MLB, World Series Jonathan Willcott MLB, World Series Jonathan Willcott

Dodgers Force Game 7 After 3–1 Win in Toronto: Blue Jays Turn to Scherzer for World Series Decider

The Blue Jays missed their chance to clinch at home in Game 6, falling 3 to 1 to the Dodgers at Rogers Centre. Toronto left eight runners stranded and could not cash in on key opportunities despite another strong outing from Kevin Gausman, who struck out eight over six innings. With the series now tied, everything comes down to a winner take all Game 7 tonight in Toronto at 8 pm ET.

TORONTO — The 2025 World Series is headed to a winner-take-all Game 7.

The Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Toronto Blue Jays 3–1 in Game 6 at Rogers Centre on Thursday night, forcing a decisive finale for the championship. Toronto finds itself one win away from its first World Series title in 32 years for the second time in as many nights, while Los Angeles has a chance to complete a comeback and claim the World Series title for the second year in a row.

The difference in Game 6 came down to one inning and one pitching performance.

Los Angeles struck for all three of its runs in the third, capitalizing on a brief window of opportunity against Toronto starter Kevin Gausman. Tommy Edman doubled to start the rally, Will Smith followed with an RBI double, Freddie Freeman drew a walk, and Mookie Betts delivered a two-run single to left. It was all the offense the Dodgers would need.

Toronto responded in the bottom half with an Addison Barger double and a George Springer RBI single, but missed additional chances throughout the night. The Blue Jays left eight runners on base, including a momentum-shifting opportunity in the sixth when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled and Bo Bichette walked, only for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to pitch out of the threat.

Yamamoto was exceptional once again going 6 strong. The Dodgers’ right-hander improved to 4–1 with a 1.56 ERA this postseason, allowing one run and scattering five hits while striking out six. If Los Angeles captures the title tonight, the 27-year-old is firmly in the World Series MVP conversation.

Gausman exited after six innings in what will be his final start of the season, finishing with eight strikeouts, three hits and three earned runs allowed. Toronto’s bullpen kept the game within reach, but the lineup couldn’t generate the late burst that powered its comeback in Game 5.

One moment Blue Jays fans will debate through the winter came in the ninth: an Addison Barger blast to left-center that got lodged where the wall meets the turf for a ground-rule double, preventing what likely would have been a game-tying inside-the-park home run. Toronto ultimately stranded the tying run at second as the championship winning run came to the plate.

With the series now even at 3–3, everything comes down to Game 7, set for 8 PM ET tonight at Rogers Centre.

Max Scherzer is expected to start for Toronto, taking the ball in the biggest outing of his Blue Jays tenure. The Dodgers have not yet named a starter as of Friday morning. Both bullpens are expected to be on high alert, with managers prepared to use every arm necessary in pursuit of a title.

Will we see Los Angeles claim back to back Worle Series titles? Or will Toronto take their first championship 32 years?

Coverage continues from Toronto.

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Blue Jays seize control in 6-1 Game 5 win, return to Toronto with a chance to clinch first title in 32 years

Toronto powered past Los Angeles 6–1 in Game 5 behind rookie Trey Yesavage’s 12-strikeout performance, taking a 3–2 World Series lead and returning home one win away from their first championship in 32 years. Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went back-to-back to open the scoring, and the Jays’ lineup once again delivered from top to bottom. Game 6 goes Friday night at Rogers Centre, with Kevin Gausman facing Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

LOS ANGELES -- The Toronto Blue Jays head home on the brink of history. A 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 gave Toronto a 3-2 lead in the World Series and a chance to clinch its first championship in 32 years tomorrow night at Rogers Centre.

Toronto wasted no time setting the tone at Dodger Stadium. Davis Schneider launched a leadoff home run to left, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed two pitches later with a blast of his own to make it 2-0 before most fans found their seats.

Dodgers starter Blake Snell settled in after that early shock, but rookie Trey Yesavage stole the show. The 22-year-old right-hander was electric, striking out 12 while allowing just three hits and one run over seven innings of work. Yesavage pounded the zone that generated swings and misses all night.

Los Angeles briefly cut the deficit in half when Enrique Hernández homered in the third, but Toronto answered with Daulton Varsho’s triple and Ernie Clement’s sacrifice fly to restore momentum. A four-run seventh sealed it: Addison Barger scored on a wild pitch, Bo Bichette drove in another with a line single to right, as Toronto’s lineup once again delivered from top to bottom.

Seranthony Domínguez handled the eighth inning, and Jeff Hoffman closed it out as Toronto took two straight in Southern California after dropping the 18-inning series opener at Dodger Stadium.

The series shifts north on Friday. Game 6 is set for 8:00 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre, where Kevin Gausman (2-2, 2.55 ERA) will start for Toronto opposite Los Angeles ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 1.57 ERA).

The Blue Jays have outscored the Dodgers 12-3 over the past two contests, their offense showing balance and patience through all nine spots. With momentum on their side and a city ready to erupt, Toronto has a chance on Friday to turn decades of hope into celebration.

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MLB, World Series Jonathan Willcott MLB, World Series Jonathan Willcott

Blue Jays even World Series 2–2 with 6–2 win at Dodger Stadium ahead of pivotal Game 5

Toronto evens the World Series at two games apiece with a 6–2 result at Dodger Stadium. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his seventh career postseason home run to flip the score, and a four-run seventh inning broke it open and sent Shohei Ohtani off the mound. Chris Bassitt handled the late innings and Louis Varland closed it down. Game 5 is tonight in Los Angeles before the series shifts to Toronto.

LOS ANGELES -- Toronto has evened the World Series at two games apiece with a 6–2 win at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, but Toronto answered in the third when Nathan Lukes singled and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a two-run home run to left-center off Shohei Ohtani. It was Guerrero’s seventh career postseason home run, the most in Blue Jays history.

The turning point arrived in the seventh inning. Daulton Varsho singled to right, Ernie Clement doubled to center, and Andrés Giménez drove in a run with a single to left. Ty France grounded out to bring home another run before Bo Bichette and Addison Barger added back-to-back RBI singles to extend the lead to 6–1 and end Ohtani’s outing.

Toronto’s bullpen closed it out cleanly. Chris Bassitt worked two innings in relief, striking out two and allowing one hit with no runs against. In the ninth, Teoscar Hernández walked and Max Muncy doubled to set up a late push. Tommy Edman grounded out to bring one run across, but Enrique Hernández struck out and Alex Call lined out to left to end it.

With the series now level, attention turns to Game 5 tonight in Los Angeles, the final stop before the series shifts to Toronto for Game 6 and, if necessary, Game 7. The scheduled pitching matchup features Yesavage for Toronto against Blake Snell for Los Angeles. Yesavage enters at 2–1 with a 4.26 ERA and 27 strikeouts this postseason, while Snell brings a 3–1 record with a 2.42 ERA and 32 strikeouts.

Toronto will be looking to its balanced offense to continue producing throughout the order after generating scoring from multiple spots in Game 4. Los Angeles will rely on Snell to stabilize the matchup at home before traveling to a hostile environment in Toronto, where road wins are historically harder to secure.

The stakes are direct. The winner of tonight’s meeting will fly to Canada with two chances to clinch a World Series title. The loser will enter Rogers Centre needing to win twice in a building that will not favor visiting teams. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific.

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Major League Baseball, World Series Coverage Jonathan Willcott Major League Baseball, World Series Coverage Jonathan Willcott

Blue Jays vs Dodgers Game 4 Preview: Bieber vs Ohtani After 18-Inning Epic in LA

Eighteen innings in Los Angeles produced a Game 3 that will be remembered for its length and for the swings that kept it alive — Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani struck early, Alejandro Kirk answered with a three-run homer, Ohtani tied it again late, and Freddie Freeman finally ended it in the 18th. Now the series shifts instantly to Game 4, where Shane Bieber starts for Toronto and Shohei Ohtani takes the ball for the Dodgers with a chance to move L.A. within one win of back to back championships.

LOS ANGELES — Eighteen innings in Los Angeles produced one of the longest games in World Series history and gave the Dodgers a 2–1 series lead. Game 3 featured early home runs from Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani, a three-run shot from Alejandro Kirk that flipped the score in the fourth, a late home run from Ohtani to bring it even again, and a Freddie Freeman walk-off in the 18th to end the night.

Less than twenty-four hours later, Game 4 arrives with no time for either side to decompress. Toronto turns to Shane Bieber, who is tasked with preventing Los Angeles from moving within one win of securing back to back World Series titles. Bieber enters with the responsibility of stabilizing a staff that was used deep into extra innings.

Shohei Ohtani starts for the Dodgers after reaching base nine times in Game 3 and hitting two home runs. His performance on Tuesday placed him alone in postseason history with three multi-home-run games in a single October. Now he has the chance to influence the series a second way from the mound.

The stakes are direct. A Dodgers win would put Los Angeles one victory from closing out the championship at Chavez Ravine. A Blue Jays win would reset the series at 2–2 and give Toronto the opportunity to attempt a 3–2 lead in Game 5 before flying back to Rogers Centre for the potential finish.

The margin between control and pressure swings again tonight. Bieber will attempt to pull Toronto back even. Ohtani will attempt to push Los Angeles to the edge of a repeat. Game 4 opens at 5 p.m. Pacific.

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Hockey, Baseball, Calgary Sports Jonathan Willcott Hockey, Baseball, Calgary Sports Jonathan Willcott

Blue Jays Face Elimination in ALCS Game 6 as NHL Sunday Delivers Wins for Canucks and Red Wings

The Toronto Blue Jays return to Rogers Centre on Sunday with a chance to extend the American League Championship Series to a decisive Game 7. Seattle leads the series 3–2, but Toronto hands the ball to Trey Yesavage in front of a home crowd where the Jays have won big games all year. Earlier in the day around the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks closed out a 4–3 win in Washington and Detroit made it five straight with a 4–2 win over Edmonton. Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Wranglers, are also back on the ice in Tucson after earning their first point of the season in an overtime loss on Saturday.

CALGARY — The Toronto Blue Jays return home tonight with their season on the line in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. Down 3–2 to the Seattle Mariners, Toronto must win both Sunday and Monday at Rogers Centre to advance to the World Series. Right-hander Trey Yasavage gets the ball for the Jays opposite Seattle’s Logan Gilbert.

The National League bracket is already set. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Milwaukee to clinch the NL pennant and will await the winner of the ALCS when the World Series opens Friday.

Around the NHL on Sunday afternoon, the Vancouver Canucks held off the Washington Capitals 4–3 in D.C. Tyler Myers scored and added an assist while Thatcher Demko made 28 saves. In Detroit, Dylan Larkin recorded four points (two goals, two assists) to power the Red Wings past the Edmonton Oilers 4–2 for their fifth straight victory. Two more games close out the Sunday slate later tonight as Anaheim visits Chicago and Utah hosts Boston.

In the AHL, the Calgary Wranglers earned their first point of the season but fell 5–4 in overtime to the Tucson Roadrunners after staging a three-goal third-period comeback. Matvei Gridin scored his first AHL goal in his debut and Rory Kerins delivered back-to-back goals, including the late equalizer with 38 seconds left. Calgary returns to the ice in Tucson again tonight before their home opener at the Saddledome on October 24 against Coachella Valley.

The Calgary Flames are idle Sunday after a 6–1 loss in Vegas on Saturday night. Jonathan Huberdeau scored in his return to the lineup but the Golden Knights flexed with multi-point nights from Mark Stone, Jack Eichel and others.

A decisive week now takes shape: the Blue Jays either extend their season or exit short of the World Series, the Flames regroup after a difficult start, and the Wranglers look to convert competitive third periods into wins when they return home.

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Coronado’s Two-Goal Effort Not Enough as Blues Spoil Flames’ Home Opener

CALGARY — The Saturday matinee at the Scotiabank Saddledome had all the makings of a statement win, but the Calgary Flames couldn’t finish the job. Despite two goals from Matt Coronado, the Flames fell 4–2 to the St. Louis Blues in their 2025–26 home opener, ending a streak that had seen Calgary go 7-0-1 in home openers since 2016.

Coronado opened the scoring at 14:49 of the first period on the power play, converting a feed from Joel Farabee and Nazem Kadri. Late in the second, with the Flames trailing, he struck again at even strength, taking a quick pass from Kevin Bahl and ripping a shot high glove side to tie the game 2–2. The 22-year-old winger’s release and confidence were on full display, underscoring why he’s expected to be a cornerstone piece of Calgary’s next generation.

The Flames controlled much of the second period, pushing tempo and puck possession, but two quick St. Louis goals midway through the frame flipped the energy. The Blues regained their composure in the third, protecting the middle of the ice and adding insurance down the stretch to secure the win.

Goaltender Dustin Wolf faced 28 shots, stopping 24 for a .857 save percentage. He was composed under pressure, turning aside several high-danger chances that kept Calgary within reach until the final minutes.

The loss drops the Flames to 1-2-0 on the season as they regroup ahead of a high-profile matchup Tuesday night against Vegas. Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and the Golden Knights visit the Dome for a 7 p.m. puck drop.

Meanwhile in Loveland, Colorado, the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers are set for Game 2 of their weekend set against the Colorado Eagles. After falling 7-4 in Friday’s season opener, the Wranglers will look to split the series before heading to Tucson next week.

Beyond hockey, Canadian sports fans have another headline to track: the Seattle Mariners defeated the Detroit Tigers last night to advance to the American League Championship Series, where they’ll face the Toronto Blue Jays beginning tomorrow night.

It’s a packed Saturday on the sports calendar — from Coronado’s breakout and Wolf’s early-season test to the Wranglers’ bounce-back bid and an all-north matchup brewing on the diamond.

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Blue Jays Clinch AL East Crown as Flames Continue Preseason

CALGARY -- Twenty more wins than a year ago has lifted the Toronto Blue Jays to the American League East crown. The turnaround season ended with Toronto securing its place in the American League Division Series, where the Jays will face either the Yankees or Red Sox once the Wild Card is settled.

While Toronto fans celebrated baseball success, Calgary hockey fans were focused on NHL preseason action. The Flames opened their slate with split-squad games against Edmonton, earning a 3–2 overtime win on the road behind two goals from Morgan Frost, while dropping the home half 3–0. Back at the Dome, they beat Seattle 4–1, then fell 3–1 in Abbotsford against Vancouver. Most recently, in Winnipeg, the Flames came up short 4–2, with goals coming from 2024 first-round draft picks Zayne Parekh, 9th overall, and Matvei Gridin, 28th overall.

Frost has been Calgary’s most consistent forward, leading the team with five points through four appearances. His overtime winner in Edmonton stood out, but his steady production throughout camp has been just as important.

The Flames’ preseason record may not turn heads, but the combination of veteran contributors and first-rounders hitting the scoresheet is giving head coach Ryan Huska a clearer picture as roster cuts continue. For Huska, the emphasis remains less on results and more on which players will be ready when the games count.

Calgary closes out the preseason this week against Seattle, Vancouver, and Winnipeg before opening the regular season October 8 in Edmonton against the Oilers, last year’s Western Conference champions.

Canadian sports fans now find themselves in one of the best stretches of the calendar: the Blue Jays preparing for October baseball and the Flames moving closer to opening night.

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