Browsing: Jays

Game 1 of the World Series on Friday is a chance for the Blue Jays to show off the refurbished Rogers Centre. Time had taken its toll on the futuristic building that opened as SkyDome, the first baseball stadium with a retractable roof, in 1989.

A $400 million (Canadian) renovation project completed in 2024 has once again turned Torontoâ€s baseball home into a state of the art facility.

So itâ€s easy to forget the franchiseâ€s humble beginnings at Exhibition Stadium, the outdoor venue that even former Blue Jays team president Paul Beeston once called “the worst stadium in sports.â€

The Blue Jays would become baseballâ€s model franchise in the early 1990s. But when they began play as an American League expansion team in 1977, they were far from it. And so was their home ballpark.

“Except for the people in the stands, there wasnâ€t one good thing about that stadium,†Rick Cerone said, laughing.

Cerone was the starting catcher in the first game in Blue Jays history, April 7, 1977, at Exhibition Stadium. The gametime temperature was 32 degrees and snow covered almost the entire playing field.

“The only thing you saw on the opening pitch was the dirt cutouts where the bases were,†Cerone recalled. “Everything else was covered in snow.â€

Torontoâ€s love for baseball was born that day in front of 44,649 fans packed into the converted football stadium on the shores of Lake Ontario. The fans turned out to watch the expansion Blue Jays struggle through 100-loss seasons in each of their first three years.

But the team would get better, winning 89 games in 1983, then winning 99 games and their first AL East division title in 1985.

But the playing conditions at the ballpark remained … questionable.

“It was windy and cold all the time,†said Buck Martinez, catcher on the â€85 team and currently a Blue Jays TV announcer. “In the summertime it was nice, but it just wasnâ€t a Major League ballpark.â€

Converted from a football field, home of the CFLâ€s Toronto Argonauts, Exhibition Stadiumâ€s baseball configuration had a temporary fence in right field, and a grandstand that ran from left field straight out beyond center field, rather than curving around the way a typical baseball stadium does. So some of the fans would be sitting as much as 800 feet from home plate facing the wrong direction.

“Iâ€m willing to bet there were 10-to-15,000 people who couldn’t even see the game because they were below the fence line in the outfield,†said former Blue Jays pitcher Tom Henke. “But they still came. It was amazing.â€

And because the artificial playing surface was built with a crown for proper drainage, the outfield sloped so severely that that hard-hit balls through the infield were almost destined to reach the fence.

The unusual playing surface made for some unusual sightlines for the players, too.

“I could barely see Lloyd Moseby in center field,†Martinez said. “I could only see half of his legs because of the way the field was sloped.â€

The real signature characteristic of Torontoâ€s first baseball stadium was the locale, the great outdoors. In other words, it was cold.

“Down the left-field line, there was a gap between what they called the north grandstand and the left-field bleachers,†Martinez recalled. “So the wind would come off Lake Ontario and go through that gap like a turbine pushing that wind across the field. Early in the season, late in the season, it was frigid.â€

The home team could get used to it, maybe. But the visiting players would suffer.

“Playing in Canada without the domes was challenging to say the least,†said former Expos and Orioles outfielder Ken Singleton. “You had every stitch of clothing in your locker on. To me it was just play the game, get it over with and maybe itâ€ll be warmer tomorrow.â€

“I can remember wearing my coat down in the bullpen until June because of the wind coming off the lake,†said Henke, Torontoâ€s All-Star closer who was told by his manager to not even bother going out to the bullpen until the seventh inning because it was so cold. “The dugouts had heaters, but the bullpen was just a bench sitting down the left-field line by a couple mounds.â€

Eventually the Blue Jays figured out they needed to embrace their home-field advantage. It took future Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox to set them straight early in 1985.

“I remember we were complaining so much about the conditions that Bobby Cox held a meeting and said, ‘You gotta stop complaining,â€â€ said former Jays outfielder Jesse Barfield. “‘Let the other guys complain. This is our home, so stop complaining and use it to our benefit.â€â€

Cold was just one element to deal with.

Fog delays were almost as common as rain delays, and when that fog rolled in, the fans werenâ€t the only ones who couldnâ€t see what was going on.

“We had a fog game, somebody hit a fly ball and it fell in because I couldnâ€t find it,†Singleton recalled. “We were leading at the time, and it was an official game, and when it fell in the second-base umpire, Don Denkinger, accused me of not catching the ball on purpose so they would stop the game and call it.â€

Seagulls would regularly converge on the stands to consume discarded hot dogs and popcorn. Dave Winfield famously nailed one of them while warming up between innings of a Yankees-Blue Jays game in 1983.

Cerone, by then playing for the Yankees, was the one playing catch with Winfield.

“For six innings we tried to hit one, and then Winnie finally did,†Cerone laughed. But it was a serious matter in Toronto, where Winfield was briefly taken into custody.

“They wouldnâ€t let us out of Canada until like 3 oâ€clock in the morning. Everybody on our team hated us,†Cerone recalled.

On the field, the Blue Jays of the mid-1980s became one of baseballâ€s best, and in 1989 they moved into their new digs called SkyDome.

“It was like they had gone to heaven,†Martinez said.

The fans agreed. The 1991 Blue Jays became the first team in Major League history to draw four million fans. Then they won back-to-back World Series in 1992-93.

And if it rains, theyâ€ll be able to close the roof and keep it dry.

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Oct 22, 2025, 12:31 PM ET

TORONTO — The Maple Leafs and Raptors are changing the times of their games this weekend and next week to avoid overlap with the Blue Jays’ World Series games.

“Toronto sports fans are undeniably some of the most passionate fans in the world, and we are proud to have the city’s teams come together and give these fans an opportunity to experience a significant moment in our city’s and nation’s history,” said Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Maple Leafs and Raptors.

Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto will host Games 1 and 2 of the World Series on Friday and Saturday. Each game in the best-of-seven series is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

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The Raptors’ home opener against Milwaukee on Friday was moved from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30, and the Maple Leafs’ game against Buffalo on Saturday was moved from 7 p.m. to 5.

The Leafs have also adjusted the start time of next Tuesday’s game against Calgary to 6 p.m. The Raptors will host Houston at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 29. Games 3-5 of the World Series are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Oct. 19.

“Each of these game time changes are quite complicated and represent the co-operation of many stakeholders, including the respective leagues, coaches and players of the Leafs, Raptors and opposing teams and broadcasters,” Pelley said. “We are grateful to them all for their assistance as we work to make this a very special moment for Toronto fans as we come together to support the Blue Jays.”

The Maple Leafs and Raptors will also show the World Series games on the Scotiabank Arena videoboard following their games.

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After the Toronto Blue Jays won the American League pennant and booked their trip to the organizationâ€s first World Series in 32 years, Morgan Rielly made some comments that should give fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs some hope.

“Thereâ€s a small part of you that youâ€re envious of them. Youâ€re a bit jealous of what theyâ€re doing, just because of Toronto. You watch it firsthand, youâ€re obviously happy for them, itâ€s a great moment for the city, but we want to be able to do that and have a run like that.â€

Leafs fans should love to hear that this was a key takeaway from a core member of their team. You want your team inspired by what the Jays are doing.

Make no bones about it, what the Jays are doing isinspirational, and can provide some key pieces of guidance for this yearâ€s Leafs in terms what they need to do to have success.

Here are five takeaway lessons that should work as a crossover between the two Toronto clubs.

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On May 23 of 2025, the Toronto Blue Jays had played 50 of their 162 regular season games. They lost 3-1 that day to the Tampa Bay Rays, which dropped their record to a dead even 25-25.

I spoke to some pretty knowledgeable baseball guys right around that time, and Iâ€ll be honest, they had the Jays dead to rights. They gave them just about no shot the rest of the way. They were simply not good enough, there was some buzz that Bo Bichette might get dealt, and it looked like it was all going to come crashing down.

Three months later, they finished 94-68 and won the AL East in a tiebreaker.

Like the Jays, the Leafs have some great core players capable of breaking games wide open. The Jays stuck with it, found some wins, a better energy and, in turn, an identity. Guys took advantage of the opportunities they got, and that allowed the Jays to add a couple players at the trade deadline, which made them better still. Thereâ€s no reason the Leafs couldnâ€t scuffle for a bit while searching for their own identity and find themselves in a much better place than how things feel today. Youâ€ve just gotta keep striving to get better every day.

About part of what I mentioned above…

You reward your depth with opportunities when they excel, and make them important

I got tired of talking about the Leafs being Team A and Team B in the past and, fortunately this year, the plan was to be more balanced. Nic Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli were added. Easton Cowan has played a few games, Calle Jarnkrok got healthy, and it seemed like the Leafs would have more potential players to do what Bobby McMann has done – take a spot, excel, and force the team to elevate his status.

If you look at the Jays, theyâ€ve got some journeymen big leaguers who are thriving. Ernie Clement was waived by a bad team two years ago. Nathan Lukes spent about a decade in the minors. Itâ€s a pretty long list, actually. But those guys played well enough to get their confidence going, they earned more playing time, and they became essential to the capital-T Team.

If the Leafs, in the post-Marner era, are in fact going to be more balanced, they need to give a few of their own journeymen depth guys the chance to be important, and then itâ€s up to those guys to grab the opportunities. You donâ€t have to be what youâ€ve been in the past. Give Roy that chance. How about Lorentz gets some run higher in the lineup? Theyâ€ve got decent skill in their bottom-six, and donâ€t have to keep trying the same things.

As players establish themselves in the league they can still improve, fit a teamâ€s puzzle better, and sometimes thereâ€s still more juice to be squeezed.

Your best players gotta be your best players

That doesnâ€t mean every night, but it sure should be mostnights. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the ALCS MVP by being nearly impossible to deal with just about every time he stepped to the plate. He was rock solid in the field. The $150 million man, George Springer, hit the biggest dinger of them all.

This is a tale as old as time for the Leafs, but it doesnâ€t make it any less relevant. Yes, you can get big moments in the form of a base knock from Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the bottom of the seventh. Yes, Max Talbot can score two goals in Game 7 to pull Sidney Crosby through. The depth needs to be important.

But at the end of the day, guys like Matthews and Nylander need to be an absolute headache for opposing defences.

Want the ball, want the moment

You didnâ€t think weâ€d get through this without talking about the fire of Max Scherzer did you? Thatâ€s a guy right there who loves the game, wants to compete, and wants to go right at you. He wants to be in the biggest moments, so when he gets that chance, heâ€s ready to eat your heart out.

John Schneider told a story about texting Springer about his bad knee to check in on his availability for Game 7, and Springer told him to stop texting him because he was going to play regardless. They talked in person that day, and Springer told him to leave him alone. He was playing, and he wanted that moment.

Itâ€s about Kevin Gausman saying he couldnâ€t wait to get in Game 7, and Chris Bassitt ready to thrive in his big moment.

There have been some times when the Leafs came up against big moments, and absolutely shrunk. Theyâ€ve hesitated, theyâ€ve balked. Injuries are unfair and unpredictable, but thereâ€s no doubt theyâ€ve popped up at bad times.

Still, the Jays have done this without Bichette. Youâ€re allowed to win when a big player has to miss some time.

If youâ€re not playing for the big moments and winning, then why are you playing? And if the answer to why you are playing is something other than that whole “winning†thing, itâ€s probably not going to go great.

I mentioned that the Jays went from 25-25 to finishing 94-68. Theyâ€ve now won over 100 baseball games this year. Theyâ€ve come from behind more than any team in baseball, 51 times in total between the playoffs and regular season. Thatâ€s over half their wins where they were trailing at some point.

That to me is so much about energy and the “team” concept. When you fall behind, do you start to flag and pout and point fingers? Or do you stay resilient, dig in, and get ready to throw your next best punch?

The Leafs donâ€t have the offence to play bad and come from behind as easily without Marner, and so theyâ€re going to need more of a group effort that uses several skaters. It can be someone different every night, rather than putting all the pressure on a few guys.

At just 3-3-1, people are looking at the Toronto Maple Leafs and asking justifiable questions. Whatâ€s their identity? How are they trying to play? Heck, what are their lines?

The Jays were almost a third of the way into their season before they started to find some answers. The Leafs still arenâ€t even 10 per cent of the way through, and theyâ€re trying to figure things out, too.

But it is time to start finding some answers, whatever they are, so they can start to put forth a better version for themselves.

And if theyâ€re looking for a recipe, a shortcut to get a few of the answers theyâ€re so desperately seeking, it wouldnâ€t hurt for them to look across the street at the Blue Jays, and take a page from that very good neighbourâ€s book.

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(Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB photos via Getty Images)

The Blue Jays’ roster entering the 2025 World Series is a fascinating melding of prospect power, shrewd acquisitions and some unlikely hidden gems.

Few prospect stars shined as bright Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is fresh off an ALCS MVP, as he ascended the Blue Jays’ farm system. He’s one of eight Blue Jays players who once ranked as Top 100 Prospects, along with Bo Bichette, Alejandro Kirk, Andres Gimenez, George Springer, Daulton Varsho, Kevin Gausman and Jeff Hoffman. But there are others, like outfielder Nathan Lukes, who have emerged as useful contributors to Toronto’s playoff run who stayed far below the radar as he traveled through the minor leagues.

Below, we’ve compiled scouting reports on every Blue Jays player from when they ranked highest as a prospect. Simply clicking on each player’s name in the roster below will bring you to their scouting report. You can find the a corresponding post for the Dodgers here.

Please note that we’ve included Bo Bichette in Toronto’s projected World Series roster following Bichette’s comments that he expects to be ready to return to action.

BA has chronicled the game’s future and evaluated prospects for over 40 years. We dug into our archives for the scouting reports below, which we’ve kept free, but if you’d like to support our work and gain access to our Top 30 rankings, Top 100 Prospects and analysis, consider subscribing here.

Projected Toronto Blue Jays World Series Roster

• Alejandro Kirk, C
• Tyler Heineman, C
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
• Ernie Clement, 2B/3B
• Bo Bichette, SS
• Andrés Giménez, SS
• Addison Barger, 3B/OF
• Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B/3B
• George Springer, OF
• Daulton Varsho, OF
• Nathan Lukes, OF
• Myles Straw, OF
• Davis Schneider, OF
• Chris Bassitt, RHP
• Shane Bieber, RHP
• Seranthony Dominguez, RHP
• Braydon Fisher, RHP
• Mason Fluharty, LHP
• Kevin Gausman, RHP
• Jeff Hoffman, RHP
• Eric Lauer, LHP
• Brendon Little, LHP
• Yariel Rodriguez, RHP
• Max Scherzer, RHP
• Louis Varland, RHP
• Trey Yesavage, RHP

Alejandro Kirk, C

• How acquired:Signed by Blue Jays as international free agent, 2016
• Highest rank:No. 70 on 2021 Top 100
• What We Said:2021 Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record:Itâ€s easy to overlook Kirk because of his squatty body type, but his track record of hitting continues to sparkle. Signed out of Mexico in 2016, Kirk reached high Class A in 2019 and spent most of 2020 at the alternate training site. He made the jump to Toronto in September and earned regular playing time down the stretch in the Blue Jays†playoff push.

Scouting Report: Built like a shorter Pablo Sandoval, Kirk matches Sandovalâ€s innate ability to barrel the baseball. He has short arms, a short swing and makes frequent contact, striking out just 10% of the time in 2019 and showing the bat control that translated in his brief big league callup. He has a small strike zone and stays disciplined within it, tracking pitches to drive fastballs and breaking pitches to all fields, especially fastballs at the top of the zone. He has average raw power that he accesses in games because of his ability to consistently find the sweet spot. Kirkâ€s detractors worry about his body and question his defensive skills behind the plate, while others think he receives well, does a solid job with blocking and works well with his pitchers. He has an average arm.

The Future: Kirk made a big jump to the majors at the end of the season, so more minor league time would be reasonable. Still, his performance catapulted him into the 2021 big league picture.

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Tyler Heineman, C

• How acquired:Claimed off waivers from Red Sox, Sept. 2024.
• Highest rank:No. 30 on Astros 2013 Top 30
• What We Said:2013 Astros Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

A baseball rat, Heineman has an uncle who played at Arizona State, while his brother Scott is a sophomore infielder for Oregon. Heineman’s UCLA career included two trips to the College World Series but he was a little-used backup in his first two seasons, when he caught Rob Rasmussen and two of the top three picks in the 2011 draft, Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer. In his lone season as a regular, Heineman’s grit, solid tools and surprising skills shined through, earning him a $125,000 bonus in the eighth round last June.

Scouts laud him for his toughness as he shakes off home-plate collisions, coaxes his pitchers to compete and handles his staff in a professional manner. He has solid catch-and-throw skills and threw out 41 percent of basestealers while helping Tri-City to the New York-Penn League finals. Heineman led the NY-P in batting (.358) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.452) and plate appearances per strikeout (19.4). He’s a switch-hitter with a contact approach and an excellent notion of the strike zone. He’s willing to take one for the team, getting hit by 27 pitches between college and pro ball last year, and he handles the bat well in hit-and-run and bunt situations. His power potential is limited and he’ll have to prove he can hit quality fastballs as he moves up the later. He runs well for a catcher and is a smart baserunner.

Even with modest offensive upside, Heineman fits as a fast-moving future backup, and added power could make him an eventual regular. He’ll open his first full pro season in low Class A.

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B

• How acquired:Signed by Blue Jays as international free agent, 2015.
• Highest rank:No. 1 on 2019 Top 100
• What We Said:2019 Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr. was one of the most dynamic players in baseball history, with a dazzling combination of power, speed, arm strength and ability to hit any pitch. Vlad Jr., who signed with the Blue Jays for $3.9 million at age 16 in 2015, doesn’t have his dad’s athleticism, but he has the hand-eye coordination, bat speed, power and strike-zone discipline to rival any hitter who has come along in years. Guerrero began 2018 by hitting a walk-off home run against the Cardinals in an exhibition game at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, where his father began his major league career. He proceeded to lead the minors with a 1.073 OPS facing Double-A and Triple-A pitchers, becoming the Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year.

Scouting Report: Even as a 19-year-old, Guerrero looked like he belonged in the middle of a major league lineup. He is a potential superstar in the mold of Manny Ramirez, and it’s not out of the question that Guerrero could develop into an 80 hitter with 80 power. He has a preternatural ability to make hard contact and barrel any type of pitch in any area of the strike zone. He has a simple, powerful swing, unleashing fierce bat speed with a compact, efficient path to the ball. He rarely swings and misses and hammers the ball to all parts of the park. He also has phenomenal strike-zone discipline and rarely chases borderline pitches. As an amateur in the Dominican Republic, Guerrero was a heavyset outfielder with below-average speed and arm strength. After signing, he moved to third base, where his arm strength has improved to plus, giving him a chance to stick there–at least early in his career. Guerrero worked diligently to improve his defense in 2018, but he remains a large, stocky player with a lack of first-step quickness that limits his range. At some point, he might have to move to first base or even DH. Wherever he plays, his offensive production will make him an elite player.

The Future: Guerrero will be the favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year in 2019, and he might immediately rank among the top overall hitters in baseball. Vladimir Sr. won the AL MVP award in 2004, and Junior has the talent to be in plenty of MVP conversations over the next decade.

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Ernie Clement, 2B/3B

• How acquired:Signed as MiLB free agent, March 2023.
• Highest rank:No. 18 on Guardians 2018 Top 30
• What We Said:2019 Guardians Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Clement developed a reputation as a pure hitter during college. He was a career .306 hitter at Virginia, whiffed just 31 times in three seasons with the Cavaliers and in 2016 earned MVP honors in the Cape Cod League after leading the circuit in hits and stolen bases. His college success has translated to the professional ranks and Clement zipped through the lower levels of the minor leagues to reach Double-A Akron in his first full professional season.

Scouting Report: Clement embodies the notion that good things happen when you put the ball in play. He has an aggressive approach and an uncanny knack for putting the bat on the ball. He doesn’t walk much, but such is his bat control that this season he still walked more than he struck out (41 walks to 35 strikeouts). He has minimal power and instead sprays the ball all over the field and takes advantage of his plus speed to get on base. Clement was a versatile defender in college but in 2018 exclusively played shortstop. He has above-average instincts defensively and good hands. The biggest concern about his ability to stay at the position is his arm strength, which is fringy for a shortstop.

The Future: The Indians have toolsier shortstops than Clement and his future in Cleveland is still likely as a super-utility player, where his speed, instincts and bat-to-ball skills would play well. The early returns indicate Clement may still be able to be an everyday player. He’ll start 2019 back in Akron as the regular shortstop.

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Bo Bichette, SS

• How Acquired: Drafted by Blue Jays in second round of 2016 MLB Draft.
• Highest Ranking:Ranked 8th on 2018 and 2019 Top 100
• What We Said: 2019 Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: As one of the youngest players in the Double-A Eastern League in 2018, Bichette drew praise for his offense and impressed on defense.

Scouting Report: Bichette has explosive bat speed and a rhythmic swing that generates a lot of torque. He swings hard–sometimes losing his balance–but he’s usually in-sync, on time and on plane. He starts his swing with an aggressive leg kick, though he shortens to a toe tap with two strikes. He drives the ball well to the middle of the field with average raw power, and he has the bat speed and strength projection to hit for above-average power in the future. Bichette has worked diligently on his conditioning and fielding and now projects as an average shortstop. He has good body control, quick footwork and ranges well up the middle. He has a tick above-average arm, though he gets tested on balls to his right. With a game built around aggression, Bichette carried that mentality onto the field and often would charge in on groundballs, but in 2018 he did a better job of staying back and making plays under control. He’s an average runner whose aggressiveness and reads helped him steal 32 bases.

The Future: Bichette is scheduled to open 2019 at Triple-A Buffalo, but he could be in the majors by the All-Star break. With a chance to develop into a plus-or-better hitter and stick at shortstop, plenty of All-Star games could be in his future.

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Andrés Giménez, SS

• How acquired:Guardians traded 2B Andrés Giménez and RHP Nick Sandlin to Blue Jays for 1B Spencer Horwitz and OF Nick Mitchell, Dec. 2024.
• Highest rank:No. 30 on 2019 Top 100 Prospects
• What We Said:2019 Mets Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Gimenez accelerated his timetable in 2018 by taming the pitcher-friendly high Class A Florida State League and moving to the Eastern League in late July. All told, Gimenez set career highs with six home runs, 29 doubles and 38 stolen bases. Scouts regarded him as one of the top talents in both the Florida State and Eastern leagues, and at the Futures Game he struck a 106.5 mph ground ball–albeit for a double play–that was hit harder than all but five other fair balls at the exhibition.

Scouting Report: Gimenez is proof positive that looks can be deceiving. His lean physique, baby face and smaller stature belie a quick-twitch athlete with well-rounded skills, a high baseball IQ and leadership qualities. Elite contact ability and a quick, loose lefthanded swing give him above-average–and possibly plus–hitting potential. A discerning batting eye will keep his walk rate and on-base percentage high. While Gimenez shows merely gap power now, he generates impressive torque with his hips, and as his body matures he will hit for average home run totals. He is an average runner who reads pitchers well and uses his knowledge of game situations to steal bases. Scouts project Gimenez as a plus defender at shortstop with a plus, accurate arm. A quick first step, sure hands and quick exchange from glove to hand make him a reliable defender. Intense focus and a strong work ethic tie the whole package together on both sides of the ball.

The Future: Gimenez has the ceiling of first-division shortstop, but the presence of Rosario in New York might push him to second base, a position he played sporadically until starting there the majority of the time in the 2018 Arizona Fall League. Gimenez should reach Triple-A Syracuse in 2019 and could receive a late-season callup with an eye toward regular big league work in 2020.

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Addison Barger, 3B/OF

• How acquired:Drafted by Blue Jays in sixth round of 2018 MLB Draft.
• Highest rank:No. 4 on Blue Jays 2023 Top 30
• What We Said:2024 Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Drafted in 2018, Barger spent most of 2019 on the restricted list before emerging with added power from the 2020 pandemic shutdown. He had a strong season in 2021 with Low-A Dunedin before breaking out in 2022 by hitting .308/.378/.555 across three levels and reaching Triple-A. Barger returned to Buffalo in 2023 and struggled initially before an April 28 trip to the injured list with elbow pain. After an examination found no structural damage, Barger returned to Buffalo on June 21 and hit .254/.358/.424 over the final 68 games. He showed improved plate discipline upon his return via rates of 19% strikeouts and nearly 14% walks.

Scouting Report: After showing a more aggressive approach and more in-game power in 2021 and 2022, Barger showed more patience in 2023 and a toned-down launch angle. This in turn produced a more consistent bat path, and he showed improvements in contact, in-zone contact and swing decisions. Barger traded some fly balls for line drives and ground balls, but he closed some of the holes in his swing. While he hit for less power in 2023, his underlying exit velocity data improved across the board, with his average exit velocity jumping more than 3 mph and his 90th percentile EV increasing by 2 mph to 106 mph. Barger is a fringe-average runner and not a threat to steal bases. In the field, he is unlikely to stick at shortstop full time, and he saw time in right field and at third base and second base in 2023. He has a plus arm that could work at a variety of positions, but itâ€s a matter of cleaning up some of his actions and footwork.

The Future: Barger is a versatile lefthanded hitter who has improved his hit tool while learning to play right field. He is a super-utility type with above-average hitting ability.

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Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B/3B

• How acquired:Claimed off waivers from Pirates, Aug. 2025.
• Highest rank:Never ranked
• What We Said:2013 Draft Scouting Report

Kiner-Falefa was seen by a lot of scouts and crosscheckers as a teammate of outfielder Marcus Doi, who put himself on the map as a top prospect last summer. Kiner-Falefa finished his season on a high note by helping Mid-Pacific win a state championship. He has a thin, wiry build at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds and stands out most for his defense. He wasn’t a consensus guy for teams in the fourth round, but is an above-average defender with soft hands, good footwork and solid-average arm strength. He makes contact, but needs to add some strength and profiles as a line drive, gap hitter at best. Kiner-Falefa is committed to San Jose State, but should sign after being selected in the fourth round.

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George Springer, OF

• How acquired:Signed as free agent, Jan. 2021.
• Highest rank:No. 18 on 2014 Top 100
• What We Said:2014 Astros Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Springer has a fascinating family history, but since signing for $2.525 million as the 11th pick in the 2011 draft, he’s made his own name, including a strong run at a 40-40 season in 2013 in which he fell three home runs short of the feat. He goes to the plate looking for a pitch on the inner half that he can drive, and he succeeded frequently in doing so in 2013 as he advanced to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Springer’s outstanding bat speed allows him to catch up to most anything, but his aggressive approach often leaves him out on his front foot when he faces quality offspeed stuff. Because his arm, speed, power and defense all rate as at least plus tools, Springer can be productive even as he strikes out excessively. A .299 career minor league hitter, he won’t approach that in the majors unless he starts lining pitches on the outer half to right field more often.

Though he’s not on the 40-man roster, Springer should earn a big league spot in Houston’s woeful outfield at some point in 2014. If he makes enough contact to hit .270 in the big leagues, he’s a perennial all-star. He has enough other tools to help a team win even if his swing-and-miss tendencies turn him into a .240 hitter.

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Daulton Varsho, OF

• How acquired:Diamondbacks traded C Daulton Varsho to Blue Jays for OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and C Gabriel Moreno, Dec. 2022.
• Highest rank:No. 53 on 2020 Top 100 Prospects
• What We Said:2019 D-backs Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: After tearing up the Horizon League his junior year at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Varsho, the son of big leaguer Gary Varsho, was taken 68th overall by the Diamondbacks in 2017. In his first full season as a pro, he jumped to a fast start for High Class A Visalia before needing surgery for a broken right hamate in June. He returned in August, and after a slow two and a half weeks, he hit like had before the injury over his final 10 games.

Scouting Report: Varsho has a compact swing, an aggressive-yet-mature approach and a knack for finding the barrel, with scouts seeing good extension that generates loft, giving him average power with the chance for more. There are still questions about his ability to stick at catcher, but he did win over some converts in 2018. He’s athletic and energetic behind the plate, and his quick transfer and throwing accuracy make up for average-at-best arm strength. Some scouts say his receiving can occasionally appear raw. He’s the rare catcher who also is an above-average to plus runner.

The Future: Even those unsure if Varsho can catch believe he’ll be a big leaguer, saying that his athleticism should allow him to handle second base or the outfield, with some saying the Diamondbacks could use him at multiple positions the way the Dodgers have with Austin Barnes.

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Nathan Lukes, OF

• How acquired:Signed as MiLB free agent, Nov. 2021.
• Highest rank:Never ranked
• What We Said:2015 Draft Scouting Report

A lefthanded-hitting corner bat, Lukes’ best tool is his bat; he’s the career hits leader at Sacramento State. He’s a former walk-on whose older brother also player for the Hornets as a pitcher. He runs above-average and has a solid-average arm, and pro clubs likely will try him in center field. He played right for the Hornets, whose home field is notoriously difficult in right field. His 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame generates solid gap power and he has an easy swing that he repeats. He controls the strike zone well, walking more than he struck out as a junior, and his bat stays in the hitting zone a long time.

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Myles Straw, OF

• How acquired: Guardians traded CF Myles Straw, cash and international bonus pool allotment to Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations.
• Highest rank:No. 15 on Astros 2019 Top 30
• What We Said:2019 Astros Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Straw and Rays prospect Nate Lowe formed an exceptional combination at St. John’s River (Fla.) JC. As a pro, Straw has stood out for his blazing speed and ability to hit for average. He led the minors in batting in 2016, when he hit .358, and led the minors in 2018 with 70 steals. He earned his first big league promotion in September and a spot on the Astros’ Division Series roster as a pinch-runner.

Scouting Report: Straw’s opposite-field approach rarely makes him a threat to hit the ball over an outfielder’s head. That approach has worked so far, and he’s steadily drawn walks despite lacking the power to frighten pitchers who are behind in counts. Straw handles velocity and doesn’t get the bat knocked out of his hands despite his bottom-of-the-scale power, projecting as an above-average hitter. His 70-grade speed helps him beat out infield hits and makes him a threat to steal anytime a base is open. He can play all three outfield spots in part thanks to a plus-plus arm. In center field, he’s an above-average defender excellent coming in on balls, but he needs his speed to make up for slower reads on balls over his head.

The Future: Straw’s lack of power limits him, but his speed, arm, defense and bat control give him a shot to be a useful big leaguer. He’ll head to spring training with a shot to make the Astros’ roster.

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Davis Schneider, OF

• How acquired:Drafted by Blue Jays in 28th round of 2017 MLB Draft.
• Highest rank:No. 8 on Blue Jays 2024 Top 30
• What We Said:2024 Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Signed in the 28th round for $50,000 in 2017, Schneider has been one of the best underdog stories in recent memory. The Blue Jays left him exposed to the Rule 5 draft after the 2021 and 2022 seasons despite above-average offensive performances in consecutive seasons. He began 2023 at Triple-A Buffalo, where he hit .275/.416/.553 with 21 home runs in 87 games. He earned a callup to Toronto on Aug. 4 and hit a home run off James Paxton in his first major league at-bat. Schneider hit .276/.404/.603 with eight home runs in 35 games. He made Torontoâ€s postseason roster but did not appear in a game.

Scouting Report: Undersized and somewhat positionless, Schneider is a bat-first player with an advanced plate approach. His bat-to-ball skills are fringy due to a longer swing with a steeper bat path. His advanced approach at the plate and ability to discern balls from strikes limits his exposure to pitches outside the zone. Schneider struggles with offspeed pitches and curveballs but does damage against fastballs and different slider types. He has above-average power potential despite just average exit velocities due to his excellent launch angles that allow him to get the most out of his power. He showed the ability to get to his power consistently in his brief MLB debut. Schneider is a fringe-average runner who isnâ€t much of a threat to steal a base. In the field, Schneider is a well below-average defender at second base with a below-average arm. He saw some time in left field, but Schneiderâ€s best long-term position is DH.

The Future: Schneider is an above-average hitter with a three-true-outcomes profile. He can carve out a role as a bat-driven second-division regular.

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Chris Bassitt, RHP

• How acquired:Signed as free agent, Dec. 2022.
• Highest rank:No. 6 on A’s 2015 Top 30
• What We Said:2015 A’s Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

The Athletics acquired Bassitt from the White Sox in December’s Jeff Samardzija trade, the third close-to-ready starting pitcher Oakland acquired in the offseason. He’s somewhat similar to ex-Blue Jays Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin in that he was an under-the-radar prospect who had seen big league time in September 2014.

Bassitt is a late-bloomer who burst on the amateur scene as a fourth-year junior in 2011 and was drafted as a reliever. The White Sox put him in the rotation in 2012 and his command actually improved, and a broken right hand at Double-A Birmingham in 2014 couldn’t keep him from reaching the major leagues by season’s end. Bassitt pushed his fastball up as hard as 96 mph even in a starting role, and it has solid life down in the zone. While he throws consistent strikes, he doesn’t command the fastball enough for him to be a frontline starter. He’s focused on a slider over a curve as his breaking ball, and it gives him an average second pitch. White Sox officials believed it would play up in the bullpen to make him a potential setup reliever. His changeup remains fringe-average but has some sink as well.

Bassitt impressed again in the Arizona Fall League in a relief role, but the Athletics will give him a chance to win a spot at the back of their revamped 2015 rotation.

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Shane Bieber, RHP

• How acquired:Guardians traded RHP Shane Bieber to Blue Jays for RHP Khal Stephen, July 2025.
• Highest rank:No. 5 on Guardians’ 2018 Top 30
• What We Said:2018 Guardians Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Bieber took over as UC Santa Barbara’s ace in 2016 and led the Gauchos to their first-ever appearance in the College World Series. He made a smooth transition to the minor leagues and excelled in his first full professional season, reaching Double-A Akron almost exactly a year after his pro debut.

Bieber came into pro ball with a reputation as relying more on his command than his stuff to succeed. He has continued to show above-average control as a professional and his 0.5 walks per nine innings in 2017 led all full-season minor leaguers. He’s one of those rare players whose control and command are big league ready from day one. But Bieber is starting to outgrow the command-and-control label, as his stuff made a jump in 2017. His fastball, which sat around 90 mph at UCSB, now sits 92-94 and touched 96 mph. His curveball got sharper and more consistent, developing into his best secondary pitch. He also throws a slider and changeup, which both can be average offerings. He has a clean, easy delivery and has shown he can handle a heavy workload–his 173.1 innings led all minor leaguers in 2017.

Bieber made one of the biggest jumps in 2017 of any player in the Indians’ system and now profiles as a potential mid-rotation starter. He will advance to Triple-A Columbus in 2018 and could pitch his way into the big league mix.

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Seranthony Dominguez, RHP

• How acquired:Orioles traded RHP Seranthony Domínguez and cash to Blue Jays for RHP Juaron Watts-Brown, July 2025.
• Highest rank:No. 12 on Phillies 2018 Top 30
• What We Said:2018 Phillies Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

On pure upside, Dominguez could rank higher on this list, but arm problems have slowed his progress and created more risk to his profile. He showed one of the most electric arms early in the high Class A Florida State League season in 2017, but in mid-May he went on the disabled list with shoulder tightness and missed two months.

When he returned, some scouts thought he looked gassed, while others thought he looked tentative coming back from rehab. At his best, Dominguez overpowers hitters with a fastball that sits at 94-96 mph with late movement and reaches 99. His fastball command improved in 2017 and he showed the ability to locate that pitch down in the strike zone early in the season. His slider took a step forward, and while it still flattens out on him at times, it’s often an above-average pitch that misses bats. He’s a four-pitch guy with an average curveball and a changeup that flashes as another above-average offering at times.

Dominguez has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter, but he’s 23 and his career-high workload is 76 innings, so his durability is a question mark and he could be a better fit as a late-inning reliever. Double-A Reading is his next step in 2018.

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Braydon Fisher, RHP

• How acquired:Signed as MiLB free agent, Nov. 2024.
• Highest rank:No. 259 on 2018 Top 500 Draft Prospects
• What We Said:2018 Draft Scouting Report

Fisher is another Texas prep arm who has done a lot to help himself this spring. A well-built 6-foot-4, 180-pound righthander, Fisher has seen his velocity tick up during his senior season. After topping out at 91-92 mph in showcases last summer, he’s touched 96 this spring. The Lamar signee now sits 92-96 mph at his best with a slurvy breaking ball and a developing changeup.

Mason Fluharty, LHP

• How acquired:Drafted by Blue Jays in fifth round of 2022 MLB Draft.
• Highest rank:No. 27 on Blue Jays 2024 Top 30
• What We Said:2024 Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Fluharty spent three seasons in Libertyâ€s bullpen, steadily improving with each season. He made the third most appearances in the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2022 and was drafted by the Blue Jays in the fifth round that year. Fluharty debuted with High-A Vancouver post-draft and made 10 appearances. He returned to Vancouver to begin 2023 and earned a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire on May 23. Fluharty make 36 appearances for the Fisher Cats, recording four saves.

Scouting Report: Fluharty did not start a game in college and is locked into a relief role in pro ball. He mixes three pitches. Fluhartyâ€s primary pitch is a nasty mid-80s sweeper with ride and on average a foot of sweep. He shows excellent command of the pitch and drives a high rate of swings-and-misses. Fluhartyâ€s second pitch is a cutter at 89-91 mph that functions like a fastball. With good command of the pitch, he misses bats in and out of the zone. He throws a four-seam fastball that sits 90-92 mph, but itâ€s a clear third pitch. Fluharty is a funky relief prospect with good command of his arsenal.

The Future: Fluharty is a slider-first reliever who could handle middle-inning relief or situational usage.

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Kevin Gausman, RHP

• How acquired:Signed as free agent, Dec. 2021.
• Highest rank:No. 20 on 2014 Top 100
• What We Said:2014 Orioles Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Scouting Report: Gausman’s two premium pitches and developing third option give him No. 2 starter upside. His plus-plus fastball sits at 94-96 mph and touches 98, and he mixes in a sinking low-90s two-seamer to induce groundouts. His 84-86 mph changeup is an easy plus pitch, and some scouts ranked it among the best they’ve seen at the amateur level. Gausman threw both a 76-79 mph curveball and an 82-86 mph slider that blended together in college. His diving slider flashes more swing-and-miss potential and showed significant improvement during instructional league. A premium athlete with a live body, he has a smooth, high-leg kick delivery that helps him stay over the rubber. His aptitude and intelligence help set him apart.

The Future: Dylan Bundy and Gausman give the Orioles one of the minors’ best 1-2 pitching punches. After making a playoff appearance for Bowie, Gausman might return to Double-A to open his first full pro season. He could reach Baltimore before the end of the season.

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Jeff Hoffman, RHP

• How acquired:Signed as free agent, Jan. 2025.
• Highest rank:No. 36 on 2017 Top 100
• What We Said:2017 Rockies Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

The key player among the three prospects the Blue Jays sent to the Rockies for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in a 2015 deadline deal, Hoffman was Toronto’s first pick–ninth overall–in 2014. He had Tommy John surgery shortly before that draft, delaying his pro debut to 2015. He steadily climbed the minor league ladder and made his big league debut in September 2016. Hoffman showed signs of fatigue when he debuted with the Rockies, and he surpassed 150 innings for the first time.

During the season he showed a live fastball with sinking life that sits in the 93-96 mph range and reaches 99. Hoffman has an excellent plus curveball but tends to rely on it too much. His slider is a nice secondary breaking pitch, and his changeup is solid. His strikeout rate jumped significantly in the minors, but to keep that up in the big leagues, he has to take better ownership of the inner part of the plate and use any on his four pitches without hesitation.

Hoffman has a chance to earn a rotation spot in Denver for 2017. With his power and pitch mix, Hoffman should grow in a solid mid-rotation starter with an inner confidence that bodes well for his success at Coors Field.

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Eric Lauer, LHP

• How acquired:Signed as MiLB free agent, Dec. 2024.
• Highest rank:No. 12 on Padres 2018 Top 30
• What We Said:2018 Padres Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

As Kent State junior, Lauer recorded an 0.68 ERA that was the lowest in Division I since 1979. The Padres drafted him that year with the last of their three first-round picks, No. 25 overall, and signed him for $2 million. Lauer battled through fatigue in his first full season, but still delivered 122.2 innings and finished strong at Double-A.

Lauer is a classic pitchability lefty who relies on mixing and locating his pitches. His fastball ranges from 87-94 mph and he sits 89-91, slowing it down and speeding it up depending on the situation. His fastball has some sneakiness to it and he isn’t afraid to pitch inside, making for uncomfortable at-bats even with below-average velocity. Lauer’s main secondary is an above-average 84-85 mph changeup he sells with identical arm speed. His fringy 82-86 mph slider lacks bite, but he places it effectively on the back foot of righthanded hitters for a usable third pitch. His below-average 75-76 mph curveball is loopy and rolls into the strike zone.

Lauer isn’t flashy, but shows enough pitchability and control to potentially survive as a No. 5 starter. He’ll head to Triple-A El Paso in 2018.

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Brendon Little, LHP

• How acquired:Acquired from Cubs for cash considerations, Nov. 2023.
• Highest rank:No. 7 on Cubs 2018 Top 30
• What We Said:2019 Cubs Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: After pitching just four innings as a freshman at North Carolina, Little transferred to the State JC of Florida after wowing evaluators in the Cape Cod League. His draft stock shot up as a result, and the Cubs gave him $2.2 million to turn professional. He struggled at short-season Eugene after being drafted, then spent all of 2018 at low Class A South Bend proving surprisingly hittable for a pitcher with excellent stuff.

Scouting Report: Little’s biggest appeal still comes from his fastball, which sits in the low 90s and can touch up to 95 when he needs a strikeout. He couples it with a future plus curveball in the mid-70s with 12-to-6 break as well as a changeup that is fringe-average now but could get to average because of the conviction with which it’s thrown. The biggest issue now is getting Little to repeat his delivery, which so far has cost him enough control to serve up four walks per nine innings.

The Future: After a full year at South Bend, Little should move up to high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2019. He has the ceiling of a back-end starter.

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Yariel Rodriguez, RHP

• How acquired:Signed as free agent, 2024
• Highest rank:Ineligible to rank
• What We Said:International Professional Scouting Report

Track Record: Rodriguez was a soft-tossing starter with an 87-90 mph fastball in Cubaâ€s Serie Nacional before blossoming with a move to Japan. His stuff increased markedly over three seasons with Chunichi and he emerged as one of NPBâ€s top setup men with a 1.15 ERA in 56 appearances in 2022. He returned to starting for Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and delivered a pair of solid outings to raise his profile as a starter. He did not return to Chunichi for the regular season and spent the year training in preparation for a move to MLB.

Scouting Report:Rodriguez is an aggressive power pitcher whose stuff and performance keep improving. His four-seam fastball is now a plus pitch that sits 94-96 mph and touches 100 with natural cut. He also has a 93-96 mph two-seamer with hard armside run. Rodriguezâ€s main secondary pitch is an above-average, 83-86 mph slider with vertical bite and solid depth. He primarily throws his fastballs and slider and is able to dominate with them. Rodriguez lacks touch on his softer offerings. He has inconsistent feel for his fringy splitter and below-average curveball and rarely throws them. Rodriguez is a volatile, highly emotional pitcher prone to overthrowing and struggles to throttle down. He has an effortful delivery and arm action and fringy control overall.

The Future: Rodriguez will get a chance to start, but his arsenal and demeanor fit best in relief. He projects to be a hard-throwing but inconsistent No. 5 starter or seventh-inning setup man.

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Max Scherzer, RHP

• How acquired:Signed as free agent, 2025.
• Highest rank:No. 66 on 2008 Top 100
• What We Said:2008 D-backs Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

The 11th overall pick in 2006, Scherzer pitched for the independent Fort Worth Cats and held out before he would have re-entered the draft pool. Though he projected as no more than a mid-first-rounder the second time around, Arizona gave him a $3 million bonus, $4.3 million in guaranteed money and another $1.5 million in easily reachable incentives.

Scherzer’s fastball can overmatch batters, arriving in the mid-90s with sinking action at its best. His slider also can be a plus pitch, though he’s working on its command and plane. Some scouts who saw Scherzer as a starter at midseason wondered what the fuss was about. His fastball sat at 89-93 mph range, and his overall stuff, command, feel and delivery all drew questions. Then they saw him relieving in the Arizona Fall League and he was a different pitcher, touching 98 mph.

Arizona’s official opinion is that Scherzer is a starter. If he continues in the rotation, he’ll likely open 2008 back in Double-A. If he moves to the bullpen, he could provide immediate help in the big leagues and has the pure stuff to eventually close games.

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Louis Varland, RHP

• How acquired:Twins traded RHP Louis Varland and 1B Ty France to Blue Jays for LF Alan Roden and LHP Kendry Rojas, July 2025.
• Highest rank:No. 9 on Twins 2023 Top 30
• What We Said:2024 Twins Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: When he made his MLB debut against the Yankees on Sept. 7, Varland became the first player in Division II Concordia (Minn.) history to reach the big leagues. His biggest competition for that honor was his older brother. Gus Varland, a fellow alum of the St. Paul school, pitched in Double-A in 2022, but Louie reached the majors first. Louie Varland is a scouting and development success story as a 15th-round pick in 2019 who has steadily gotten better each year as a pro.

Scouting Report: Varland draws raves for his willingness to work and his ability to absorb and process instruction. When Varland arrived at Concordia, he generally sat in the mid 80s. These days he throws nearly 10 mph harder, with a fastball that sits 93-95 mph and touches 98 thanks to plenty of time in the weight room. He’s also steadily developed his secondary offerings. Early in his pro career, Varland developed an average changeup. Now his slider has improved from well below-average to average. He has added sweep to it, making it more of a swing-and-miss pitch. He has started to throw a fringe-average 88-90 mph cutter. It’s important, because while his slider is a chase pitch, his cutter is something he consistently throws for strikes. It enhances his slider’s effectiveness because now he can steal a strike if hitters read spin and lay off his cutter. Varland doesn’t have a true plus pitch, but he generates deception from a slightly closed delivery and has plus control.

The Future: Varland is the next in what has been a long line of Twins’ crafty righthanders. He projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter who should compete for a big league job in spring training.

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Trey Yesavage, RHP

• How acquired:Drafted by Blue Jays in first round of 2024 MLB Draft.
• Highest rank:No. 2 on Blue Jays 2025 Top 30
• What We Said:2025 Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Yesavage spent his freshman season in the East Carolina bullpen before moving to the rotation as a sophomore. As a junior, he ascended to the role of staff ace, making 15 starts and pitching to a 2.02 ERA, the lowest of any Division I starter. Late in the 2024 season, Yesavage suffered a partially collapsed lung due to an off-the-field medical procedure and missed the American Athletic Conference Tournament. He returned to pitch in regionals, facing off against Wake Forestâ€s Chase Burns. Yesavage allowed one run in 7.1 innings to outduel Burns. Yesavage fell to the Blue Jays at No. 20 overall on draft day because of some teams†concerns with his medicals. He signed for a slightly overslot $4.175 million bonus and did not debut following the draft.

Scouting Report: Yesavage has prototype starter size, the ability to repeat his mechanics and a mix of average-or-better offerings. He was a reliable innings-eater in college with above-average command. Yesavage has a short windup, with a short stride to the plate that creates little-to-no extension. He delivers the ball from an over-the-top slot with good arm speed. Despite his lack of extension, it hasnâ€t hurt how his fastball has played. The pitch sits 93-95 mph and touches 97 with elite induced vertical break and late armside run. Opposing batters hit just .198 against his fastball in 2024. Yesavageâ€s primary secondary is a slider he uses predominantly in right-on-right matchups. His slider sits 86-87 and touches 90 with heavy gyro action. His primary secondary weapon against lefties is a low-to-mid-80s splitter with excellent vertical and velocity separation off his fastball. Yesavage also mixes a low-80s downer curveball, but itâ€s a clear fourth pitch.

The Future: Yesavage should move fast. He possesses mid-rotation upside, most likely as a high-end No. 4.

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The NHL and NBA teams adjusted the start times for several games in the coming days to avoid going head-to-head with the Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Leafs†home game on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres will start at 5 p.m. ET (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+) instead of 7 p.m., the NHL club announced Wednesday.

Also, the Leafs†game on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Arena will start at 6:15 p.m. ET instead of 6 p.m.

The Leafs†game in Buffalo on Friday will move up a half hour to 7 p.m. ET from 7:30 p.m. (Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet+).

Meanwhile, the Raptors†home opener on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks will start at 6:30 p.m. ET instead of 7:30 p.m. The same game-time switch is happening for next Wednesdayâ€s home game against the Houston Rockets.

The Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Dodgers in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series just down the street at Rogers Centre on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. Games 3-5 of the World Series are in Los Angeles next Monday to Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. All World Series games are on Sportsnet.

The Leafs and Raptors say they will show the Blue Jays games on the Scotiabank Arena videoboard following their home games.

“Toronto sports fans are undeniably some of the most passionate fans in the world, and we are proud to have the cityâ€s teams come together and give these fans an opportunity to experience a significant moment in our cityâ€s and nationâ€s history,†MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement.

“Each of these game time changes are quite complicated and represent the cooperation of many stakeholders, including the respective leagues, coaches and players of the Leafs, Raptors and opposing teams and broadcasters. We are grateful to them all for their assistance as we work to make this a very special moment for Toronto fans as we come together to support the Blue Jays.â€

Previously, the Leafs moved a home game up two hours to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving (Oct. 13) to avoid a conflict with Game 2 of the ALCS at Rogers Centre.

The Leafs†home opener on Oct. 8 took place during the Blue Jays†ALDS-clinching win over the Yankees in New York. Toronto fans let out huge cheers several times during the Leafs game when good things were happening for the Jays.

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In baseball, no one player can win or lose a championship: This isnâ€t the NBA. Every roster spot is its own cog, every matchup is just one man against another man — you canâ€t hit a six-run homer. Neither Ted Williams nor Barry Bonds, we remind you, won a World Series.

But one player still can make a huge difference in a series, which we have seen throughout this postseason. The same will be true in the World Series, which starts Friday night in Toronto, with the Blue Jays hosting the defending champion Dodgers.

Hereâ€s a look at four players on each team who could prove the most important in this Series, and weâ€ve broken them down into four categories:

Dodgers: DH/SP Shohei Ohtani
Is it possible to say anything about Ohtani that hasnâ€t been said? I donâ€t know, but you can be certain that over the next fortnight, every baseball writer and commentator on the planet is going to try to find out. Itâ€s actually sort of amusing that heading into Ohtaniâ€s otherworldly performance in the NLCS Game 4 clincher, one of the primary Dodgers narratives of the offseason was that he had been slumping at the plate. (He really did look more out of sorts than he had all year.)

Itâ€s fair to say Ohtani has busted out of that slump. When we write these little sections about each player, we focus on the difference they can make in a best-of-seven series: A guy hits a big homer at the right time, he steals a base in a key moment, he tosses five innings in a deciding game. Each of these factors would earn their own section. Well, Shohei does all of these things himself. Weâ€re only giving him this one section, same as everyone else, just to be fair. But heâ€s really two stars (at least) in one, and that remains an advantage Los Angeles has over everyone else.

Blue Jays: 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
It was a nice touch that both LCS MVP Awards went to the winning teamâ€s biggest star: Ohtani in the NL and Guerrero in the AL. Just add one more line to their eventual Hall of Fame résumés. When Guerrero signed his extension in April, it set the Blue Jays on their current path, and one of the best moments after Toronto won ALCS Game 7 on Monday came when Tom Verducci asked Guerrero if this was what he imagined when he signed, and he simply nodded and said, “Yes.â€

He is on an all-time postseason tear right now, hitting .442 and leading everyone with six homers, particularly impressive because he had been 3-for-22 (.136) in his three postseason series heading into the year. He is the face of this team and, really, the face of baseball in Canada. If the Blue Jays win this Fall Classic, there will be more statues of him erected than you can count.

Category 2: The Starting Pitchers

Dodgers: LHP Blake Snell
Snell, when healthy, has always been a great pitcher. You donâ€t win two Cy Young Awards without being something special. But is it possible he has never been better than he is right now? Snell has had a history of walking guys — one of the most impressive aspects of his genius has always been that he was so good at pitching around the walks — but now heâ€s not even doing that. He didnâ€t walk a single batter in his eight-inning masterpiece in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Brewers.

Snell has also given up just two runs and six hits in 21 postseason innings, and he has struck out 28 batters. Basically, heâ€s pitching like Mariano Rivera, except as a starter. Snell will start Game 1 and figures to start Game 5 of this Series, and if it goes seven, you can expect him to see work in that final game as well. If he doesnâ€t let up, the Blue Jays essentially have to win four of the five games he doesnâ€t pitch. Good luck.

Blue Jays: RHP Trey Yesavage
Six games. Six games! Yesavage has pitched in exactly six MLB games in his career, and three of them have come in the past 2 1/2 weeks. One of the quiet trends of this postseason has been young pitchers with big arms being entrusted with some of the most stressful postseason moments, and no one has been a better indicator of this than Yesavage, who has worn five uniforms this year alone: Dunedin, Vancouver, New Hampshire, Buffalo and now Toronto … in the World Series.

At first, it looked like the Blue Jays’ No. 1 prospect might be a multi-innings bullpen arm this postseason, but Yesavage has been thrust into the starting rotation, with mostly smashing results. But this is the World Series. And he is just 22 years old. And it is the Dodgers on the other side. Eventually heâ€s going to realize the situation he finds himself in, right?

Category 3: The Relievers

Dodgers: RHP Roki Sasaki
Sasaki has had six overwhelmingly dominant appearances this postseason, in just about the most pressure-packed situations possible. In those six appearances, he has thrown 7 1/3 innings, given up two hits, struck out six and walked none. His splitter seems to be a magic pitch that, when itâ€s on, is essentially unhittable. And then there was that one appearance. That was Game 1 of the NLCS, after Snellâ€s brilliance in Milwaukee, where Sasaki, suddenly, was extremely vulnerable, walking two hitters, giving up a ringing double and a run, and eventually having to be pulled for Blake Treinen.

Sasaki recovered to have two appearances after that in which he had no problem at all, back to his previous untouchable self. The Blue Jays need to hope they get one (or two!) of those traces of fallibility from Sasaki, because the combination of Los Angeles†starters and Sasaki has proven too much to overcome. If Sasaki wobbles, though, the Dodgers†bullpen outside of him has been their weak spot. If the Jays can get to that mushy middle, they have a chance.

Blue Jays: RHP Louis Varland
One is somewhat tempted to go with Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer or Brendon Little here, since they are the only left-handers on this pitching staff — the rotation is entirely right-handed — and Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy all swing left-handed. But the most important reliever for Toronto this postseason has been Varland, a Trade Deadline acquisition from the Twins that the Blue Jays have been using relentlessly. He pitched in 23 games after the trade, almost half of the teamâ€s total, and he has only gotten one game of rest this October. (Of the Jays†11 postseason games, Varland has pitched in 10 of them.)

You can see why manager John Schneider keeps turning to him: He has been excellent, though Cal Raleigh did get him for a homer in ALCS Game 7. The Jays are very much looking for every arm they can find, but Varland has steadied them throughout this postseason. They would not currently be in the World Series without him, and they undoubtedly will try to ride him all the way to the finish line.

Category 4: The Wild Cards

Dodgers: LF Kiké Hernández
No matter how good the Dodgers are, no matter how their season is going, no matter how their roster is constructed, they always end up finding a place for Hernández — and they always end up relying on him. Hernández had the worst season of his career at the plate in 2025, hitting just .203 in 93 games, but like his team as a whole, heâ€s been at his best in October. The 12-year veteran has come up with all sorts of clutch hits for the Dodgers, particularly in the NLCS, and heâ€s just someone every Dodger fan feels comfortable with at the plate when the lights are brightest.

The Dodgers†bench is weaker than it has been in years past, and while Kiké might be pulled for a defensive replacement late, he will take some vitally important at-bats in this Fall Classic. Hereâ€s a key metric: How often is he on base when Ohtani comes to the plate?

Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette
Yep, heâ€s back. Not officially — we havenâ€t seen these teams†rosters yet — but it certainly seems that way. You didnâ€t think Bichette — who is actually the 19th-best Blue Jay all-time by WAR, and, of course, is due to reach free agency this offseason — was going to miss this, did you? Bichette has missed six weeks with his left knee injury, but he made it clear postgame on Monday: “Iâ€ll be ready.â€

The Blue Jays could obviously use his bat; it has been a lovely bounce-back season for him after a dreadful, injury-plagued 2024. But can he play shortstop? It seems a lot to ask after missing six weeks, particularly with how Andrés Giménez has been playing. But if Toronto has to put Bichette at DH, that means George Springer has to play the field, which is not the optimal use of the veteran, to say the least. But if you can get Bichetteâ€s bat in the lineup, you have to do it. Heâ€s a Jay who has been waiting a long time for this moment.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 MLB regular season as the largest title favorites in over two decades, and they’ll head into the 2025 World Series as the overwhelming favorites to win their second straight championship.

Los Angeles opened as the -210 favorite to win the World Series over the Toronto Blue Jays, who opened at +175, according to ESPN BET odds. The series spread opened at Dodgers -1.5 (-115) to the Jays’ +1.5 (-105).

The Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of their American League Championship Series on Monday, sending Toronto to its first World Series since 1993.

If the Dodgers were to capture another Commissioner’s Trophy, they’ll do so as wire-to-wire favorites for the second consecutive season, becoming the first team to accomplish that feat since the New York Yankees in 1999 and 2000, according to data from SportsOddsHistory.com.

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Despite their short odds all season — even as they struggled at times, ultimately obtaining the National League’s third seed — the Dodgers were well supported by the betting public. ESPN BET reports nearly a third of all of its World Series tickets, including settled bets, backing LA; among playoff teams, the Dodgers have garnered 44.4% of the handle since the beginning of the postseason.

BetMGM also had significant liability on a Los Angeles title, with senior trader Halvor Egeland saying before the championship series that the Dodgers winning it all “would make many bettors happy” and “the sportsbook will be cheering for whichever team comes out of the American League with the Blue Jays being the best outcome.”

Toronto was initially viewed as a relative World Series long shot across the sportsbook marketplace, entering the season with consensus +6000 odds. It attracted a bit of attention from bettors after a late-season surge that ended with the Blue Jays as the AL’s top seed, but they still ended up with only 7.7% of the wagers overall at ESPN BET.

Game 1 of the World Series is Friday at Rogers Centre. The home Blue Jays opened at +125 on the money line, with the Dodgers taking road favorite status at -150.

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Ohtani and the Blue Jays will be forever tied after what happened in December 2023. Some of the heartache and hostility has faded, but Ohtani has stuck to the Blue Jays. This organization nearly landed the biggest star in baseball history, only to come up painfully short to the Dodgers. During Ohtaniâ€s first trip back to Toronto in 2024, John Schneider was asked about what had just happened that winter between his team and Ohtani. He smiled, took a moment to think and let a detail sneak out.

“If anything, just tell him we want our Blue Jays hat back that he took with him after our meeting,†Schneider said.

Ohtani took more than a hat from that meeting. This is where the heartbreak lives. The Blue Jays didnâ€t just float an offer to Ohtani; they put on a full-court press, involving every corner of the organization as they went stride-for-stride financially with the Dodgers, who eventually signed Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal.

The drama had built leading into the 2023 Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, but they finally boiled over on Dec. 4. General manager Ross Atkins was supposed to meet with the media that day in a suite, but moments prior, that session pivoted to a Zoom call. Atkins sat on that call, wearing a black jacket and white shirt in front of a blank white wall, refusing to admit where he was or what he was doing. It was unforgettable theatre, but it was necessary.

Atkins, Schneider, president Mark Shapiro and chairman Edward Rogers were all at the Blue Jays†complex in Dunedin, Fla., courting Ohtani.

The complex was empty that day. This had to happen with complete secrecy. Younger players were told that there was a Rogers ownership meeting that day while some big leaguers, understanding what was happening, zipped their mouths shut and nodded along. Schneider and the Blue Jays†executives stood in a room overlooking the empty parking lot, watching for the black SUV to pull in.

“It was like the president was coming. Seriously,†Schneider said in 2024.

Ohtani walked every inch of the complex that day. At one point, he froze in front of a TV when he saw two Blue Jays playing catch. Sensing his worry that these players were on the complex grounds, the Blue Jays quickly explained to Ohtani that they were across town at TD Ballpark, the clubâ€s spring home. The Blue Jays†entire world belonged to Ohtani then.

One of the last stops on the tour was the Spring Training clubhouse. Inside were lockers set up for Ohtani with jerseys, workout gear and all of his favorite accessories, right down to the finest details. Surely, someone in the organization was tasked with finding out whether Ohtani likes pulp in his orange juice or how he takes his coffee. It was all right in front of Ohtani.

Then, an image those involved will never forget. Ohtani packed up the lockers and took the bags with him. No one had expected this. As he walked back to their SUV, they saw one more thing. It was Ohtaniâ€s dog, Decoy, running behind him wearing the Canadian dog jacket the Blue Jays had bought for him.

This is how close it was. For all of the drama — from the flight Ohtani was never on to the eventual Instagram post from Ohtani that broke a nationâ€s heart — itâ€s important to remember just how close this was, just how real this was. The Blue Jays — with their aggressive, admirable pursuit — nearly landed Shohei Ohtani.

What would that world have looked like? Even less than two years removed, itâ€s always felt like a fork in the road for the Blue Jays, the life they could have had running next to the life they live. Would Vladimir Guerrero Jr. still have signed a $500 million extension? Would they have spent even bigger around Ohtani?

Those roads run closer to one another than we ever could have dreamed.

The Blue Jays have been reborn. Their 2024 season, fresh off the cruel winter spent pursuing Ohtani, felt so lifeless. This organization is alive again, though. Thereâ€s no replacing Ohtani, the most uniquely gifted baseball player to ever walk this earth, but this is not the NBA. This is not Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman versus Guerrero, George Springer and Bo Bichette. This World Series is a 26-man roster versus a 26-man roster, and as we see every October, stars will emerge who we never saw coming.

The Dodgers are a powerhouse. Even with the Blue Jays winning the American League as its No. 1 seed, this will be advertised as David versus Goliath, the upstart feel-good bunch of Canadians against the almighty Dodgers, who never run out of money or talent. It will be advertised as the Blue Jays versus Shohei Ohtani.

“Never count us out. Weâ€re going to do everything in our power to try to not make baseball evil again,†Schneider said, laughing after the Game 7 ALCS win. “We know theyâ€re a great team. I know weâ€re a great team.â€

Ohtani got away once. For a time, it felt like that wound would always be there, whether those involved wanted to admit it or not. Baseball has given the Blue Jays another chance, though. For two years, this organization couldnâ€t escape the ties to Ohtani, couldnâ€t escape the label of always finishing second.

Once again, theyâ€ve found him. Once again, Ohtani is right in front of the Blue Jays.

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TORONTO — Steven Lorentz shocked his new wife pretty good when he leapt out of bed in the seventh inning with a clap and a holler to celebrate George Springerâ€s ALCS-winning home run.

“As soon as it left his bat, I knew it was gone,†the Toronto Blue Jays fan disguised as a Maple Leafs player said excitedly Tuesday morning. “She was kind of rolled over trying to sleep, and I think I woke her up.

“Iâ€ve definitely got a little bit more excitement for this Jays group this year than I have in previous years.â€

Lorentz is all of us in this hockey Mecca turned baseball town.

“I think a lot of people in Canada probably had a similar night last night, watching our Jays move on to the World Series. First time in, what, thirty-something years?†the Ontario native continues. So that’s great to see. “Weâ€re happy for them. But like Vladdy said, the jobâ€s not done for them. So, they still got some work to do.â€

For too many Octobers, the work of the Maple Leafs has dominated Page 1 of the Toronto newspapers†sports section.

The magic of the Jays†post-season run has flipped priorities like Bautista twig — in a way that benefits all involved.

The middling Leafs have five regular-season games scheduled to go head-to-head with the best-of-seven between the Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

You get one guess as to which will be the cheaper ticket.

“Itâ€s an easy team to cheer for,†Morgan Rielly marvels. “Weâ€ve been talking about them all morning.â€

The longest serving Maple Leaf grew up in Vancouver as the son of a Yankees fan; a young Rielly and his father would drive south to Seattle and root against the Mariners when the pinstripes were in town. But Rielly has been wearing Blue Jays caps for years.

Heâ€s all in, even if the sweetness of a Toronto championship series comes with a sting.

“Thereâ€s a small part of you that youâ€re envious of them. Youâ€re a bit jealous at what theyâ€re doing, just because of Toronto. You watch it firsthand. Youâ€re obviously happy for them. Itâ€s a great moment for the city. But we want to be able to do that and have a run like that. We felt that when the Raptors did it, too,†Rielly explains.

“So, you look at the passion that theyâ€re playing with, and thatâ€s contagious. And you want to be able to also bring that when your time comes.â€

To a man, the Leafs spoke glowingly about the baseball clubâ€s formula of simultaneously getting valuable contributions from their depth players as well as showtime moments from their high-paid superstars.

None more impressive than ALCS MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who strode into Rogers Centre on the eve of Game 7 decked out in a No. 34 Leafs replica sweater.

“I think Vladdy broke the curse by wearing Auston Matthews†jersey here today,†Jays manager John Schneider said, following the 4-3 home win.

“Yeah, that’s pretty cool. Iâ€m sure Tone was pretty fired up about that,†enthuses Toronto native Chris Tanev, who played competitive ball through Grade 12.

“Itâ€s really impressive to see the city rallying behind them, and just an amazing comeback from down 2-0 to start the series, and down 3-2, and down in the game as well. So, itâ€s just a lot of relentless efforts.â€

Tanev is a master of smart positioning. He makes subtle, nifty outlet passes and is willing to take abuse to make the right play. So, it should be no surprise that he showers the Jays†role players with credit for contributing small details that lead to the big moment.

“The (Andrés) Giménez bunt probably no one talks about because Springer hit a home run. But no one bunts, really, anymore, and he laid a great bunt. Or (Addison) Barger walking to get on. Little things like that. Not trying to hit a home run and being happy to get on base, to let his teammates help him get home and make the game closer,†Tanev says.

“Itâ€s just like little things like that go into a hockey game, so you sort of watch and learn from that.â€

Craig Berube grew up a baseball-loving kid in Calahoo, Alta. Itâ€s the sport that most closely rivals hockey as his passion. The Leafs coach visited the clubhouse and met with Schneider in September. Heâ€s been studying the post-season at home, quietly rooting for the Jays.Â

“I watch their guy, Vladdy, closely. I watch how he interacts with all the guys and how much energy he brings all the time and happiness for his teammates when they do something well,†Berube says.

“Heâ€s always got a lot of energy and a lot of positive vibe around him, you know? Which a lot of them do. But heâ€s their main guy, and he brings that — and I think the whole team feeds off it.â€

Torontonian Max Domi says itâ€s not only Guerrero Jr.â€s performance at the plate that impresses; itâ€s also his presence in the post-game conversations.Â

“You see his interviews and how emotional he got — what this city means to him. It’s great to see him, and Iâ€m so happy for him and his entire team,†Domi explains.

“It’s inspiring, man. I think if youâ€re not a baseball fan, it doesn’t matter. Youâ€re watching that game, youâ€re watching that interview — everyoneâ€s got chills. If you don’t, then you’re missing a heartbeat, for sure.

“Taking that and seeing how the city responds to it, and listening to each guyâ€s interview is really cool for me as an athlete on a team, to really see how much they love each other, and thatâ€s what got them to where they are. Of course, theyâ€ve got the skill, they got the talent, theyâ€ve got everything. But they all seem to think that the most important thing is how tight they are.â€

The parallels here are blatantly obvious to the Toronto fan.

And the Maple Leafs, who play just a couple Barger relay throws east of the Dome, feel like the sports cityâ€s positive energy could be contagious.

“Itâ€s almost like a little bit of outside motivation, you can look at it, right?†Lorentz says. “Like, you see when that teamâ€s doing well, when our teamâ€s doing well, when it comes to playoff time, thereâ€s extra bodies in the seats. Thereâ€s extra bodies outside. Iâ€m sure the bars are all filled up with people who are rooting and cheering.

“I had some buddies out, and you could see the Instagrams and the Snapchats of people going nuts when Springer hit that home run. So, the Jays get that. We get that when weâ€re doing well, too.Â

“Itâ€s nice that we can kind of feed off that energy that the Jays are bringing, that buzz to the city.â€

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The Dodgers are back to defend their title and they’ll face off against a Blue Jays team making their first World Series appearance since 1993.

While last yearâ€s matchup was the most common one in World Series history, this yearâ€s championship showdown is a first-time matchup. The Blue Jays haven’t made it to the World Series since winning titles in consecutive years in 1992 (vs. the Braves) and ’93 (vs. the Phillies). Here’s a preview of the upcoming Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series that will begin in Toronto on Friday.

Who has home-field advantage?

That honor belongs to the Blue Jays, who finished this season with the better record by one game — 94-68 to 93-69.

The first two games will begin at Rogers Centre on Oct. 24 and 25, respectively. The series then shifts to L.A. for Games 3 (Oct. 27), 4 (Oct. 28) and 5, if necessary (Oct. 29). Game 6 would be on Halloween back in Toronto and Game 7 would be on Nov. 1. Each game will be played at 8 p.m. ET.

What is each team’s World Series history?

Toronto has triumphed in both of its World Series appearances. The last swing by a Blue Jay in a World Series game resulted in one of the most famous moments in big league history. Joe Carterâ€s walk-off homer in Game 6 of the 1993 Series put the Blue Jays on top of the baseball world for the second straight season.

What is the head-to-head history between these two teams?

The Dodgers lead the all-time series, 19-11. They have won 14 of the previous 19 meetings, including two of three games this past August at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers took the first two games of that series as starters Blake Snell and Clayton Kershaw combined to allow only one earned run over 16 innings pitched. Ernie Clement hit a tiebreaking home run in the top of the ninth inning to help Toronto salvage the finale.

What notable connections do the Blue Jays and Dodgers share on their current rosters?

Teoscar Hernández and Max Scherzer have already had big moments for the Dodgers and Blue Jays, respectively, this postseason. They also spent time on the other side of this matchup. Hernández won two Silver Sluggers across six seasons with Toronto from 2017-22. Scherzer put up a 2.01 ERA over 85 innings (postseason included) after the Dodgers acquired him from the Nationals at the 2021 Trade Deadline.

A connection between these clubs also resides on each bench. Don Mattingly, the Blue Jays†bench coach, guided the Dodgers to three NL West titles while serving as their manager from 2011-15. Chris Woodward was drafted by the Blue Jays in 1994 and played seven of his 12 MLB seasons with Toronto. He is Los Angeles†first-base coach.

Who are the best players to play for both teams?

Scherzer is a likely Hall of Famer, and two players who suited up for the Dodgers and Blue Jays are already in Cooperstown: Rickey Henderson and Fred McGriff. Henderson was a member of Torontoâ€s title team in 1993. He played the final 30 games of his record-setting career with the Dodgers in 2003.

McGriff was Hendersonâ€s teammate in L.A. in 2003. He began his career with Toronto and hit 125 of his career 493 homers with the club from 1986-90.

Other noteworthy players to don each teamâ€s uniform include infielder Jeff Kent, pitcher David Price, outfielder Shawn Green, pitcher Dave Stewart, infielder Justin Turner, outfielder Raul Mondesi, outfielder Curtis Granderson, catcher Russell Martin, pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu and pitcher David Wells.

What are the keys to this matchup?

1. How will the Blue Jays contain Ohtaniâ€s two-way dominance?

Shohei Ohtani struggled at the plate for most of the NLDS and NLCS but he snapped out of it in a big way in Game 4 of the LCS, becoming the 12th player with three home runs in a postseason game. Ohtani started the bottom of the first inning with a bang, crushing a 446-foot leadoff home run. Ohtani was hardly done, as he one-upped himself with a 469-foot homer in the fourth inning that left Dodger Stadium and a third homer (427 feet) in the seventh inning.

Oh, and Ohtani was also the starting pitcher in the same game, striking out 10 batters across six scoreless innings. It was, no hyperbole, one of the best (maybe the best) individual games weâ€ve ever seen. If Ohtaniâ€s crushing baseballs again at the plate and dominating on the mound like he has been for months, the Dodgers are going to be awfully tough to beat in the Fall Classic.

2. Can the Dodgers cool off Vlad Jr.?

The Dodgers†pitching this postseason has been spectacular — more on that in a minute. But it hasnâ€t really mattered who is on the mound when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in the batterâ€s box; he has been on everything thrown his way. In 11 games, Guerrero is slashing .442/.510/.930 with six home runs and 12 RBIs this postseason and earned ALCS MVP honors.

The face of the Blue Jays†franchise is in the middle of a truly special playoff performance. Limiting the damage that Vlad Jr. does at the plate will be priority No. 1 for Los Angeles†mound men.

3. Can Toronto put runs up against the Dodgers’ rotation?

The Dodgers’ rotation has been dynamic since their Wild Card Series matchup against the Reds. In 10 starts, Dodgers starters have a 1.40 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings, averaging over six innings per start with more than a strikeout per inning. There has been consistent production from their starters and also some of the best postseason starts in recent memory.

In Game 1 of the NLCS against the Brewers, Blake Snell faced the minimum in eight scoreless innings, allowing a lone hit, striking out 10 batters and walking none. The next night, Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed a complete game while allowing just one run to give the Dodgers a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. And in Game 4, Ohtani struck out 10 batters in six scoreless innings.

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