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 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.
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.