Listed here are some immediate reactions from Toronto:
1. This units up an epic Saturday
Let’s be actual: A sequence like this one deserved a Sport 7. The Dodgers and Blue Jays have traded punches and counterpunches for the previous week, and the game’s greatest prize is on the road on Saturday night time at Rogers Centre.
Apart from all of the legacies on the road — and there are plenty of them — this could simply be a very enjoyable ballgame. On the Dodgers facet, it’s unclear how Shohei Ohtani will issue on the mound, however he’ll nearly definitely be an element. On the Blue Jays’ facet, Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber could possibly be out there in reduction behind Max Scherzer, who additionally began the newest World Collection Sport 7, in 2019 for the Nationals.
“This has been an excellent World Collection,” mentioned Kiké Hernández, who began the outstanding double play that ended Sport 6. “The truth that we’re getting a Sport 7 is well-deserved.”
2. The Dodgers’ pitching plans labored — now what?
Yoshinobu Yamamoto labored six innings of one-run ball. And it’s a testomony to how good he’s been all postseason that when Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts lifted him earlier than the seventh, the response was: “Solely six innings?”
Roberts requested his much-maligned bullpen to report 9 outs. And it did exactly that. Justin Wrobleski coated the seventh. Roki Sasaki obtained the subsequent three outs. Tyler Glasnow nailed down the save — an ending punctuated with a dramatic double play.
Now the Dodgers should work out a plan for Sport 7. Sasaki was taxed on Friday. Is he out there? Glasnow nearly definitely will likely be — however he’s by no means pitched on back-to-back days. Is it potential Yamamoto may return? He downplayed the thought, and Roberts indicated he can be unavailable. However what if this factor goes extras? And what’s the plan for Ohtani?
No matter they resolve, these are questions the Dodgers are very happy they’ll need to reply.
3. George Springer is greater than only a decoy
Eyebrows have been raised when the Sport 6 beginning lineup featured Springer within the leadoff spot. After watching him exit mid at-bat in some critical ache throughout Sport 3 and lacking the subsequent two video games, absolutely there was no method he may contribute the remainder of the best way, proper?
Effectively, Springer is seemingly constructed completely different. Although he was in clear discomfort every at-bat, grimacing after nearly each swing, the Blue Jays’ designated hitter confirmed he can nonetheless be an element on this sequence, roping a 109.8 mph RBI single off Yamamoto on a 3-0 depend within the third. After a 98.6 mph groundout within the sixth, Springer led off the eighth with a single off Sasaki, offering additional proof that he won’t be as compromised as we thought, which suggests the Dodgers can’t simply have a look at him as a simple out in Sport 7.
“Georgie is hard, man,” mentioned Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider. “He is been on this state of affairs. He understands this time of yr and what that you must do. Nobody’s feeling nice. At-bat high quality is there. It would not look the prettiest each single pitch, however Georgie is simply the definition of a gamer and hopefully comes up in a giant spot once more.”
