer said, spurning superstitions.

Toronto wore caps with white panels for all games from its inception in 1977 through 1990 — with white jerseys at home — then switched to all blue caps for road games in 1991. The Blue Jays dropped the white panel at home on July 6, 1991, in the midst of a five-game losing streak, going with all blue, and beat the visiting Chicago White Sox 5-1 behind six shutout innings from Dave Stewart.

“Iâ€m not sure what the blue caps were all about,†Stewart said after the game, his 150th career victory. “But we won, so maybe weâ€ll wear them again.â€

Blue Jays equipment manager Jeff Ross thought of the change “just to see how it looks with the white uniform.â€

“It had nothing to do with the losing streak,†Ross said at the time. “Weâ€d been doing so well at home so I didnâ€t want to do it while we were going well. This was the time to do it. It looks great after a win.â€

Toronto went on to win its second straight World Series title in 1993, and the all-blue caps remained for most games. The Blue Jays brought back the white panels on Aug. 16, 2015, for a “Turn Back the Dial†promotion honoring the 30th anniversary of the teamâ€s first AL East title, and beat the Yankees 3-1. Toronto then used the white panels at least once per season and as many as 27 times in 2018 and 24 the following year, according to uniformlineup.com, but then decreased its frequency.

The team hadnâ€t worn them since Aug. 27, 2022, before they returned this year for MLBâ€s Hall of Fame weekend promotion.

“Weâ€ve been playing well since weâ€ve been wearing them, which is hard for my argument of, hey, it doesnâ€t matter what hat weâ€re wearing guys, like, we just need to play good,†Hoffman said.

And even Springerâ€s disdain for superstition only goes so far. For instance, he wonâ€t think of stepping on a foul line.

“That,†he said, “would be crazy.â€

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Ireland’s Kate O’Connor reacts to winning a heptathlon silver medal at the World Athletics Championships.

Juan Soto set a new career high for homers in a season as the Mets took advantage of mistakes to defeat…

The denouement was like Eugene â€22 and the Paris Olympics, a Duplantis WR to finish off, but this time a determined competitor pushed him far longer into the comp. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

THE GREATEST VAULT in history was born out of great competition, with Mondo Duplantis soaring over a new World Record on a night where Manolo Karalís pushed the Swede harder than ever.

The battle between the two was at once familiar — they had gone 1-2 in 12 competitions this season — and unprecedented. The two started their jousting at the opening height, where Duplantis rocketed far over the 18-2½ (5.55) bar, while Karalís passed to 18-10¼ (5.75), which he made easily. Also showing strong form were American Sam Kendricks (the lone Yank in the final) and Australian Kurt Marschall.

At 19-2¼ (5.85), Kendricks delivered a strong clearance on his first attempt, then Duplantis put together another giant leap. Marschall cleared as well, and the three shared the lead as Karalís passed again.

The bar went to 19-4¼ (5.90), and Karalís, on his second jump of the night, made it over with room to spare. Kendricks brushed the bar off with his legs. Marschall cleared and Duplantis passed. With nothing more to gain at that altitude, Kendricks opted to save his two remaining tries for the next height.

The first miss of the night for Karalís came on his initial try at 19-6¼ (5.95), when he brushed the bar off the standards with his chest. Kendricks also had trouble, kicking it off with his feet on the way up. For Mondo, the bar posed no problem; he not only cleared with plenty of space, but he extended all his limbs in an unusual flourish at the top. Marschall missed but came close.

Kendricks, looking at a 7th-place finish should he knock the crossbar down again on his final try, came up with a clutch clearance, coming into all kinds of contact with the bar but leaving it aloft and jiggling. Marschall made it over with a couple of inches of room. Karalís missed his second try. On his third with his back to the wall, the Greek delivered.

Three others with misses at 19-6¼ passed to the next height: Franceâ€s Thibaut Collet, Norwayâ€s Sondre Guttormsen and Netherlands†Menno Vloon. An unprecedented, in any meet, seven competitors would leap at 19-8¼ (6.00).

Karalís, up first, made it look easy to retake the lead. Kendricks again kicked it off with his feet. Duplantis flew over easily. Marschall had the height but came down on the bar. He missed his next two as well, but was ahead of Kendricks on misses and — after the others went out —secured the bronze to repeat his Budapest placing.

Then there were two. They both passed 19-10¼ (6.05). For Karalís, 20-0 (6.10) would have been a Greek record. He had plenty of height but nailed it with his chest on the way down. Mondo flew over without contact, and the Greek passed to 20-2 (6.15). He missed, and Mondo again went over perfectly. Karalís — far more interested in winning than in Greek records — passed to 20-4 (6.20), a height that only Duplantis has ever cleared. He produced a strong effort, but at 12cm higher than his lifetime best, the bar was too much.

Alone now, though sitting with his rival talking, Duplantis asked for the inevitable, a World Record height of 20-8 (6.30). With action on the track finished, he had the audience to himself and exhorted them to clap. Then he charged down the runway and leapt into the air — oh so close he was, but his right thigh brushed it off on the way down.

On the second try, with the stadium announcer exhorting the crowd to clap, “Hakushu! Hakushu!â€, Mondo came even closer, the bar wiggling and falling after being scraped lightly by his knee.

Duplantis, determined to give the audience a record, went into full battle mode, requesting that a pounding rock song be played at top volume. It did the trick. On his last effort, he ran faster, then shot into the air, the golden spike plates of his Puma “Claw†shoes shooting over the bar. He had plenty of contact with the crosspiece but it stayed up. The crowd roared for World Record No. 14.

Mondo leapt off the pit to embrace Karalís, then dodged the mass of photographers to make it to the stands to celebrate with his fiance. When officials asked him to pose with the signboard, he ran past them to bow to the audience in thanks.

“I was feeling really good the whole day. I knew I had the record in me. If I have the right runway I know that everything is possible. I am glad it all worked out. As soon as I take off, from transition from the ground through the air, I know if the jump is going to be valid. I know if Iâ€ve transferred enough energy or itâ€s not really going to work out. The run says it all, everything is about speed. As long as I have that right, I know it will work out for me.â€

He added, “Today was a pretty much a dream competition. I was not alone at a lot of heights. I have never jumped at 6.20 and had another guy with me. Thatâ€s quite special. I got juices from it. I am very proud of [Karalís] for performing, not only today but throughout the season. He is pushing me and making me a better jumper.â€

MENâ€S POLE VAULT RESULTS

FINAL (September 15)

1. Mondo Duplantis (Swe) 20-8 (6.30) WR;

2. Manolo Karalís (Gre) 19-8¼ (6.00);

3. Kurtis Marschall (Aus) 19-6¼ (5.95) =PR;

4. Sam Kendricks (US) 19-6¼ (5.95);

5. Thibaut Collet (Fra) 19-4¼ (5.90);

6. Sondre Guttormsen (Nor) 19-4¼ (5.90) =PR;

7. Menno Vloon (Neth) 19-4¼ (5.90);

8. Renaud Lavillenie (Fra) 18-10¼ (5.75);

9. Abdesalam Seifeldin Heneida (Qat) 18-10¼ (5.75) =NR;

10. Bo Kanda Lita Baehre (Ger) 18-10¼ (5.75);

11. Ethan Cormont (Fra) 18-2½ (5.55);

… nh—Ersu Şaşma (Tur).

(best-ever mark-for-place: =4, 7)

18-2½
18-10¼
19-2¼
19-4¼
19-6¼
19-8¼
19-10¼
20-0
20-2
20-4
20-8

Karalís
p
o
p
o
xxo
o
p
xp
xp
x
—

Kendricks
o
o
o
xp
xo
xxx
—
—
—
—
—

Duplantis
o
p
o
p
o
o
p
o
o
p
xxo

Marschall
o
o
o
o
xo
xxx
—
—
—
—
—

Collet
xo
o
o
o
xxp
x
—
—
—
—
—

ÅžaÅŸma
xxx
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

Lavillenie
p
o
p
xp
xx
—
—
—
—
—
—

Vloon
o
xxo
xxo
o
xp
xx
—
—
—
—
—

Lita Baehre
o
xxo
xxx
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

Guttormsen
o
xxo
xo
o
xp
xx
—
—
—
—
—

Abdelsalam
o
xo
xxx
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

Cormont
xo
xxx
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

5.55
5.75
5.85
5.90
5.95
6.00
6.05
6.10
6.15
6.20
6.30

QUALIFYING (September 13; auto-qualifier 19-¼/5.80)

Qualifiers: all qualifiers cleared 18-10¼/5.75 (=highest Q ever);

Non-Qualifiers: [18-8¼/5.70; =highest non-Q ever]—David Holý (CzR), Piotr Lisek (Pol), Matt Ludwig (US), Ben Broeders (Bel), Hussain Asim Al-Hizam (Sau);

[18-2½/5.55]—Oleksandr Onufriyev (Ukr), EJ Obiena (Phi), MatÄ›j Å Äerba (CzR), Chenyang Li (Chn), Simone Bertelli (Ita), Oleg Zernikel (Ger), Austin Miller (US), Valters KreiÅ¡s (Lat);

[17-8½/5.40] – Artur Coll (Spa), Márton Böndör (Hun), Simen Guttormsen (Nor), Tao Zhong (Chn), Torben Blech (Ger), Ioánnis Rizos (Gre);

… nh—Matteo Oliveri (Ita), Ricardo Montes (Ven), Bokai Huang (Chn), Kyle Rademeyer (SA), Urho Kujanpää (Fin).

Jeff Hollobaugh is a writer and stat geek who has been associated with T&FN in various capacities since 1987. He is the author of How To Race The Mile. He lives in Michigan where he can often be found announcing track meets in bad weather.

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