4 Takeaways From The Dodgers’ Win Over Blue Jays In World Sequence Rematch

[ad_1] This rematch carried the load of October, even when the sport didn’t.

Assembly for the primary time because the unforgettable Sport 7 of the 2025 World Sequence, the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Toronto Blue Jays in a 14-2 win on Monday evening on the Rogers Centre.

Although the sequence opener was devoid of the shut battles we noticed within the Fall Traditional, this was nonetheless a sequel price watching. The matchup wasn't as aggressive, but it surely was definitely simply as revealing.

Listed here are my takeaways:

1. Deja Vu: Teo Takes Mad Max Deep (Picture by Mark Blinch/Getty Photographs)

Teoscar Hernandez is aware of Max Scherzer hanging his breaking balls. Batting cleanup for the second time this season, Hernandez took Scherzer deep on a slider that fell into the center of the strike zone, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead within the first inning. It was déjà vu for these World Sequence rivals.

You’re forgiven if, amid all of the ridiculous performs from the 18-inning Sport 3 in final 12 months’s Fall Traditional, you forgot about this one. Final October, Hernandez went deep off Scherzer in his first at-bat towards him, placing the Dodgers on the board in a six-hour, 39-minute sport they'd find yourself successful 6-5. That solo shot from Hernandez was the one residence run he hit within the World Sequence. Conversely, the Dodgers’ left fielder has been heating up on the plate this previous week.

Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez hits two-run HR, taking lead over Blue Jays Hernandez’s first-inning dinger on Monday evening was his second in two days and his tenth hit in his final 20 at-bats. The veteran’s glorious manufacturing got here after a disappointing 1-for-10 begin to the season, underlined by supervisor Dave Roberts benching Hernandez towards the Nationals on Saturday. Hernandez had a robust spring, however the 33-year-old nonetheless wants to seek out consistency on the plate — significantly whereas Mookie Betts spends time on the injured listing with an indirect pressure. Hernandez’s residence run at his outdated haunts within the Rogers Centre ought to assist him keep sizzling.

2. Scherzer’s Early Exit Factors To Toronto’s Bigger Drawback (Picture by Mark Blinch/Getty Photographs)

It’s early within the season, however the Blue Jays can’t discover a dependable backend starter to save lots of their lives. Scherzer was mysteriously pulled from the sequence opener towards the Jays after simply two innings. He allowed two runs on two hits, walked one batter, and struck out two. This was the 41-year-old’s second begin of the season, and he solely threw 36 pitches. Whether or not his early exit was because of poor efficiency or an harm, it’s the most recent blow for a Blue Jays rotation in disaster.

Toronto is already lacking 4 of its beginning pitchers, together with Trey Yesavage (proper shoulder impingement), Cody Ponce (torn ACL), Shane Bieber (proper elbow irritation), and Jose Berrios (proper elbow stress fracture). Scherzer’s fastball velocity was down within the first inning Monday from his first outing of the 12 months. Any extended absence from the veteran will spell catastrophe for the Blue Jays.

In a accident, it’s seemingly that solely the Dodgers may overcome the kind of injury-bug operating via the Jays’ rotation. Los Angeles has an embarrassing variety of high-quality starters able to be deployed in case of accidents to the major-league employees, highlighted by left-hander Justin Wrobleski’s outing on Monday. Thought-about a depth arm, the southpaw held Toronto to 5 innings of one-run ball. On the flip facet, Blue Jays left-hander Josh Fleming couldn’t restrict the harm after Scherzer’s exit. Fleming permitted 4 runs on six hits in simply three innings of labor from the bullpen.

3. A Story of Two Offenses No, this wasn’t batting apply. However the Dodgers positive handled the sequence opener like that, bullying Toronto’s beleaguered pitching employees for 14 runs and 17 hits, together with 5 residence runs, on Monday. Nobody had a greater evening than catcher Dalton Speeding, who went 4-for-4 with two homers. Coming off a sweep of the Nationals, Los Angeles’ highly effective lineup has scored double-digit runs in three of its final 4 video games for an absurd complete of 45 runs in that stretch. By the underside of the seventh inning, Roberts was capable of get Freddie Freeman off his ft and change him with first baseman Santiago Espinal. Second baseman Alex Freeland was the one batter within the Dodgers’ beginning lineup who didn't file successful.

Shohei Ohtani launches homer, extending Dodgers' lead over Blue Jays The Blue Jays offense, in the meantime, continued to return up empty. The lineup mixed to go 4-for-26 towards three Dodgers pitchers. It wasn't till Dodgers' veteran infielder Miguel Rojas took the mound within the ninth that the Jays collected their fifth hit and second run of the sport. George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., David Schneider, Miles Straw, and Andres Gimenez all went hitless. The Blue Jays’ 36 runs scored to date this season are ranked twenty second in MLB. Their group OPS of .663 is ranked 18th within the majors. Their bats have simply been unable to get it going.

Blue Jays followers have been gloomy as they watched Kyle Tucker go 1-for-3 with two walks, three runs scored, and an RBI for the Dodgers. Toronto aggressively pursued Tucker, the highest free agent of the offseason, earlier than the outfielder signed a four-year, $240 million cope with Los Angeles. Regardless of reportedly providing a long-term deal and a aggressive contract, the Blue Jays have been once more the bridesmaids this previous winter, mirroring their failed pursuit of Shohei Ohtani earlier than the 2024 season. For the Jays, Monday evening’s laugher towards the Dodgers was a painful reminder of these swings and misses.

4. What Occurred To The Blue Jays’ Protection? (Steve Russell/Toronto Star by way of Getty Photographs)

The Blue Jays added a pair of errors — and a 3rd misplay that simply may’ve formally been scored as an error — as their sloppy play continued into the World Sequence rematch on Monday. Fleming changed Scherzer within the third inning and instantly dedicated a throwing error to first base, permitting Shohei Ohtani’s 46 mph grounder to warp into two bases for Los Angeles’ leadoff man. What may’ve been an out become runs scored when Freeman launched a two-run homer moments later.

In the identical inning, Kazuma Okamoto couldn’t discipline Andy Pages’ 105-mph line drive to 3rd base. Within the fifth, Guerrero Jr. flipped an errant throw to Fleming, as Max Muncy reached base on what the official scorer known as successful to guide off the inning. Moments later, Muncy scored on an Alex Freeland groundout, immediately punishing the Jays for his or her mistake. To this point, this Blue Jays group doesn't remotely resemble the robust defensive membership that went to the Fall Traditional final season.

Toronto ranked first within the majors in Fielding Run Worth and fourth in Defensive Runs Saved final 12 months. The Jays have already dedicated eight errors in 10 video games this 12 months. It’s been a troublesome begin to 2026 for the defending American League champions. After getting swept by the White Sox this previous weekend, the Jays suffered a demoralizing loss to the almighty Dodgers. Toronto can not less than take solace in the truth that its season didn’t really flip round till the start of July final 12 months. There’s an extended strategy to go.

4 ½. What’s Subsequent? (Picture by Mark Blinch/Getty Photographs)

Convey out the popcorn for the second sport of this much-anticipated matchup on Tuesday. Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto will go toe-to-toe towards veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman because the Blue Jays look to punch again and even the sequence.

After successful the 2025 World Sequence MVP, Yamamoto has a 3.00 ERA (4 earned runs in 12 innings pitched) throughout two begins this season. Gausman, who was terrific within the playoffs final 12 months, is off to a historic begin for the Blue Jays. After dominating towards the Rockies final Wednesday, Gausman grew to become the one pitcher since not less than 1900 with 10-plus strikeouts and no walks via every of his first two begins of the season. If there’s anybody who can cease the bleeding for the Jays, it’s Gausman.

Deesha Thosar covers Main League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Every day Information. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives in Queens. Observe her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.