If our math and calendar are right, anyone goes to win the World Collection this weekend.
It could possibly be the Blue Jays group that’s up 3-2 within the best-of-seven going into Recreation 6 on Friday night time at Rogers Centre. They aren’t solely on the cusp of the primary Canadian crown since 1993, however they’re an awesome story of comeback clout and camaraderie after ending in final place within the American League East in 2024.
Or it could possibly be the Dodgers group that also has loads of items to place collectively two consecutive wins and turn out to be MLB’s first repeat champions because the 1998-2000 Yankees.
Whoever wins may have accomplished baseball’s best group achievement and can endlessly be the toast of their city.
However what in regards to the particular person legacies at stake on this World Collection? Let’s check out some individuals whose profession story could be most affected by a victory this weekend.
Vladdy’s 27 hits and 54 whole bases on this postseason path solely the Rays’ Randy Arozarena in 2020 (29 hits and 64 whole bases). And Guerrero has finished this in 16 video games, whereas Arozarena did it in 20. Although gamers lately clearly have extra stock of video games than lots of their predecessors, a powerful end right here might give Guerrero an argument for the best offensive October of all-time.
After awarding Guerrero a $500 million contract earlier this 12 months, the Blue Jays couldn’t ask for extra from him when it comes to efficiency and presence on this postseason. They really feel like he’s matured proper in entrance of their eyes, embracing the magnitude of this second. In the event that they win all of it right here, no matter occurs the rest of that 14-year pact can’t change that.
Vladdy additionally has a shot at World Collection MVP. All of this might at some point be an necessary consideration when he’s eligible to turn out to be the primary son to hitch his father in Cooperstown. And contemplating Vladdy Sr. by no means gained all of it, it might positive imply so much to the household, too.
Kershaw’s legacy as a future first-ballot Corridor of Famer is safe. Going out on high, although, would have further which means for a person who, sadly, was not capable of take part in final 12 months’s postseason. Kershaw was magnificent within the Dodgers’ 2020 World Collection, and that positively counts. However nobody would say it appeared or felt the identical as doing it in a full season and related ballpark.
If Kershaw’s final profession look seems to be one key out of aid within the Recreation 3 epic and it contributes to a title (in his first profession look in further innings, no much less!) that’s a reasonably superior technique to finish it.
Kershaw might be part of this very, very brief listing of Corridor of Famers who completed their profession by showing within the World Collection with a championship group:
Mad Max positive doesn’t seem vulnerable to hanging them up after this season, and the 41-year-old has proven on this postseason that he nonetheless has one thing to supply a rotation. However as of at the moment, there’s no telling what 2026 holds for him. For all we all know, the identical level about Kershaw and capping your profession as champion may apply.
However both means, Scherzer, a member of the 2019 Nationals and 2023 Rangers, can win a hoop along with his third completely different franchise. Right here’s the brief listing of gamers who’ve finished that (requiring at the least one postseason look for every group):
Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts
Roberts already has one of the best regular-season successful share (.621) of any skipper with at the least 1,000 video games managed, and he’s been on the helm for 2 World Collection titles. He may have already got finished sufficient to be a Corridor of Fame supervisor, however a 3rd title would most likely clinch it for him.
Three rings would additionally make for a reasonably robust argument for Friedman to hitch the brief listing of Corridor of Fame executives. Friedman proved he can win on a meager funds in Tampa Bay. With Los Angeles, the funds is greater, clearly, however the machine the Dodgers have maintained regardless of persistently selecting low within the Draft is spectacular. And we see loads of examples of different big-market golf equipment that may’t persistently advance regardless of their benefits in assets.
Mark Shapiro, Ross Atkins and John Schneider
The Blue Jays’ president, basic supervisor and supervisor all seemingly entered the season on iffy floor.
Shapiro and Atkins took over the entrance workplace previous to 2016, and, whereas that group did attain the AL Championship Collection, it was largely the earlier regime’s work that had constructed that membership. Previous to this 12 months, the Shapiro/Atkins period was primarily marked by underachievement, with the group unable to win a single playoff sport in three October appearances, together with two with Schneider on the helm. Ending lifeless final within the AL East final 12 months, with their contracts winding down, made for a doubtlessly precarious scenario.
Win or lose on this World Collection, the once-shaky floor is now steady floor However a victory right here would solely additional affirm the work Shapiro and Atkins have finished with the Blue Jays and the rent they made in Schneider — a member of the group as a participant, coach and supervisor for greater than 20 years.
Having dislocated his shoulder in Recreation 2 in opposition to the Yankees and subsequently not carried out his finest final 12 months, the World Collection itself was the final hill for Ohtani to overcome. Suffice to say he’s finished that, having authored the best single-game particular person offensive efficiency in Collection historical past.
With a 1.395 OPS via 5 video games, Ohtani has an opportunity at World Collection MVP if the Dodgers win it, despite the fact that his begin in Recreation 4 was clearly less than his normal commonplace. At present, Ohtani’s OPS ranks seventeenth all-time amongst these with at the least 20 plate appearances in a World Collection (Barry Bonds’ 1.994 mark with the 2002 Giants is one of the best). We’ll see the place he finishes on that listing.
The Blue Jays gave Springer their richest free-agent contract in historical past partly due to his postseason pedigree. On the ripe previous age of 36, on the heels of a resurgent 2025 season, Springer has proven them he’s nonetheless an impression participant on the most important stage, regardless of a physique that’s, as his supervisor joked, “held along with duct tape” proper now.
On this postseason, Springer has been plunked on the knee and the hand, and he was out of the beginning lineup for Video games 4 and 5 of this World Collection with proper facet discomfort. However think about the person tied for third all-time in postseason dwelling runs (23) grinding via ache to hit a pivotal dwelling run.
Has that occurred earlier than? Perhaps we should always ask the Dodgers.
Having already hit a walk-off homer in Recreation 3, Freeman continues to be within the combine to doubtlessly earn the MVP honor earlier than this Collection wraps. If he does, he could be the primary repeat World Collection MVP.
The Blue Jays acquired the right-handed reliever on the Commerce Deadline and have been using him for all he’s price. He’s appeared in 13 of their 16 postseason video games. That offers Varland an opportunity at matching and maybe even exceeding the report for postseason appearances (14), which is held by Paul Assenmacher (1997 Indians) and Brandon Morrow (2017 Dodgers).
Truthfully, if a postseason sport doesn’t contain Louis Varland at this level, ought to it even depend?
Hershiser’s two full video games wherein he allowed a complete of two runs on seven hits within the Dodgers’ 1988 World Collection conquer the A’s rightly stays the stuff of L.A. legend. Yamamoto, having already thrown 9 full innings of one-run ball in Recreation 2, can put an analogous stamp on his terrific 2025 and maybe put himself in place for the World Collection MVP honor.
The final pitcher with a number of full video games in a single World Collection was Tom Glavine with the 1992 Braves.
The best participant on the improper time for the New York Yankees, Donnie Baseball by no means reached the World Collection in his nice enjoying profession (his lone postseason look got here in his ultimate season of 1995). After greater than 40 years in skilled baseball, he lastly bought right here as bench coach for the Blue Jays and has in contrast it to lastly attending to eat a sizzling fudge sundae after all the time watching others get their style.
A hoop could be a fair sweeter deal with for one of the crucial revered individuals within the sport.
Betts, a member of the 2018 Crimson Sox and 2020 and 2024 Dodgers, might be part of them, with loads of Corridor of Fame profession left to get one for the thumb.
Instantly after his super, 12-strikeout efficiency in Recreation 5, Yesavage was speaking about being out there for Recreation 6. We don’t know if the Jays would really take him up on it in a Recreation 6 or Recreation 7, however simply think about Yesavage punctuating perhaps essentially the most insane rookie season with a contribution to a World Collection clincher. The man might by no means throw one other pitch within the massive leagues, and he’d nonetheless be a legend. Maybe the Collection MVP, as effectively.
Solely seven pitchers aged 22 or youthful have began two victories in a World Collection for a group that gained all of it:
Hernández and Larry Sherry (1959 Dodgers) are the one rookie pitchers to win World Collection MVP.
Not attempting to place any extra stress on the Dodgers’ catcher, however let’s not neglect that an unimaginable streak is at stake as this Collection wraps up.
Actually, if the Dodgers’ Will Smith can lengthen this streak to a formidable sixth 12 months, he would be the most well-known Will Smith in existence.
