Recreation 6 of the World Collection has particular resonance for Blue Jays followers.
In Recreation 6 in 1992, it was Dave Winfield’s two-run double within the high of the eleventh at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium that gave the Jays the go-ahead as they clinched their franchise-first World Collection championship.
And in Recreation 6 in 1993, as we’ve seen on repeat fairly a little bit of late, it was Joe Carter’s walk-off blast in opposition to the Phillies that sealed their second consecutive crown.
So is Recreation 6 title time for Toronto as soon as once more? Or are the Dodgers going to increase this World Collection to a decisive seventh recreation?
We’ll discover out Friday night time, when the constructing now often known as Rogers Centre hosts its second World Collection Recreation 6 and the largely Canadian crowd roots for one more emphatic ending.
“I am unable to wait,” mentioned Toronto skipper John Schneider, “to see what the Rogers Centre goes to look, really feel, and sound like.”
If the Dodgers are going to drag themselves off the mat on this one, they’ve received the proper man for the job. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was a marvel in Recreation 2, tossing his second consecutive full recreation on this postseason and holding the ample Blue Jays offense to a single run. In order dangerous as issues went for the Dodgers in Video games 4 and 5, they really feel fairly good about their possibilities of getting Recreation 6 began off proper.
However the Blue Jays simply placed on a formidable show of depth and resilience at Dodger Stadium, shaking off a heartbreaking 18-inning defeat in Recreation 3 with two well-rounded, convincing victories that quieted the L.A. crowd and rewrote the narrative of this World Collection. And so they’ve received the center and soul of their rotation getting into Recreation 6 within the type of Kevin Gausman.
Historical past says that groups breaking a 2-2 tie on the street in a best-of-seven with the 2-3-2 format earlier than going again dwelling have received the collection 74.1% of the time. So the stress is on the Dodgers’ bats, which have been held to a .201/.296/.354 slash line on this World Collection.
“On the finish of the day, no matter who we run on the market or what assemble, we nonetheless received to take good at-bats, all of us,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “And so that is what I am betting on.”
Coming off a last-place end within the AL East in 2024, little was anticipated of this Toronto workforce coming into the yr, and, even after profitable the East, nobody may know what to anticipate of them in October, on condition that the present core had but to win a playoff recreation.
However with their energy, endurance and perseverance, the Jays are one win away from ripping the trophy out of the defending champs’ arms. We’ll see if the Dodgers let it go.
When is the sport and the way can I watch it?Recreation 6 is on Friday at Rogers Centre, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FOX.
All collection can be found within the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a collaborating Pay TV supplier. Video games additionally can be found dwell internationally, though not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s unique English language broadcaster in Canada for each Postseason recreation, whereas TVA Sports activities might be masking all the AL Postseason and the World Collection in French and Broadcaster RDS will cowl all the NL Postseason in French.
Who’re the beginning pitchers?Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA)It’s the ace on the mound with a shot on the World Collection. Positive, going through Yamamoto is as robust because it will get within the huge leagues, however the Blue Jays couldn’t have drawn up their pitching plans any higher, from Gausman proper by to the bullpen. In Recreation 2 in opposition to the Dodgers, Gausman allowed solo pictures to Will Smith and Max Muncy within the seventh inning of that loss, however he was in any other case on the high of his recreation by 6 2/3 innings. If Gausman can dodge that one huge mistake, he’s a pitcher able to going toe-to-toe with the good Yamamoto. His splitter additionally has a a lot totally different motion profile from Trey Yesavage’s, diving down as a substitute of tailing, so there received’t be a lot overlap for the Dodgers’ hitters.
Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA)Can he go the gap in three in a row? That will be unprecedented on this period of the sport, however then once more, tossing full video games in back-to-back postseason begins hadn’t been executed in 24 years earlier than Yamamoto’s gems within the NLCS and World Collection. Yamamoto has reliably been at his finest whereas on the most important stage, holding opponents to 2 earned runs or fewer in six of his eight profession postseason begins. The Dodgers could not hope for anybody higher on the mound with their season on the road.
What are the beginning lineups?Blue Jays: This all relies on George Springer, who left Recreation 3 with proper facet discomfort and was held out of Video games 4 and 5. He took some swings within the cage off the pitching machine Wednesday in L.A., which is encouraging, however his standing heading into Recreation 6 continues to be very questionable. If Springer is out, anticipate the Blue Jays to return to Nathan Lukes atop the lineup with the righty Yamamoto on the mound.
Dodgers: Shuffling the order in Recreation 5 did not have the meant impact, because the Dodgers solely mustered up one run on 4 hits. Whereas supervisor Dave Roberts has mentioned attempting to get Miguel Rojas into the beginning lineup, it might in all probability require shifting Tommy Edman to heart area. The workforce doesn’t appear inclined to play him for 9 innings within the outfield, particularly not on turf.
How will the bullpens line up after the starters?Blue Jays: Because of Trey Yesavage’s good efficiency in Recreation 5, the Blue Jays have their bullpen in an incredible spot heading into Recreation 6. Seranthony Domínguez and Jeff Hoffman dealt with an inning every, however with Thursday’s off-day, John Schneider ought to have all the bullpen to work with within the potential clincher. How the Blue Jays match up in opposition to Shohei Ohtani with their bullpen strikes continues to be a storyline that would decide this collection, however their back-end arms and the shock emergence of Chris Bassitt as a reliable weapon depart this group in an incredible place. Within the bullpen, the benefit belongs to Toronto.
Any accidents of observe?Blue Jays: Springer left Recreation 3 with “proper facet tightness” and was disregarded of the Recreation 5 lineup, however he did run on the sector previous to the sport and took swings within the cages off the machine. He’s anticipated to proceed his rehab on the off-day, then give it one other go forward of Recreation 6. Even when Springer doesn’t begin, he might be a pinch-hit or pinch-run possibility.
Bichette’s left knee sprain had been looming over this workforce, however he was lastly activated for the World Collection and has performed in components of every recreation. With Springer out, Bichette has a pure dwelling because the DH, which makes it likelier that his bat can keep within the lineup for all the recreation.
Dodgers: Will Smith, who’s coping with a hairline fracture in his proper hand, returned to the beginning lineup in the course of the NLDS and hasn’t missed a begin since. Tommy Edman continues to handle his proper ankle, which landed him on the injured record twice this yr. Whereas he performed 5 innings in heart in Recreation 3, Edman just isn’t anticipated to play the outfield except it’s a necessity. Reliever Tanner Scott was not included on the World Collection roster as he continues to get better from a decrease physique abscess process.
Who’s sizzling and who just isn’t?Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched his eighth dwelling run of the postseason in Recreation 5, a part of a outstanding begin that noticed each he and Davis Schneider homer off the primary three pitches that Blake Snell threw. It received’t be practically as simple in opposition to Yamamoto, however the Blue Jays should really feel nice about how this lineup stacks up, even with out Springer. Addison Barger’s emergence deserves extra consideration as one other two-hit recreation has his common as much as .346 whereas Alejandro Kirk and the red-hot Ernie Clement proceed to roll. All this collection has been lacking is a trademark second from Bichette. Despite the fact that he’s removed from 100%, he’s too gifted a hitter to rely out and his means to regulate may make him an incredible matchup for Yamamoto.
Dodgers: “Sizzling” is a relative descriptor for this workforce, which has been restricted offensively because the NL Wild Card Collection. Teoscar Hernández had two of the Dodgers’ 4 hits in Recreation 5 and is batting .286 general. In any other case, solely two Dodgers have an OPS above .800 because the starting of the NLDS: Ohtani (1.500) and Freeman (.872). Andy Pages, who’s hitting .080 general, was disregarded of the beginning lineup for the primary time this postseason in Recreation 5.
Anything followers may need to know?• Solely three pitchers have thrown three consecutive full video games in a single postseason within the final 55 years: Curt Schilling (2001), Orel Hershiser (1988) and Luis Tiant (1975).
• Ohtani tied Corey Seager’s franchise report set in 2020 for essentially the most homers in a single postseason together with his eighth in Recreation 3.
