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.
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.
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.
Bieber Steady but Blue Jays Bats Quiet in 2–1 Loss to Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One inning was all it took. In the fourth, Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino went back-to-back to give Kansas City just enough offense to edge the Blue Jays 2–1 on Saturday.
Shane Bieber kept Toronto in the game, working six innings and allowing only those two solo shots while striking out four. Royals starter Noah Cameron matched him pitch for pitch, scattering five hits across seven innings before Carlos Estévez locked down his 41st save.
The Blue Jays pushed back in the seventh, when Daulton Varsho knocked in a run, but they couldn’t find the equalizer. Both teams finished with four hits and six runners left on base, underscoring how thin the margin was.
Toronto slipped to 89–66 but remains in the driver’s seat in the AL East. With a week and a half left in September, every chance to cash in runners looms larger, and Saturday served as a reminder of how quickly games can hinge on one swing — or in this case, two in a row.
Blue Jays Top Rays in Extras, Strengthen Grip on AL East
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Toronto Blue Jays slipped past the Tampa Bay Rays 2–1 in 10 innings Monday night, tightening their hold on the American League East with less than two weeks left in the regular season.
Tampa Bay opened the scoring with a run in the second inning, and the lead held until Toronto finally broke through in the eighth. The Jays pulled even, then pushed across the deciding run in the 10th before closing it out in the bottom half.
The victory moves Toronto to 88–62 (.587), widening the gap atop the division to five games over the Yankees and six over the Red Sox. The Jays have taken seven of their last 10 while their closest rivals have faltered down the stretch.
Toronto continues to pair one of the league’s best home records with timely performances on the road. Wins like this reinforce their case as a club ready to lock down its first AL East crown since 2015.
Jays Walk Off Orioles 5–4, Pad AL East Lead
TORONTO — The Blue Jays rallied in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Baltimore Orioles 5–4 on Saturday at Rogers Centre, stretching their division lead to 3.5 games over the Yankees and 5.0 over the Red Sox in the AL East.
Down 4–2 in their final at-bat, Toronto’s comeback began with Joey Loperfido, who punched an RBI single through the right side to cut the deficit to one. Andrés Giménez followed with a ground-ball single into left to score Ernie Clement, tying the game at 4–4 and keeping the inning alive.
George Springer then reached on catcher’s interference to load the bases. Alejandro Kirk sealed it with a sacrifice fly to center fielder Colton Cowser, deep enough for Loperfido to tag and score the winning run.
On the mound, Max Scherzer worked five innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts. Tommy Nance followed with a clean sixth. Eric Lauer was charged with one run in 1.2 innings, and Seranthony Domínguez allowed two hits in a third of an inning. Matt Fisher earned the win despite surrendering a run in the ninth, finishing his line with one inning, one hit, one earned run, one walk, and one strikeout.
The victory lifted Toronto to 86–62, keeping them on top of the American League East. The Yankees (82–65) sit 3.5 games back, the Red Sox (81–67) trail by 5.0, while Tampa Bay and Baltimore are well out of contention.
For the Blue Jays, the win underscored a September theme: timely hitting, contributions from throughout the order, and Joey Loperfido crossing the plate with the game-winner in front of a buzzing Rogers Centre crowd.