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TORONTO — Thirty-two years of frustration and failure, of disappointment and self-loathing, of trauma worn as a badge of honor, burst in magnificent fashion Friday night. The sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series was an exorcism. Toronto, one of the world’s great metropolises, a city that has loved its baseball team through decades of it not loving back, screamed and bellowed and remembered what championship baseball looked like. And the Toronto Blue Jays, architects of an 11-4 devastation of the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers, did more than just author one of the greatest offensive innings in World Series history.

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They showed the world what they were already certain of coming into the 121st World Series: They are no pushovers.

“We’ve had a genuine feeling for a long time that if we just played a certain brand of baseball, that we then will win the game,” Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt said, and he’s right. In an era of copious strikeouts, the Blue Jays don’t. In a time of shoddy defense, the Blue Jays play clean. And even against a juggernaut like the Dodgers, a team full of late bloomers and second chancers can look like a dominant force.

Nothing personified that like the bottom of the sixth. It was one of the great half-innings in World Series history, a nine-run frenzy filled with everything the Blue Jays’ offense does well. Toronto entered the series with by far the best offense in Major League Baseball this postseason, scoring 6½ runs a game, nearly two more than the Dodgers. The sixth illustrated how.

Starting with a six-pitch walk, adding a single, drawing a hit-by-pitch on the ninth pitch of the at-bat and chasing two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell set the tone. A single scored the first run and gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 advantage. A nine-pitch walk scored another run and a single added one more. And after a tapper to the mound drew the first out on a force play at home, Blue Jays manager John Schneider called on his third pinch hitter of the inning, Addison Barger.

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The past week has been hectic for Barger. On Monday night, the Blue Jays ousted the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to clinch the pennant. Barger said the next morning, he flew to meet his wife at the hospital for the birth of their third child. A day later, he flew back to Toronto for the Blue Jays’ workout — but didn’t have anywhere to stay.

“They set up a place, but I was like, for a few days, I’m not paying for a hotel room,” Barger said. “I know that sounds crazy, but I’m just trying to save a buck.”

So after crashing on the couch of Blue Jays outfielder Myles Straw for a couple of days, Barger spent Friday night with teammate Davis Schneider, sleeping on a pullout couch in the living room of the hotel suite that overlooks Rogers Centre from center field. Barger wasn’t exactly comfortable — Schneider said he heard squeaks from the bed as Barger tried to find peace — but it didn’t impede him from unleashing the biggest hit of his young career.

On a 2-2 slider from reliever Anthony Banda, Barger rocketed a ball over the center-field wall for the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, unleashing chaos inside the domed stadium, where primal screams bounced off the roof and reverberated to create a tsunami of sound.

The Blue Jays’ expertise in this style is nothing new — they won the most games in the AL this season precisely because they’re so adept at grinding at-bats like sandpaper to pitchers’ souls — but to see it on this stage, against a Dodgers team that limited Milwaukee to four runs in the National League Championship Series, hammered home that Toronto will not be just another layover on Los Angeles’ path to back-to-back championships.

The deluge continued. A Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single. Another home run, from catcher Alejandro Kirk, who went 3-for-3 and had drawn a nine-pitch walk in the first, when the Blue Jays made Snell throw 29 pitches and forecast his early exit. All told, Toronto saw 44 pitches, scored nine runs — the third most in a World Series inning and the most since 1968 — and turned a 2-2 nailbiter into an 11-2 stomping.

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This is who the Blue Jays are. They’ve got a superstar (Guerrero) and a veteran of playoff wars (George Springer) and a returning All-Star (Bo Bichette, who played for the first time since Sept. 6, at a position, second base, that he hadn’t played since he was in Triple-A six years ago). The rest of their lineup is stocked with players who have bought into Toronto’s philosophy that as long as the Blue Jays don’t beat themselves, they’re good enough to outlast anybody — even a team as talented as the Dodgers.

“If we don’t strike out and we don’t give outs away and we essentially don’t beat ourselves and don’t give up home runs, we’re going to win the game,” Bassitt said. “It’s not about facing any team. It’s just the belief in our team that no matter who we play, this brand can win.”

It’s the kind of brand that has made the city fall in love with the Jays again. Toronto knows baseball heartbreak. After consecutive championships in 1992 and 1993, the Blue Jays fell into a pattern of perpetual mediocrity. Even when they were good in the mid-2010s, they fell short in the ALCS. Their previous three postseason berths ended in wild-card series sweeps. They tried to get Shohei Ohtani in free agency. He went to the Dodgers. They tried to get Juan Soto in free agency. He went to the New York Mets. The Blue Jays, snakebitten for decades, entered 2025 with little hope for a turnaround.

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Baseball is funny that way, though. Sometimes, a team coalesces around an idea, and that idea turns into an ethos, and that ethos fuels a revolution. And the Dodgers are so good that all of this joy, this wellspring of emotion and excitement, could be short-lived. Maybe this was the apex of a season that was great, just not great enough.

Or perhaps the 44,353 at Rogers Centre were onto something when, with two outs in the ninth and Ohtani at the plate, a chant started to percolate through the stadium.

“We don’t need you,” Blue Jays fans said to the best player in the world. They didn’t need him this season. They didn’t need him Friday. They didn’t need him going forward.

It was hubristic, but that’s understandable. For the past 32 years, Toronto hasn’t experienced a night like this. The Blue Jays have had moments, sure. The Jose Bautista bat flip. The Edwin Encarnacion home run. All of it, ultimately, for naught. This time, though? With this team of true believers? In a city that’s living a dream?

The rest of the World Series will provide the answer. On this night, however, it was true. The Toronto Blue Jays needed only themselves. And they were plenty.

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2025 Team:New York Yankees

2025 Stats: 143 G, 581 PA, 34 HR, 3 SB, .235 AVG, .348 OBP, .464 SLG

As good as Trent Grisham was this year, there’s only so much anyone can stand out when sharing a lineup with Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Simply on that account, he stands to raise his profile by leaving the Yankees this winter. And while you would think it would be a bad move given how well his offensive approach — i.e., few swings but lots of pulled fly balls — profiles at Yankee Stadium, there’s a twist.

Whereas Grisham had a .904 OPS and 21 homers on the road this season, he only had a .702 OPS and 13 homers at home. It’s totally counterintuitive, though it’s possible that the short right-field porch got in his head a little.

Grisham was indeed a little too pull-happy at Yankee Stadium, whereas he used more of the whole field on the road and benefited accordingly. As such, he may fit better at a home park that is also power-friendly, but in a more neutral way.

Best Fit: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have to switch things up with their roster, and they would do well to start with an outfield that produced only 2.1 rWAR this year. With Harrison Bader looking at free agency and Nick Castellanos likely on the outs, they certainly have a window to do so.

Grisham would fit nicely in center field in Philadelphia, and Citizens Bank Park needs no introduction as a hitter’s haven. For lefties in particular, it’s the best home run park in the league.

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12 Honorable Mentions

1 of 11

Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves
Will turn 31 shortly after reaching free agency after 2028 season

Atlanta locked Acuña in long ago on an eight-year deal with club options to extend it to a full decade. He won’t be available again until after his age-30 campaign. But if he has a mostly clean bill of health for the next three years, it’s not outlandish to think he could sign another eight-year deal at north of $30 million apiece.

Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox
Will be 30 when he reaches free agency after 2034 season

See: Ronald Acuña Jr. Boston bought out Anthony’s 20s on a big extension shortly after his arrival in the big leagues, but it’s plausible he could get a second, even bigger contract if he ends up making this one look like a laughably team-friendly deal over the course of the next decade.

Riley Greene, OF, Detroit Tigers
Will have just turned 28 upon reaching free agency after 2028 season

Greene has slowly but surely blossomed into a real star, going for 36 home runs and 111 RBI during an age-24 campaign in which he was healthy enough to play in darn near every game. The AL-high 201 strikeouts stands out as a concern, but Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani and Cal Raleigh all landed in the 187-197 range without anyone much caring. If he stays healthy and continues to mash, he could become a quarter-billionaire in a few years’ time.

Jackson Holliday, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Will turn 27 shortly after reaching free agency after 2030 season

Holliday has yet to live up to the hype of being the unanimous best prospect in baseball heading into the 2024 campaign, but let’s remember he also couldn’t legally drink a Natty Boh 11 months ago and has five years left to figure things out before reaching free agency at what will still be an uncommonly young age. We’ll see if he gets there, though. If the O’s are savvy, they’ll try to “buy low” on his modest start with something like an eight-year, $150 million extension this winter. Even if that happens, though, he’d still only be 30 when the time comes for that second contract.

Munetaka Murakami, 3B, Yakult Swallows
Turns 26 in February, expected to be posted this winter

We’ll find out soon enough if anyone is willing to go as high as $250 million for a player who strikes out quite a bit and is generally regarded as a defensive liability. But Murakami is 100 days younger than Juan Soto was one year ago, and opportunities to sign young sluggers simply don’t grow on trees. The bidding war here could get wild.

The ‘Shortstops Always Get Paid’ Tier

CJ Abrams, SS, Washington Nationals
Will turn 28 just before reaching free agency in three years

Zach Neto, SS, Los Angeles Angels
Turns 29 a few months after hitting free agency following 2029 campaign

Jeremy Peña, SS, Houston Astros
Will turn 30 just before reaching free agency in two years

Masyn Winn, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
Will be 27 when he hits free agency after 2029

Of the 18 players currently on contracts of greater than $275 million, six are shortstops: Bobby Witt Jr., Francisco Lindor, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Corey Seager and Mookie Betts. (Yes, Betts was a RF when he signed his $365 million deal, but that just means he swaps spots with current RF Fernando Tatis Jr., who was a SS when he signed his $340 million contract.)

Of this quartet of fringe candidates for $250 million, Peña would be the likeliest candidate if he wasn’t the eldest statesmen. Even so, Turner was 29 when he signed his $300 million contract, while Bogaerts was already 30 when he got $280 million, so never say never.

Abrams is probably too much of a defensive liability to make the grade here, but after three consecutive seasons with at least 18 home runs and 31 stolen bases, a similar three-year run to free agency could net him a whole lot of money.

The ‘Sometimes Aces Get Megadeals’ Tier

Hunter Brown, RHP, Houston Astros
Will be 30 when he reaches free agency after 2028 campaign

MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals
Turns 29 a few months after hitting free agency following 2027 season

Eury Pérez, RHP, Miami Marlins
Will be 26 when he hits free agency after 2029

The two pitchers who are going to be named the 2025 Cy Young winners in the coming weeks will appear in the top 10 as just about guaranteed candidates to join Gerrit Cole and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in MLB’s club of extremely well-compensated pitchers. But here are three others who figure to be headed for nine-figure deals when they reach free agency.

The fun side of Pérez making his MLB debut at just 20 years old is that his age-27 seasons and beyond will be up for grabs in free agency. He had a few duds in his return from Tommy John surgery this season, but he also ended the year by striking out 26 of his final 55 batters faced and will have four more years to build his value.

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This is a one-stop shop for the latest news and rumors surrounding potential manager/GM changes and candidates around MLB.

TEAMS WITH MANAGERIAL VACANCIES

Teams listed in order of their most recent update.

Previous manager: Rocco Baldelli

What happened: A season that began with playoff hopes gave way to a 70-win campaign — the franchise’s fewest in a non-shortened season since 2016 — and a Deadline sell-off. That led to the club dismissing Baldelli after seven seasons in charge.

Latest: According to Dan Hayes and Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic (subscription required), the Twins have narrowed their managerial search to four candidates: Yankees hitting coach James Rowson, former Pirates manager Derek Shelton, former Mariners manager Scott Servais and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty.

The Twins began holding interviews for the job last week, and sources told MLB.com that Rowson — as well as Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez — was granted permission to interview. Rowson served as Minnesota’s hitting coach from 2017-19. Royals third-base coach Vance Wilson, a former MLB catcher, is also a candidate for the job, a source told MLB.com’s Anne Rogers.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman had previously noted the Twins’ interest in Servais, who had a 680-642 (.514) record in nine seasons with the Mariners before being dismissed during the 2024 season. Shelton, the bench coach on Minnesota’s 2018 and 2019 teams, took over as Pittsburgh’s skipper in 2020 before being dismissed in May. He owns a 306-440 (.410) record as a manager.

Other reported candidates are Torii Hunter, who currently works in the Angels front office, and Padres coach Nick Punto. Both have connections to the Twins: Hunter was a fan favorite in Minnesota who played 12 seasons and won seven Gold Gloves with the franchise, while Punto was a Twins infielder from 2004-10. (Oct. 24)

Previous manager: Mike Shildt

What happened: The Padres announced on Oct. 13 that Shildt was retiring from his position as the teamâ€s manager. The Padres went 183-141 in his two years at the helm in San Diego, making the postseason in both seasons, but they lost to the Dodgers in the 2024 NLDS and the Cubs in the â€25 NL Wild Card Series. He still had two years left on the contract extension he signed in November 2024.

Latest: Albert Pujols has drawn interest from the team to be the next skipper, according to multiple reports, including from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required). Heyman previously reported that bench coach Ryan Flaherty “is a favorite” for the job. Flaherty was in consideration for the role before the club hired Shildt two years ago. Per Heyman, Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley is another external candidate. Internal possibilities include A.J. Ellis, a former catcher and current special assistant to general manager A.J. Preller, bench coach Brian Esposito, pitching coach Ruben Niebla, and Mark Loretta, a former Padres infielder who is a special assistant to team CEO Erik Greupner. (Oct. 22).

Previous manager: Brandon Hyde (Tony Mansolino interim)

What happened: Amid a 15-28 start to the ’25 season, the Orioles relieved Hyde of his duties after he managed the team for parts of seven seasons, overseeing a drastic rebuild. Mansolino — the team’s third-base coach since 2021 — guided Baltimore to a 60-59 record the rest of the season as the interim skipper.

Latest: Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty is believed to be “among the favorites” for the job, reports MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required), but Baltimore has not ruled out a return for Mansolino. The Orioles have also expressed interest in likely future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols to become their next manager, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. They are also interested in former Mariners manager Scott Servais, per Heyman. (Oct. 20)

Previous manager: Brian Snitker

What happened: Snitker informed the Braves that he was not pursuing a new contract to extend his managerial career into the 2026 season. He will step into an advisory role with the team. Next year will mark his 50th straight season with the organization. During Snitkerâ€s managerial tenure, the club made seven straight playoff appearances from 2018-24 — including six consecutive division titles — and won a World Series championship in â€21. The Braves have had only three managers since 1991: Hall of Famer Bobby Cox, Fredi Gonzalez and Snitker.

Latest: David Ross, Mark DeRosa, Walt Weiss and Eddie Perez are among the former Braves players who have interest in the vacancy, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. But thereâ€s a chance Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will choose a manager without any previous ties to the organization. (Oct. 8)

Previous manager: Bud Black (Warren Schaeffer interim)

What happened: After starting the year 7-33 — one of the worst 40-game starts in Major League history — the Rockies opted to move on from Black, a veteran skipper in his ninth season as the team’s manager. With third base coach Warren Schaeffer serving as the interim manager, Colorado went 36-86 across their final 122 games.

Previous manager: Dave Martinez (Miguel Cairo interim)

What happened: With the Nationals in the midst of their sixth straight losing season following their World Series title in 2019, the club parted ways with Martinez, as well as former general manager and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo, on July 6. Cairo led the Nats to a 29-43 record as the interim skipper.

Latest: The Nationals have hired Paul Toboni, who most recently had served as the Red Sox senior vice president and assistant general manager, to run their baseball operations. Among Toboniâ€s first orders of business with the Nationals? Deciding on the club’s next manager. Toboni described previous Major League managerial experience as “one variable to consider, but it’s definitely not everything.†(Oct. 1)

TEAMS WITH LEAD BASEBALL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE VACANCIES

Previous GM: Bill Schmidt

What happened: Schmidt stepped down from his role as Rockies general manager on Oct. 1, following a season in which the Rockies lost 119 games — tied for the third most in the Modern Era (since 1900). Previously the teamâ€s vice president of scouting, Schmidt took over as Coloradoâ€s GM on an interim basis after Jeff Bridich resigned during the 2021 campaign. He was officially named GM on Oct. 2 of that year. The Rockies lost at least 94 games in each of Schmidtâ€s four full seasons at the helm, including the first three 100-loss seasons in franchise history from 2023-25. Executive Vice President Walker Monfort said in a statement that the Rockies are “setting our sights on finding the right leader from outside our organization who can bring a fresh perspective to the Rockies and enhance our baseball operations with a new vision, innovation and a focus on both short- and long-term success.”

Whomever gets this job will be tasked with steering the club through a rebuild that has no end in sight. Building a sustainable winner in Colorado has proven to be a difficult endeavor — the Rockies have made just five postseason appearances in 33 seasons, all as a Wild Card team, and own the third-worst winning percentage (.456) in baseball since their inaugural campaign in 1993. Coloradoâ€s thin air has made it especially challenging to find reliable pitching — the franchise has an MLB-worst 5.05 ERA in that same timeframe. The team has endured seven straight losing seasons since its last playoff berth in 2018.

Latest: The Rockies are narrowing their list for who will be their next head of baseball operations. D-backs assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye and Guardians assistant general manager Matt Forman are two of the finalists for the job, according to a report from The Athletic (subscription required). It’s unknown if other finalists exist. The Athletic previously reported that the club held interviews with Forman as well as Royals assistant general manager Scott Sharp and Blue Jays vice president of baseball strategy (and former Astros GM) James Click. But Sharp and Click are no longer being considered, per this latest report. (Oct. 22)

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Zach Lutz (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

In the high school class of 2004, there was perhaps no recruiting battle more intriguing than the one over Governor Mifflin Senior High School (Pa.) third baseman Zach Lutz.

In one corner stood prominent Division I programs, each with an elite reputation, state-of-the-art facilities and yearly Omaha aspirations. In the other corner stood Division III Alvernia College (now Alvernia University). The Crusaders (now Golden Wolves) had finished the 2004 season with a respectable 27-17 record, but, more importantly, they were coached by Zachâ€s father, Yogi.

“Coming out of high school, I had some interest from the University of South Carolina, from Notre Dame, from Stanford,†Lutz said. “But for me, my mind was always set on going to play for my dad. Thatâ€s what I had my trust in—he knew my swing better than anybody.â€

Lutz chose Alvernia, and as a freshman, he teamed with fellow future big leaguer Anthony Recker to lead the Crusaders to a 41-6 record. He earned two-way All-America honors, hitting .423 and carrying a 9-0 record and 3.32 ERA on the mound during his standout freshman season.

That .423 average would end up being the worst Lutz ever hit at Alvernia. He posted a .464 average as a sophomore, then “slipped” to .454 as a junior while adding 12 home runs and earning NCAA Division III Player of the Year honors. Lutzâ€s standout years of production at the plate and strong frame caught the eye of the professional ranks, and the Mets made him their fifth-round selection in the 2007 MLB Draft.

Lutz had never struggled at Alvernia. Truthfully, he hadnâ€t even experienced moments of mediocrity. As such, the jump in competition from Alvernia was apparent from the get-go at his first Mets minicamp in Port St. Lucie after signing.

“I faced some Latin kid, and he was throwing 98 mph,” Lutz said. “And afterwards, I called my dad and said, ‘Dad Iâ€ve got no shot.’ I couldnâ€t even see it.â€

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Coach Lutz calmed his son. And while he was able to quickly correct his mindset and assert himself at the plate, his main problem was not being up there nearly as much as heâ€d like.

“Most of my career was derailed by injuries,” Lutz said. “A lot of freak injuries.”

Lutz broke a bone in his foot in his first professional game, resulting in six screws in his foot. Unfortunately, it served as a sign of things to come. In his minor league career, Lutz suffered multiple concussions, injuries to his hamstring and ankle and a broken ring finger via an errant foul ball hit into the dugout.

When he could find his way on the field, however, Lutz raked. He slashed .292/.384/.544 with 29 homers in 127 games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels from 2010 to 2011. Ultimately, Lutz proved he could handle pitching in the high minors, but finding the opportunity to prove that at the big league level was more of a challenge.

“For me, especially with the Mets, I had David Wright in front of me at third base, I had Lucas Duda and Ike Davis over at first base,†Lutz said. “I knew I just needed to swing the bat. If I swung the bat, they were going to find a spot for me. And whenever I was on the field, I always hit.â€

After years of injury trouble, Lutz finally got the call to New York to fill the roster spot of an injured Jason Bay in 2012. Heâ€d appear in 22 games for the Mets from 2012-2013, struggling to break through their crowded corner infield situation.

Lutz spent the latter half of his career searching for an opportunity to hit, playing in both Japan and Korea while also fighting his injury history. He retired following the 2017 season, still able to hit, but unable to keep up with the physical day-in, day-out demands of professional baseball.

On the surface, Lutz spurning the higher ranks of college baseball for Alvernia seems like a peculiar decision. But his professional on-field results and big league service gave Lutz the satisfaction that he was built for his unique journey.

“You get drafted out of a Division III school and thrown into pro ball, itâ€s a completely different world,” Lutz said. “Youâ€ve gotta be mentally tough to get through that, and thatâ€s how it was.”

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With the offseason rapidly approaching, Baseball America is busy diving deep into National League organizations to build out team-by-team prospect lists for the 2026 Prospect Handbook (preorder yours here) and beyond.

As part of the prospect ranking and report process, a number of up-and-coming players have stuck out as potential breakout candidates heading into next season. Each has showcased skills that could land them in the major leagues or send them climbing further up prospect lists.

Below, you’ll find one breakout candidate for each NL team to keep an eye on in 2026.

Arizona Diamondbacks

David Hagaman, RHP

The Diamondbacks acquired Hagaman from the Rangers at the deadline in the Merrill Kelly trade. The 22-year-old had internal brace surgery prior to the 2024 draft and didnâ€t return to the mound until June.

After a trio of starts with the Rangers’ complex league affiliate, Hagaman made the jump to Low-A Hickory. There, he made five starts, striking out 16 over 15.1 innings and posting a 2.66 FIP. Post trade, the D-backs assigned Hagaman directly to High-A Hillsboro, where he took a big step forward after the team had him increase his curveball usage. Over 20 innings with Hillsboro, he struck out 27 batters to four walks while posting a 3.15 ERA.

Hagaman features just average fastball velocity—sitting 93-95 mph and touching 98 at peak—but the pitch features above-average ride and armside run. It misses an average amount of bats, but is commanded well and sets up a trio of good secondaries in mid-80s gyro slider, mid-80s changeup and a low-to-mid-80s curveball with a serious two-plane break. All of Hagaman’s secondaries boast plus whiff and chase rates with high zone rates.

Hagaman shows a good balance of stuff, arsenal depth and command, and it gives him a midrotation starter projection.

Atlanta Braves

Diego Tornes, OF

The Braves signed the switch-hitting Tornes for a $2.5 million bonus in January 2025, and the top Cuban player on the market looks to be a sound investment so far.

Tornes made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2025, hitting .279/.395/.402 over 32 games. While he didnâ€t hit any home runs, he has plus bat speed, and his underlying data suggests there’s more power coming. With a 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.4 mph and a 88.1 mph average EV at just 17 years old, Tornes is showing plus raw power in games already. Thereâ€s some swing-and-miss with a 21.2% in-zone whiff rate, but he shows at least average swing decisions at present with fairly good launch angles.

Tornes currently is manning center field, but opinions are split on whether heâ€ll stick there long term. He boasts a plus—possibly plus-plus—arm that will fit well in a corner outfield spot should he move.

Overall, Tornes is an exciting talent likely to make his stateside debut in 2026.

Chicago Cubs

Ethan Conrad, OF

The Cubs’ 2025 first-round pick may prove to be a steal at pick No. 17.

Conrad was one of the top names in the 2024 college transfer portal, and he transferred to Wake Forest after two seasons at mid-major Marist. A shoulder injury requiring season-ending surgery limited him to just 21 games with the Demon Deacons last year, however. Over those 21 games, Conrad was explosive, showing his stints in the Cape Cod League and at Marist were no mirage.

Conrad has strong bat-to-ball skills with potential for above-average power. He played center field at Wake Forest but could move to the corner outfield long term. Conrad is an above-average runner and a good athlete with a strong 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame.

If Conrad can return to full health, thereâ€s potential for a big 2026 season. The 21-year-old combines an above-average hit tool with above-average power, making for talented all-around player who could play his way into the Top 100 Prospects list conversation early next year.

Cincinnati Reds

Jose Franco, RHP

Signed out of the Dominican Republic in October 2018, Franco has had a long road to this point, as heâ€s spent seven seasons in the Reds organization. It took some time for Franco to gel, but in 2025, he received his first taste of the upper minors and enjoyed the best results of his career. Over a career-high 110 innings split evenly between Double-A and Triple-A, he pitched to a 3.11 ERA with a 25.2% strikeout rate and 11.5% walk rate.

While Franco doesnâ€t have outstanding stuff, he features a sneaky above-average arsenal. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with good plane and a solid combination of total movement. It grades out as a plus pitch on Stuff+ models, and he showed strong command of the pitch over the course of the season. Francoâ€s primary secondary is a mid-80s gyro slider that generates a high rate of whiffs and chase swings. His changeup is used almost exclusively against lefties, and itâ€s a below-average pitch.

Franco will likely fit into a swingman role for the Reds as soon as next season, offering value in a variety of roles.

Colorado Rockies

Roldy Brito, 2B/OF

Brito signed with the Rockies in January 2024 out of the Dominican Republic, and after a pedestrian professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2024, he came stateside in 2025 and hit .368/.445/.555 over 51 games with three home runs and 22 stolen bases. He then made the jump to Low-A, hitting .375/.442/.463 over 33 games and finishing the season on a high note. Brito will likely return to Fresno to begin 2026, but he could be a quick study and up in High-A Spokane within the first few months.

Brito shows above-average bat-to-ball skills and power with the ability to consistently find the barrel. There are some red flags in Britoâ€s profile, however, including subpar angles and a swing-happy approach prone to expanding the zone. Despite this, Brito had very good expected outcomes this season due to his combination of contact and power.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Charles Davalan, OF

A standout in his lone season at Arkansas, Davalan hit .346/.433/.561 with 14 home runs last year before being selected in the supplemental first round by the Dodgers. He got a quick taste of professional ball over eight games with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga and performed extremely well, going a jaw-dropping 17-for-34 with three doubles, a triple and a home run. While it was a small sample, Davalan will likely make the jump to High-A to begin 2026 and could move to Double-A Tulsa quickly.

Davalan blends plus bat-to-ball skills, average power and a knack for finding the barrel. It culminates in good in-game results and power numbers better than his raw exit velocities would otherwise suggest.

Davalan is a likely candidate to be the next breakout Dodgers hitting prospect.

Miami Marlins

Karson Milbrandt, RHP

Itâ€s taken a few seasons for Milbrandt to turn a corner, but heâ€s now showing all the ingredients of a potential breakout in 2026 as he mows down hitters in the Arizona Fall League.

Milbrandt enjoyed a career-best season in 2025 with High-A Beloit, as he struck out 101 batters and pitched to a 3.26 ERA over 19 starts spanning 77.1 innings. He then made the jump to Double-A Pensacola, making two starts for the Blue Wahoos.

Milbrandt brings good stuff to the table with an above-average fastball that sits 94-96 mph and features above-average ride and run. He mixes three different breaking ball shapes in an upper-80s cut-slider, mid-80s sweeper and low-80s curveball.

Milbrandt has all the necessary pieces to establish himself as a top pitching prospect, Now, it’s simply a matter of throwing enough strikes.

Milwaukee Brewers

Marco Dinges, C

Drafted out of Florida State in the fourth round in 2024, Dinges is talented hitting catcher with an outside shot to stick behind the plate long term.

Dinges put himself on the prospect radar this season with a strong performance across Low-A and High-A, hitting a combined .300/.416/.514 with 13 home runs over 77 games. There is some swing-and-miss in his game, as he ran a 21% in-zone whiff rate this season and could see that number climb when he reaches the upper minors.

Despite the hit tools concerns, Dinges shows plus game power with an encouraging blend of plus exit velocity data and good launch angles. His 107.2 mph 90th percentile EV places him among the top 95% of hitters in the minor leagues.

As an above-average hitting catcher, if Dinges can replicate his 2025 production next season at Double-A or higher, he could jump into Top 100 conversations.

New York Mets

Jacob Reimer, 3B

It took a few years for Reimer to find his sea legs as a professional after being a fourth-round pick back in 2022 out of Yucaipa (Calif.) High School. The good news for Reimer is he took a massive step forward in 2025, hitting .282/.379/.491 with 17 home runs between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.

While there are some questions about whether he sticks at third base long term, if Reimer has to move off the position, his bat is enough to carry him at first base, as he combines one of the better blends of bat-to-ball ability and power. In 2025, he ran a 15.3% in-zone whiff rate with strong swing decision metrics and a 105.3 mph 90th percentile exit velocity. He doesn’t just show power and plate skills, either, as he has the optimized angles to allow him to put his best-struck drives in the air and shows the ability to hit for pullside power with regularity.

From a data-based perspective, Reimer is one of the best emerging power hitters in the minor leagues. Still not Rule 5-eligible for another season, Reimer could hit his way onto the Mets’ active roster by the end of 2026.

Philadelphia Phillies

Gage Wood, RHP

The Phillies’ 2025 first-round pick, Wood enjoyed an outstanding junior season at Arkansas in which he made 10 starts after coming back from shoulder injury early and dominating down the stretch. Over 37.2 innings with the Razorbacks last year, he struck out 46% of opposing batters against a 4.7% walk rate. Wood then tossed a complete game no-hitter in the College World Series, striking out 19 Murray State batters in an all-time performance.

Wood mixes a four-seam fastball, curveball, cutter and splitter, with his fastball and curveball seeing the majority of usage in 2025. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and touches 98 at peak with above-average ride from a lower release height to create an outlier plane of approach to the plate. His curveball plays off his fastball at the top of the zone, changing eye levels at 83-85 mph and showing dynamic two-plane movement. The cutter and changeup see very little usage presently, but with slight improvement, they could deepen Woodâ€s plan of attack against opposing hitters.

Wood has the stuff to make a big jump as a professional in 2026 and could even potentially see some innings with the Phillies by the end of next year.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Esmerlyn Valdez, OF

The 2025 season has been a good one for Valdez.

During the regular season, the 21-year-old outfielder slugged 26 home runs between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona, slashing .286/.376/.520 over 123 games. The Pirates then sent Valdez to the Arizona Fall League, where his easy plus power has been on full display. Over 11 games with Salt River, Valdez leads the AFL by a wide margin with eight home runs in 29 at-bats.

Valdez combines plus raw power with excellent launch angles. Despite below-average bat-to-ball skills, he’s able to consistently tap into his power, as evidenced by a 107.8 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and 14.8 degree hard-hit launch angle. While thereâ€s some red flags in Valdezâ€s contact data, his plus power hitting ability could be enough to overcome that, as he runs high barrel rates with the ability to consistently hit the ball in the air to his pull side.

Likely a slam dunk addition to the Pirates’ 40-man roster this offseason, Valdez could debut in Pittsburgh at some point in 2026.

San Diego Padres

Jorge Quintana, SS

An under-the-radar trade acquisition by the Padres, it looks like Quintana could end up a steal.

The Brewers signed the switch-hitting Quintana in 2024 for $1.7 million out of Venezuela. He put up solid but unspectacular numbers this season, slashing .264/.349/.403 over 50 complex league games, before struggling post-trade over 25 games with Low-A Lake Elsinore.

Under the hood, Quintana shows a collection of good traits, including above-average bat-to-ball skills and strong swing decision data. He posted a 17.8% in-zone whiff rate this year and also showed above-average raw power for his age and level with a 104.1 mph 90th percentile exit velocity.

Quintanaâ€s biggest red flags are his flatter angles on contact, which sap some of his in-game raw power. However, this is an area the Padres can help Quintana improve, and additional positive launch angles could lead to a true breakout down the line.

San Francisco Giants

Trevor Cohen, OF

After three seasons with Rutgers, Cohen went to the Giants in the third round of the 2025 draft for $847,500. He debuted following the draft and registers one of the most impressive post-draft performances of any player in the 2025 class. Over 28 games with Low-A San Jose, Cohen hit .327/.438/.402 with more walks than strikeouts as he overwhelmed opposing pitchers.

Metrics-wise, Cohen exemplified strong plate skills with a 9.2% in-zone whiff rate in his debut to go along with a 23.8% chase rate and .373 xwOBA. His power is just fringy with a 102.7 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and a solid barrel rate. More of a line drive-hitter, Cohen doesn’t put many hard-hit balls in the air, and his best contact comes in the form of well-placed ground balls. Improving his game power and angles will be a point of emphasis for Cohen going forward.

St. Louis Cardinals

Tanner Franklin, RHP

In addition to drafting one of the best 2025 college talents in Liam Doyle, the Cardinals also boast a great deal of excitement Franklin, who was Doyleâ€s college teammate at Tennessee before going to St. Louis as a supplemental second-round pick.

After he worked primarily as a reliever with Kennesaw State and the Volunteers the past three seasons, the Cardinals plan to develop Franklin as a starter, as he boasts a high-octane pitch mix featuring a four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup and slider. His four-seam fastball sat 95-97 mph this season, touching 101 at peak with good ride from a lower release height. His primary secondary is a hard, low-90s cutter with high spin rates and true cut-fastball shape. He tosses a changeup on a rare occasions, as well as a baby sweeper in the mid 80s, which some designate as a curveball.

With such an electric mix, it seems to be simply a matter of whether Franklin can stick as a starter as a professional. If he does, he could be one of the breakout names of 2026.

Washington Nationals

Jake Bennett, LHP

Presently, Nationals’ farm system is fairly barren when it comes to viable breakout candidates—something that shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who have followed the organization in the minor leagues in recent years. Fortunately, with a front office overhaul currently underway in Washington, many of the Nationals’ players should see improved player development and streamlined organizational processes coming soon.

Bennett, a 6-foot-6 lefthander is the player who may benefit the most from the new changes. The 24-year-old missed all of 2024 after having Tommy John surgery and returned to action in 2025. He made 19 appearances across three levels, finishing the season in Double-A and pitching to a 2.27 ERA. He also showed off his strengths—generating weak contact and throwing consistent strikes—by posting a 47.3% groundball rate and 6.4% walk rate.

Eligible to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason, Bennett is likely in line for some starts with the Nationals in 2026. While he has enjoyed a fair amount of success as a professional, improvements to his pitch mix could pay dividends.

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Justin Lebron (Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)

In this week’s Future Projection, Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo talk about the official news that Tennessee coach Tony Vitello is moving to the majors and discuss some of the strategic managerial lessons that can be learned from this yearâ€s postseason. The two then talk about our October draft update and explore some of the question marks in the 2026 class beyond Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson. The two discuss a handful of their favorite sleeper candidates to move into the first round and then take a listener question about batter handedness.

Time Stamps

• (0:30) Tony Vitello news
• (6:15) Implications for the Giants
• (13:00) Strategic lessons to learn from the ALCS
• (20:00) More thoughts on MLB bullpen management
• (28:00) Draft class talk
• (35:00) Justin Lebron & Tyler Bell
• (39:00) College pitching
• (44:00) High school pitching
• (53:30) Players who have a chance to jump into the first round
• (1:06:00) Valuing lefty hitters and righty hitters

Want more podcasts like this one? Subscribe below!

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Mookie Betts (Photo via Getty Images)

Heading into the 2025 World Series, one thing is clear: Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is the Lord of the Rings among active players.

Betts has starred for three World Series winners—the 2018 Red Sox, 2020 Dodgers and 2024 Dodgers—with a chance to make it four this year if his Dodgers defeat the Blue Jays.

But if Toronto pulls off the World Series upset, then Blue Jays righthander Max Scherzer can match Betts with three rings. He previously won the World Series with the 2019 Nationals and 2023 Rangers.

Betts and Scherzer are both locks for Cooperstown, as is Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman in all likelihood. Freeman has played for two World Series winners—the 2021 Braves and 2024 Dodgers—and could add a third ring this year.

Betts, Freeman and Scherzer arenâ€t the only players vying for another World Series championship. In this post, we count the rings for active players.

We used the following criteria:

• An active player is one who appeared in at least one MLB game in 2025
• A player is credited with a ring if he appears in at least one regular season game for a World Series winner, even if he is injured for the postseason.

This list is populated largely with 2024 Dodgers, with some who also played for the 2020 team.

The two exceptions are Max Scherzer, who is outlined above, and Blue Jays DH George Springer, who won the World Series previously with the 2017 Astros. A Blue Jays win would grant Scherzer his third ring and Springer his second.

The following Dodgers players appeared in a regular season game for the 2020, 2024 and 2025 teams. A win this year would give them three rings.

• Mookie Betts, SS
• Max Muncy, 3B
• Clayton Kershaw, LHP
• Will Smith, C
• Enrique Hernandez, UT
• Blake Treinen, RP
• Chris Taylor, UT (released in May)

The following Dodgers players appeared in a regular season game for the 2024 and 2025 teams. A win this year would give them two rings.

• Shohei Ohtani, DH/RHP
• Freddie Freeman, 1B (also won with 2021 Braves)
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP
• Tyler Glasnow, RHP (did not play in 2024 postseason)
• Andy Pages, OF
• Tommy Edman, 2B
• Alex Vesia, RP
• Ben Casparius, RP
• Anthony Banda, RP
• Miguel Rojas, SS
• Justin Wrobleski, LHP
• Michael Kopech, RP (not on postseason roster)
• Edgardo Henriquez, RP (not on postseason roster)
• Bobby Miller, RHP (not on postseason roster)
• Landon Knack, RHP (not on postseason roster)

Note: RHP Tony Gonsolin appeared for the 2020 and 2025 Dodgers, while OF Teoscar Hernandez starred for the 2024 Dodgers and also played for the 2017 Astros, though he did not appear in the postseason for the World Series winners.

Five of the players on the list below played for the World Series-champion 2017 and 2022 Astros: Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yuli Gurriel, Lance McCullers Jr. and Justin Verlander.

Remember the criteria: At least one MLB game in 2025 and at least one regular season appearance for a team that ultimately won the World Series, whether the player was integral to success or a footnote to a great season.

Scott Alexander, LHP, Giants
2015 Royals, 2020 Dodgers

Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Austin Barnes, C, Dodgers
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Alex Bregman, 3B, Red Sox
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Xander Bogaerts, SS, Padres
2013 Red Sox, 2018 Red Sox

Ryan Brasier, RHP, Cubs
2018 Red Sox, 2024 Dodgers

Walker Buehler, RHP, Phillies
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Red Sox
2016 Cubs, 2023 Rangers

Carl Edwards Jr., RHP, Rangers
2016 Cubs, 2021 Braves

Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Rangers
2018 Red Sox, 2023 Rangers

Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Padres
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Jason Heyward, OF, Padres
2016 Cubs, 2024 Dodgers

Sandy Leon, C, Braves
2018 Red Sox, 2023 Rangers

Gavin Lux, UT, Reds
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Astros
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Charlie Morton, RHP, Tigers
2017 Astros, 2021 Braves

Joc Pederson, OF, Rangers
2020 Dodgers, 2021 Braves

Corey Seager, SS, Rangers
2020 Dodgers, 2023 Rangers

Jorge Soler, OF, Angels
2016 Cubs, 2021 Braves

Hunter Strickland, RHP, Angels
2014 Giants, 2019 Nationals

Christian Vazquez, C, Twins
2018 Red Sox, 2022 Astros

Justin Verlander, RHP, Giants
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

According to this wonderful Baseball-Reference resource, a total of 17 players whose careers transpired entirely in the Wild Card Era, since 1994, have appeared in the World Series for a champion at least three times.

Five Rings

• Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte all starred for the 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009 Yankees championship teams.

Four Rings

• Jorge Posada appeared in the postseason for four Yankees champions but didnâ€t appear in the 1996 postseason. Orlando Hernandez played for the 1998 through 2000 Yankees champions and then the 2005 White Sox.

Three Rings

— This tier is comprised mostly of 2010, 2012 and 2014 Giants players: Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval and relievers Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo.

Mookie Betts is at this tier, as are David Ortiz (2004 Red Sox, 2007 Red Sox, 2013 Red Sox), Jon Lester (2007 Red Sox, 2013 Red Sox, 2016 Cubs) and John Lackey (2002 Angels, 2013 Red Sox, 2016 Cubs).

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Oct 22, 2025, 08:56 PM ET

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is having its most-viewed postseason in the U.S. since 2017 through the League Championship Series.

Viewership is averaging 4.48 million according to MLB and Nielsen, a 13% increase over last year.

Most of the gains are due to the first two rounds. The AL Championship Series on Fox, Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes and streaming averaged 4.99 million viewers across the seven games.

That is even with last year’s ALCS on TNT Sports, where the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Guardians in five games.

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2 Related

Fox and TNT Sports alternate leagues each season.

TNT Sports was hurt by the Los Angeles Dodgers posting a four-game sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers, and Shohei Ohtani’s epic three-homer game and 10-strikeout performance in Game 4 taking place on a Friday night and averaging 3.51 million.

The series averaged 4.7 million, a 17% decline from last year’s six-game series between the New York Mets and Dodgers on Fox.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 averaged 9.03 million, making it the most-watched ALCS game in eight years. The audience peaked at 12.35 million for the ninth inning.

MLB has also seen substantial growth in Canada and Japan.

Toronto’s victory putting it in the World Series for the first time since 1993 averaged 6 million in Canada and was the most-watched Blue Jays game on Sportsnet in Canada.

Ohtani’s outstanding performance in Game 4 averaged 10.26 million viewers in Japan, the second-most watched LCS game in the country’s history. The 16-hour time difference between Tokyo and Los Angeles meant the game was taking place on Saturday morning in Japan.

The NLCS averaged an LCS record 7.34 million in Japan, a 26% increase over last year as fans continue to follow Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki in record numbers.

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• Buster Olney

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  Buster Olney

  ESPN Senior Writer

  • Senior writer ESPN Magazine/ESPN.com
  • Analyst/reporter ESPN television
  • Author of “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty”

• Jesse Rogers

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  Jesse Rogers

  ESPN Staff Writer

  Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.

Oct 23, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

The 2025 World Series is nearly upon us, with the Toronto Blue Jays set to host the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 on Friday night.

Which team has the edge going into the Series? What should you expect from the Dodgers’ pitching staff — and from Toronto’s batters trying to hit L.A.’s aces? And which X factors will determine this October’s last team standing?

ESPN MLB reporters Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers teamed up to ask 19 baseball execs, scouts, managers and coaches to break down what to expect in every aspect of this year’s Fall Classic, starting with predicting the world champions.

Survey says the ______ will win it all:

Los Angeles Dodgers: 18 responses

National League scout: “The Dodgers will ride their starting pitching to another title in five games.”

Current manager:“Dodgers in five. The Dodgers’ starting pitching is just so good right now that it’s going to be tough on anyone.”

Former manager: “David vs. Goliath. I think the Dodgers, only because of the starting pitching depth. Both teams have weaknesses in their bullpens, and the Dodgers get more length out of their starters — or at least they let them go deeper.”

Former manager:“Nobody is beating that Dodger rotation. People can talk all they want about the [financial] disparity, but the Dodgers have done a great job getting those guys ready for this time of year, holding them back, giving them rest during the season.”

NL exec: “I have the Dodgers winning it, but Toronto won’t roll over. It could go six games.”

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Former NL manager: “I just don’t see the Dodgers getting beat. The best shot to beat them was in a shorter series.”

American League coach:“The Dodgers’ depth of pitching is pretty impressive. What will help the Blue Jays is that they don’t punch out, and they’ll have a chance to grind down the starters.”

Current manager:“Because of their starting pitching and the fact that they’re on a heater, I’d go with the Dodgers. They have built enough of a pen to stay competitive late in games. I find it hard to believe they can get beat four times in seven games… It should be interesting to the end, with amazing crowd intensity.”

Toronto Blue Jays: 1 response

AL coach: “The Blue Jays seem to have momentum, if that is even a thing. I’ll take the Jays in six games.”

Current manager:“I think the Jays have a puncher’s chance because of their lineup; the erosion effect is real.”

AL scout:“Toronto has earned the right to be here. Played consistent all year. Then came up big when they needed to in the postseason. New York and Seattle are not pushovers. Of course, neither are the Dodgers. To win, Vlad [Guerrero Jr.] might have to match the entire top of L.A.’s lineup. He’s been the best hitter this postseason.”

Former manager:“It’s not a slam dunk [for the Dodgers], because the Blue Jays have something going with their offense. Too much contact in this age of baseball. If the Blue Jays can wear down the L.A. starters, I think they will pound the Dodgers’ bullpen.”

AL scout: “If Toronto can raise the pitch count of L.A’s starters, they have a chance to score some late-inning runs. I think they’ll do that enough to win a game or two, but I don’t think they can win the Series.”

When the Dodgers are in the field

What to expect from L.A.’s pitchers and defense

NL exec:“That starting pitching performance in the NLCS stands out even more because we are in the day and age of bullpens. It’s interesting how last year, L.A. had to rely on its pen, but this year, it’s their starting staff. [Blake] Snell and those guys are just too good right now. They may not have it as easy against Toronto, so the Dodgers’ bullpen will probably see more action. That’s where they’re vulnerable.”

AL scout: “I loved how [manager Dave] Roberts let his starters go. It paid off. And now, they all got the proper amount of rest. I expect exactly the same in the World Series. There’s still probably some doubt in the bullpen, so why not let those guys go long?”

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Current manager:“Roki [Sasaki] is a big deal for the Dodgers. They’ve got problems if he isn’t effective.”

NL scout: “Mookie [Betts’] improvement at shortstop makes the Dodgers good enough on defense. They’re not as good as the Blue Jays, but it won’t prevent them from winning the Series.”

AL coach: “Andy Pages needs to show up defensively and offensively for the Dodgers, and Will Smith’s play will be important.”

What to expect from Toronto’s hitters

NL exec: “That offense is legit. I mean, people are seeing it now, but they’ve been dangerous all year. They have great balance, from both the left and right side.”

NL scout:“Their lineup is really deep. There was a game, we were up 5-0 in the second, and it’s just one of those things, you just never felt comfortable. It’s that mix of five or six guys at the top, with power and then all the guys at the bottom taking good at-bats. So, it’s a deep lineup with a bunch of power, is what I would say.”

AL coach:“The Blue Jays’ lineup can wear down good pitching, foul balls off, put the balls in play. The Dodger defense is going to get tested.”

Best of the 2025 World Series

We’ve got it all covered as the Dodgers and Blue Jays battle for the title.

World Series preview: Who has edge? »
Ranking best World Series since 2000 »
World Series player rankings, best tools »
Ohtani’s greatness » | Springer’s run »

AL manager: “It’s all about whether the Blue Jays can get the Dodger starters out of the game early and get into that L.A. bullpen, which is the Dodgers’ biggest weakness. If they can’t do that, this could be a short Series.”

AL coach: “I’m going to be really interested to see how the Dodgers deal with Vladdy, because right now, he’s hitting everything in the zone. He’s dominating every quadrant. This is where the star power could work against the Dodgers [starters]; they are stars, and they’re not going to want to back off. And Vladdy is so hot that maybe you should back off in certain situations.”

AL manager: “There’s no way the Dodgers let Vlad beat them. [Alejandro] Kirk and [Addison] Barger will have to perform.”

AL coach:“Barger will need to have some big at-bats for Toronto, because the Dodgers are going to work around Vlad as best they can and there are going to be runners on base.”

Former NL manager: “[Bo] Bichette will be a key, I think, in the Series. I’m guessing he’s going to play and hit behind Vlad. … If he’s hitting behind Guerrero, he’s going to have to protect with Vlad getting pitched around or walked.”

When the Blue Jays are in the field

What to expect from Toronto’s pitchers and defense

AL exec:“One of the things that’s interesting is none of their super-high-leverage guys are left-handed, so I feel like the Dodgers is a lineup that might combat that a little better than Jays might be.”

AL scout: “You could make the argument that the Blue Jays’ bullpen [has] been better lately, and certainly they’ve gone through a lot more. But in a longer series, it’s just the familiarity aspect of facing the same relievers over and over. Toronto has the advantage in the pen there, but who is going to get [Shohei] Ohtani and [Freddie] Freeman out late in the game?”

Former NL manager: “I don’t see the Dodger pitching giving up too many runs, so Toronto will have to hold the Dodger hitters, as well, to give them a chance.”

Best of Blue Jays’ World Series run

Toronto is in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1993. Here are our must-read picks from the Jays’ march through October.

George Springer, a modern Mr. October »
How Vlad Jr., Toronto bet on each other »
Relive Blue Jays’ AlCS Game 7 victory »

AL manager:“If the Jays’ left-handed relievers step up, they win this Series. You have to neutralize Shohei and the other lefties in that lineup.”

AL coach: “[Jeff] Hoffman is a pivotal player in my mind. The Jays will score, but Hoffman will have to close out tight games.”

Current manager: “As always, making every defensive play without granting extra outs along with two-out hitting will play a major role.”

AL scout:“I don’t know how healthy Bichette is, but moving [Andres] Gimenez back to second is huge. He’s been the best second baseman in baseball for a while with the glove. Toronto’s defense is really good, and that makes them even better. Up the middle is solid.”

NL exec: “I think they’re more than solid. I guess they need to make sure they get Bichette back. But getting Isiah Kiner-Falefa [going], they’ve really got good defenders everywhere. Kirk is really good behind the plate. Everyone in the infield can catch the ball and has range, and then the outfielders, they can all throw, they can all go get it. They’re all really good players.”

What to expect from L.A.’s hitters

Former manager:“You can pitch to Shohei, because he’ll expand the zone. But if you throw lefties against him and Mookie and Freddie, then eventually you’ll have to deal with Teo [Hernandez], who mashes lefties, or Will Smith, who mashes lefties.”

NL scout:“It’s like there’s zero easy at-bats at all. It’s kind of like those old Yankees teams where they’re all running up pitch counts. They’re not going to chase, and they have power. And so, you have to come into the zone at some point. And it’s just really hard to get through multiple innings [without scoring] just because they all take good at-bats and then seven or eight can hit the ball out of the park.”

Best of Dodgers’ World Series run

L.A. is attempting to go back-to-back. Here are our must-read picks from the Dodgers’ playoff run.

How Dodgers’ rotation is dominating »
The greatness of Ohtani shines through »
Why Dodgers have looked unbeatable »
Inside Sasaki’s transformation to closer »

Current manager:“Mookie is a key player because he follows Shohei. My guess is [Toronto manager] John Schneider won’t let Shohei beat him.”

NL exec:“I think they play smart baseball and they know themselves. But it’s like Betts is such a good baseball player. There’ll probably be a point where he’s going to take an extra base or get a really good jump on when the infield is in or a passed ball that barely squeaks away. So, they’ve got guys like that — Betts or Will Smith, those types of guys that always just put themselves in the right place to make a smart baseball play.”

The X factors the industry thinks will decide the Series

NL scout: “The thing that jumps out is that the two teams remaining spent lots of money on starting pitching. Starting pitching has been the determining factor in the playoffs.”

AL scout: “I advanced the Blue Jays a couple years ago and questioned a couple of John Schneider’s moves. I wonder if he’ll have any head-scratchers. I saw [Mariners manager] Dan Wilson being criticized. Roberts can ride those starters, so he might have less of those types of decisions.”

AL scout: “Then there’s the overarching theme of just the rest vs. rust. I guess you probably are a little better on paper with rest. But it really comes down to have the Dodgers stayed sharp and have the Blue Jays kind of emptied their clip already?”

AL manager:“It’s one thing to have a day off or two days off. The Dodgers will have almost a week off before they get this started. The Jays could ambush them.”

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