The Blue Jays Win the Pennant

Projected by most to finish at the bottom of the powerhouse American League East, 2025 wasn’t supposed to start off smoothly for the Toronto Blue Jays. With a first chance to prove fans and experts wrong, they welcomed the division rival Baltimore Orioles to Rogers Centre to kickoff the new campaign.

Six of six CBS reporters picked the Orioles to finish in the top-3 of the division, with four forecasting a top-two finish. The Blue Jays on the other hand were picked to complete the season in the bottom two with the Tampa Bay Rays by all contributing writers. Four of which individually decided this Blue Jays roster was good enough for dead last. While some may take or have taken offence at these publishings, according to most fans, and Sports Betting Dime‘s casino odds average, the Blue Jays were handily the least threatening team in the division. And when Vegas speaks, usually you listen.

Pretty bleak outlook for Jays fans. But on the other hand, there are some pretty headstrong baseball loyalists out there. So let’s imagine you decided “So what everyone thinks the Blue Birds are bad, I love my boys of summer. I know it’s New Year’s Day, but I can trust them to conquer what I can expect to be the 4-headed monster of the AL East. Arguably the toughest divisional gauntlet in sports. And I just got paid. So what’s 10 bucks, eh?”.

That would have been some admirable wagering, wouldn’t it? A $172.90 payout for a $10 bet sounds great, in dreamland, but not happening over here in the real world, on planet earth, where -200 favourites can’t promise a cold pop.

After placing your $10 Christmas MLB division future, logically, the next step would have been to assume taking down the Yanks, O’s, and BoSox in the regular season would mean winning the ALCS. Something the Toronto Blue Jays haven’t accomplished in 32 years. Naturally and confidently, you proceed to the page detailing Pennant odds for both leagues.

“American League… okay, Yankees, Astros, Orioles.”

*Scroll, scroll, scroll.*

*Scroll, scroll, scroll.*

“Wow, that can’t be right. Toronto Blue Jays, +3550? But they have World Series MVP George Springer! What’s another $10?” *Slams credit card on laptop keyboard* (call 1-800-522-4700 for assistance with gambling addiction). *Makes note to replace newly broken “n” and “j” laptop keys*.

Fast forward three months and by now, as a good gambler does, you’ve totally forgotten about your $20, but the Blue Jays are on! People are still saying they’re no good, but for some reason you feel otherwise. The Baltimore Orioles are in town, it’s Opening Day, the spring sun is shining, nothing could be better. You flip on your TV to see Vladimir Guerrero Jr. strut out of the clubhouse and into the dugout, hat backwards, bat in hand, lip stuffed tighter than prime Raul Ibanez. Hazel Mae’s angelic voice descends upon your undeserving speakers as you prepare for some tasteful Blue Jays baseball banter commemorating the commencement of another long and beautiful 162.

“Well, it was and still is the biggest storyline heading into this season. Can this Blue Jays front office and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. agree on a contract extension before the All-Star first baseman becomes a free agent at the end of 2025?” – Hazel Mae

Well, that doesn’t sound too good.

José Berríos leads the team out onto the field and takes the hill for the bottom half of the 1st inning, summer is right around the corner. All is good. For a short while, that is until the 10th pitch of the afternoon was offered up to Adley Rutschman. An 88-MPH changeup that caught a little too much of the plate, landing a few rows above the newly renovated right field away bullpen. Uh oh, this feels like foreshadowing. And it is. The Orioles dismantled Berríos and the Jays on opening night 12-2. Toronto appeared desperate for offence at the will of Zach Eflin, who allowed just 2 hits. The smothering only inching them closer to their seemingly inevitable fate at the bottom of the division, cursed to 75-win mediocrity, if lucky.

Some great news came out of the front office as it was reported and confirmed that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had agreed to a longterm contract with the club.

Would that be enough to propel the Blue Jays forward?

A whole lot of nothing continued to go right for the miserable Blue Jays after a couple months of baseball. Now May 25th, they’re somehow managing to be a game out of 2nd place in the division while sporting just a 25-26 record. One of very few bright spots early on, the dominating Chris Bassitt, is occupying the rubber to begin the afternoon against Tampa Bay. He enters the game with a 2.83 ERA, and has been mesmerizing Jays fans all year in lieu of all the negatives surrounding the team. It’s his 10th outing of the season and in spite of a lack of production on offence, has a 4-2 record, and seems to be a tall task for the then 2nd place Rays, who risked flipping standings with Toronto. Unfortunately for Bassitt and the Jays, on a day that could see many tides turn (.500 record, 2nd in the division, stud potential ace gaining confidence), they turned against John Schneider‘s sinking ship all at once. Bassitt was pulled after 4 innings, he allowed 5 runs on 9 hits, and the offence failed to score, emphasizing the problematic outing. Instead of propelling themselves into the division’s top two, they’ve plummeted to the bottom two and a 25-27 record.

This was a turning point for the Toronto Blue Jays, but not in the way you might expect. They went on to win the following day in Arlington, and despite injuries to Bo Bichette (PCL sprain), Ty France (left oblique inflammation), Yimi García (right ulnar nerve), Bowden Francis (right shoulder impingement), José Berríos (right elbow inflammation), and Anthony Santander (back stiffness), they claimed the AL East lead on July 2nd, and never conceded the throne.

Despite leading the division, ESPN’s odds tracker claimed +1200 on July 3rd for the Blue Jays to win the AL. Good enough for 5th behind the Yankees, Tigers, Astros and Rays. They won 69 of their last 110 games (.627) en route to the Division Championship, and offered a substantial amount of momentum entering October with a bye in hand.

Much of the heavy lifting throughout multiple win streaks and hot stretches is credited to the offence, led by the terrific outputs of George Springer, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. Though perhaps the most important factor of being supported by the abundance of consistency throughout the lineup and bench. At one point in mid-August, the Blue Jays were staking claim all over the AL batting average leaderboard.

The story of the 2025 Blue Jays hitting could not be told without the prolonged and consistent mentions of Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes, Daulton Varsho, Addison Barger, and Davis Schneider. The likes of Tyler Heineman, Myles Straw, Joey Loperfido, Will Wagner, Andrés Giménez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Anthony Santander all deserve praise as well. The list of lockers in the clubhouse where credit is due goes on and on and on.

This formidable bunch found their way towards the top of many offensive categories this regular season, as highlighted in the table below.

The Jays powerful offensive engine was powered by a combination of a couple stud seasons, and a considerable reinforcement of quality across all positions, bench spots, and replacements. Here were the Jays top producers on offence in the 2025 regular season.

With so much offence it would take less quality pitching to top the American League standings. The bulk of the work was done by the three usual suspects for Jays fans in Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and José Berríos. The three, in respective order, led the team in both games started and innings pitched in 2025.

Gausman almost seemingly sailed through the 2025 campaign with a 3.59 ERA, but thanks to very little run support, ended up just 10-11.

The rest of the Blue Jays starters on the other hand, had no such misfortune. Bassitt was able to collect 11 wins while surrendering just 9 losses, and Berríos 9-5. With much less consistency, the bulk of the remaining starts were accounted for by Max Scherzer (17), Eric Lauer (15) and Bowden Francis (14). Scherzer got beat up for the most of the campaign (5.19 ERA, 0.2 WAR), but has reserved his right to playoff innings on sheer pedigree. Lauer was nothing short of helpful this year in his smaller sample size, contributing a 3.18 ERA with 9 wins and 2 losses across 28 appearances both starting and relieving. We could see Lauer’s left-handed arm play a role in these playoffs with a struggling Branden Little being forced into leverage innings. Bowden Francis was not all too successful this season on the rubber, with an unfortunate 6.05 ERA. His injury, along with Scherzer’s struggles raised serious concerns on arm depth in the clubhouse. Specifically the starting rotation.

With concerns come replacements. That is, if another one of your concerns is winning baseball games in October. The Blue Jays front office proved they were not waiting on a miracle. Going out to get a former ace coming off of Tommy John surgery, Shane Bieber. Shane’s presence instantly offered some relief on the staff upon his return. He provided 7 starts, and finished the year with a 3.57 ERA, and 4 wins to accompany 2 losses.

Along a similar timeline, but from a polar opposite end of the recruitment spectrum. The Blue Jays kept their eye on a diamond from Boyertown, Pennsylvania, they had forming across all stops of the minor league assembly line. A 20th overall draft choice in the 2024 MLB Draft. A 6-4 225-pound over-the-top right-hander, named Trey Yesavage. Yesavage was simply ridiculous in the minors. Forcing promotion at every stop with unforeseeable quickness and dominance. Try this on for size, 3.12 ERA, 5-1 record, 0.97 WHIP, 160 strikeouts, 41 walks, 1 hit batter and only 8 home runs allowed in 98 innings across all minor league levels. Not bad, huh?

With a crumbling rotation, he finally got his opportunity to prove his use with a September promotion leading to a call-up start on the 15th. In his Major League debut, Trey Yesavage went 5 innings, allowed only 1 run, 3 hits, 2 walks and collected 9 strikeouts. Yes, 9. Against the same Tampa Bay Rays who made it look like the Blue Jays season was unrecoverable just 3.5 months earlier. Trey finished the year strong, continuously displaying his elite sinker-slider combo and cementing his spot in the rotation come playoff time with the help of a 1-0 record, 3.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 16 strikeouts, 7 walks, and 5 earned runs in 14 innings across three big league starts.

With such a strong offensive season, and a revamped starting rotation coming together to support the production, it must have begged the question of a sea of baseball enthusiasts “Did anyone foresee this team being this good, let alone winning the division?”.

As the season winds down on day 162, you think “Nobody could have seen this coming.”.

“But wait, didn’t I?” You ask yourself.

You proceed to fumble through your pockets uncontrollably, until you get your hands on your by-now-late-September Rogers Centre salt and butter-coated phone. You scroll down relentlessly through past countless lost tickets. Sunday Night Football parlay busts, NBA Finals choke jobs, Leafs playoff heart-shatterers – wait.

A green checkmark? $172.90!

What a win that would be, a nice little +1692 future on your favourite team to do something they haven’t done in a decade, and 2 decades before that. Only 6 times in their 48-year history.

Hardly conceivable. What’s even less likely? An open ticket for the Pennant.

The Postseason

Entering the ALDS off of their bye, the Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) were confident, yet appropriately conscious of the behemoth offence knocking on the Dome doorstep for Game 1 in Toronto. Being series underdogs, there were endless discussions surrounding how the Blue Jays would deploy their starters not only against the New York Yankees (94-68) but in the postseason in general. With 2 extremely fresh faces emerging as top options there was bound to be a shake up.

Game 1 of the ALDS called for Kevin Gausman, no questions asked. He led our staff all season and proved his ability to do so. He continued his success into the postseason with his first start, hurling 5.2 innings, allowing just 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks and striking out 3 batters in 75 pitches. After Gausman’s earned run, the bullpen slammed the door shut. Despite the offence doing plenty of cushioning in the meantime. With helpful homers from Vladdy and 2 from Kirk, as well as 3 Nathan Lukes RBIs, the Jays routed the Yankees 10-1 on home turf. And maintained a semblance of momentum despite the long bye.

The second game of the ALDS featured plenty more fan discourse regarding pitcher selection on Toronto’s side. Manager John Schneider potentially contemplating the intimidating idea of his young phenom’s first postseason appearance being at Yankee Stadium. To many’s surprise, and many others’ amusement, Schneider opted to send the 22-year-old rookie out to face the best offence in baseball. Who was starved of all but one run the night prior. And boy did he deliver. Upon leaving the game, the Yankees had no hits. Yes, he was throwing a no-hit shutout in his postseason debut. His final tally consisted of 5.1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 11 strikeouts and a walk. Insanity. Despite allowing 7 combined runs in turbulent 6th and 7th innings, the bullpen’s job was easy because once again, the offence showed up. The final score read 13-7 thanks to homers from Vladdy, George, Ernie and 2 from Daulton.

With the rotation coming together, it was clear the remaining 3 games of the series would fall to Shane Bieber, a bullpen game, and Gausman once more. Unfortunately for Bieber, his outing was ruined by Yankee bats. Aaron Judge contributed 4 RBIs and a home run to return some life to New York on the verge of elimination. With a bullpen game looming for Toronto and Cam Schlittler on the mound for New York, there was reasonable suspicion the series could be sent to a rubber match back in Toronto. Fortunately for Jays fans that was not the case, as the Blue Jays took care of business in the Bronx. Eight different relievers completed the nine innings for Toronto and allowed just 2 runs on 6 hits. The Blue Jays closed out the series against the juggernauts of the AL 3-1 with a 5-2 victory.

After scoring 34 runs in 4 games of the ALDS without one of their top hitters in Bo Bichette, the Blue Jays were looking at another difficult matchup the following round. A team featuring a scary assortment of pitching and home run ability, the Seattle Mariners (90-72). Fresh off a narrow 3-2 Game 5 win over the Cleveland Guardians, the Mariners were looking for their first ever Pennant win and shot at a World Series title.

With gambling odds relatively even entering the series, the Blue Jays finally found themselves getting some shreds of respect from Vegas. But that narrative was quickly overshadowed by Bo Bichette threatening a return. But being ultimately video’d in pain while attempting a 3/4 sprint on the Rogers Centre turf leaving him off the roster, and then subsequently two discouraging losses at home in Games 1 and 2.

Gausman’s performance could have been the storyline in the first matchup if it wasn’t for the Jays showing little to no signs of life against Bryce Miller. Who left the game after 6 innings with 2 hits and just 1 run allowed on a home run from Springer. An entirely different story was told in game 2, as Yesavage finally came down to earth and allowed 5 earned runs and 4 hits in 4 innings before the bullpen allowed 6 more. The Jays fell 10-3, as yet again the offence failed to get much of a spark.

Now heading on the road to Seattle for 3 games down 0-2, the Blue Jays were in need of an immediate turnaround to regain some ground on the dominating Mariners and now facing poor odds all over again. Shane Bieber was set to make an impression on this postseason run, and that he did. His 4-hit, 2-run 6 innings and a bomb raid from Springer, Guerrero Jr., Kirk and Giménez catapulted the Blue Jays to a 12-2 6th inning lead. Another from Barger after two back-to-back from Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh culminated towards a 13-4 final score.

Game 4. Backs against the wall and unable to properly account for a bullpen game as a result of extreme usage. The Blue Jays are forced to turn to 41-year-old Max Scherzer, who had most recently surrendered 10 hits and 4 runs in 5 innings to the Red Sox and 7 hits and 7 runs in 0.2 innings to the Royals. And had just one decent start over his last six outings. But Mad Max has been here before. He won a World Series in 2019 with the Astros and again in 2023 with the Rangers. He knows how to pitch at the biggest stage, and has proved it time and time again. But does he still have the stuff? What does it matter, we can always yank him early and turn to the trusted arms of Louis Varland, Eric Lauer, Braydon Fisher, SerAnthony Domínguez and Jeff Hoffman. It’s not like someone over 40 can throw 5.2 innings of 2-hit, 2-run, 5-strikeout baseball in Game 4 of the 2025 ALCS against one of the scariest lineups in the sport, featuring the probable AL MVP, who just broke Aaron Judge‘s AL home run record. Surely not.

But he did, and Vladdy and the Blue Jays offence put their exclamation point on it. Scoring 3 runs on starter Luis Castillo in just 2.1 innings and then hanging up 5 more on the bullpen. The Blue Jays had just tied the series 2-2 on the back of a retro Max Scherzer postseason performance with only one more on the road before finishing the series in the comfort of the Dome.

What can be an oftentimes decisive Game 5 loomed with Toronto’s ace ready to go again but this time in enemy territory for the first time this postseason. Gausman displayed his usual dominance, cruising 5.2 and allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks. The lone run coming on a Eugenio Suárez homer in the bottom of the 2nd. Despite stranding the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the 4th, the Blue Jays managed to score on a Springer double in the 5th and an Earnie single in the 6th. After a groundout from 3-hitting DH Jorge Polanco and a strikeout from Josh Naylor, Gausman walked Arozarena and hit 91 pitches, opening the door for skipper John Schneider to turn to the pen. Trusted righty Louis Varland came flying out of the pen to walk Suárez but then recouped and forced a groundout from J.P. Crawford to escape the 6th with the one-run lead intact. The top of the 7th started with a bang as with 1 out Mariners stud Bryan Woo smoked George Springer on the right patella with a fastball. George was able to walk himself to first base but was ultimately pinch run for by Joey Loperfido. A 2-out intentional walk made room for Kirk to do some damage and extend the lead but he grounded out to the mound.

The bottom half of the 8th inning featured all of the drama, and provided Toronto media endless content. After Varland’s seemless 8th, in a puzzling move that left heads scratched to the brain across the continent, Schneider went to Brendon Little. Likely thinking, with a 3-batter minimum, a lefty would optimize matchups considering Raleigh and Polanco both switch hit, and Josh Naylor bats left. The only problem being that both Raleigh and Polanco hit considerably better this season from the right side against left-handed pitching. While Josh Naylor statistically seems to have no overwhelmingly glaring preference of hitting righties, his stats slightly favour them.

Raleigh hit for a .281 AVG, .351 OBP, .681 SLG and 1.032 OPS against lefties this year, while ^_just a .231 AVG, .362 OBP, .547 SLG and a .909 OPS against righties.

Polanco hit for a .305 AVG, .345 OBP, .543 SLG and .888 OPS against lefties, and a .254 AVG, .321 OBP, .481 SLG, and .802 OPS against righties.

Josh Naylor was solid against both, hitting for a .287 AVG, .323 OBP, .436 SLG and a .759 OPS against lefties, and a .298 AVG, .368 OBP, .475 SLG and a .843 OPS against righties.

Evidence suggests you should probably go righty, but nonetheless, Schneider clearly had his heart set on using a lefty in this spot. Perhaps to juggle the middle of the lineup around the plate, since both Gausman and Varland, who pitched earlier, both throw from the right side and force them to hit left. Perhaps solely to have Naylor see a lefty. Not sure anybody but John Schneider will ever know entirely.

In another move, Jays fans will question for a long time, Schneider picked Brendon Little to feed to the wolves of the heart of this order. With setup man Domínguez and closer Hoffman ready to pounce and slam the door. Damning the Mariners to Toronto down 3-2 in the ALCS. Fighting with their backs against the wall with their first Pennant hopes diminishing.

Instead, for those who don’t know by now:

As most of Toronto will tell you, you could see it coming.

Cal Raleigh pulls a blast to left. Tie game.

Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor walk.

John Schneider turns to his setup man, SerAnthony. And Dominguez could prove to be no better on the day. Immediately hitting Randy Arozarena and loading the bases for Eugenio Suárez. One mistake and the rest is history. Suárez unloaded the bases into right field. Giving the Mariners a 6-2 lead, which is how the ballgame ended.

Now jammed into a corner, facing elimination for the first time all year and with a banged up superstar table-setter in George Springer. The Toronto Blue Jays turned to the rookie once more. A 22-year-old newbie turned jersey staple in Toronto was given the chance to further his young legacy yet again. Some early turbulence caused scary moments. But, for the most part Yesavage did what he came to do. Allowing just 2 runs and 6 hits in 5.2 innings and striking out 7 Mariners. His hurling counterpart, Logan Gilbert, did not have a similar afternoon. The offence jumped on him early. Culminating 4 runs in the opening 3 innings and never looking back. The onslaught forced the manager’s hand quickly. Bringing in the pen for the tall task of closing out the remaining 5 sides. The relief effort in white lined with blue stayed resilient, maintaining the lead and ending the ballgame 6-2. Allowing Vladdy and the conglomerate one more shot at the final destination.

Everybody’s two favourite words, Game 7. The Blue Jays had just won three out of four contests to keep their season alive against some of the toughest competition the game has to offer. Now they just have to win one more time, on their field. A field that has seen some miraculous playoff moments in favour of the Blue Jays. Joe Carter‘s 1993 walk-off World Series winner. José Bautista‘s 2015 slam and flip against the Rangers in Game 2 of the ALDS. Or Edwin Encarnación‘s 2016 extra-inning Wild Card walk-off dinger against Baltimore. The Dome has seen plenty. But we want more.

The season is on the line and Shane Bieber gets the call. The stakes don’t get higher for a franchise that hasn’t sniffed a World Series since 1993, but still have memories of a cherished back-to-back triumph. Bieber struggled early but held his own, allowing a quick run from Julio thanks to clutch Canadian Josh Naylor’s single in the top half of the 1st. To which Daulton Varsho and the Jays promptly responded with one of their own in the bottom half.

The middle innings were a hard watch for Canadians and Blue Jays fans worldwide. The offence did nothing. Julio took a slider that looked a foot and a half outside what seemed to be 450 feet to left field taking the lead in the 3rd. Bieber then allowed a 1-out double and walked a second runner on with 2 away, ending his evening aligned for the loss. His replacement once again, Varland. Who else at this point. Varland was able to end the frame without allowing any runs, stranding baserunners. But, the Big Dumper, Mr. Probable AL MVP Cal Raleigh proved inevitable yet again as he smoked an opposite field home run to extend the lead 3-1 in the 5th.

With nothing left to do but score, the Jays struggled against George Kirby and continued to struggle against Bryan woo, going three-up-three-down in the 5th and scoreless in the 6th. Skipper Schneider, with nothing left to lose, emptied his toolbox onto the table and returned his ace Gausman to the mound to maintain the deficit. Hoping to hold on long enough for the bats to get something brewing. In traditional Gausman fashion, but bullpen edition, he retired the side with 2 on without allowing a run.

In the bottom of the 7th some karma came boomeranging back around at Bryan Woo who started to feel some pressure in front of the stunned and anxious, but loud Rogers Centre faithful. After walking Barger, Woo allowed a single to IKF. Setting up a perfect Giménez sacrifice bunt with nobody out and the top of the lineup rolling around.

Here Comes George Springer

George Springer steps out of the on-deck circle as the go-ahead run. Eyeing Bryan Woo for revenge in the best way the baseball gods know. On the scoreboard. Woo was the very pitcher that plunked Springer in Game 5 and seemingly almost ended his season. Perhaps luckily for Bryan Woo, Mariners manager Dan Wilson decided to cancel the revenge tour by signalling Eduard Bazardo out to the mound.

The not so subtle hum of the Rogers Centre overwhelms the atmosphere. A 3-1 game in the bottom of the 7th, one away. Barger on 3rd, staring down the warming up Bazardo. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the game-tying run, stands on second base. He looks over both shoulders. Checking the Mariners outfielder positioning. Weighing his ability to score, and ultimately tie the ballgame if Springer finds some green.

As George takes a deep breath, cooling his already ice cold nervous system, a statistic appears across the bottom of the screen. 

“Toronto Blue Jays: 17 wins when trailing after 6 innings. Most in MLB.”

The first offering from Bazardo, a 96-MPH fastball down and in, tailing towards the sore back knee of George. Likely expecting to get brushed off of the plate early, Springer evades without provocation. Then skips away in a jittery fashion. The second offering was the exact same look, but with more of the plate beneath it. A 96-MPH fastball, tailing inside, and hanging ever so slightly. Against a swing that was designed to produce sacrifice flies, and inch away at the 2-run deficit, which caught the middle of the barrel and launched into the first row in left field. The Rogers Centre erupted into its now patented frenzy as a man in a George Springer Argos jersey thrusts the ball into the air.  

After Springer’s blast the Dome was loud and the momentum had shifted abrasively. It almost made getting the last 6 outs of Game 7 of the ALCS in order appear easy. Bassitt replaced Gausman in the 8th and proceeded to retire 3 batters in order. Hoffman then relieved Bassitt of his duties, and struck out the side in order, ensuring the Blue Jays a spot atop the American League, and in the World Series. 

As the celebrations commence on the field and the hugs and high fives fly. Your celebration is disrupted by your phone buzzing. A bet payout notification. $365. Your simple $10 throwaway Blue Jays bets in January have now returned you $537.90 from $20. You check to see if your unbelievable earnings could afford you an opportunity to see the Toronto Blue Jays in person in the World Series. After queueing up with hundreds of thousands, you’re awarded the opportunity to purchase a ticket. 

Looks like you should have bet $80. 

Springer’s home run is already widely considered the second biggest home run the Rogers Centre has ever seen. As previously mentioned, the Rogers Centre has seen some big ones. Comfortably nestled between everybody baseball player’s childhood backyard fantasy becoming reality through Jumping Joe Carter, and José Bautista’s unforgettable bat flip, stare down. We now have another moment to cherish forever. Springer’s 3-run dinger. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s postseason run has been video game-like thus far and you couldn’t rationally complete an article about this Pennant run without soloing it out. In the 4-games against the Yankees in the ALDS, Vlad the Yankee killer finished 9 for 17 with 3 home runs, 9 runs batted in, 1 base on balls, 5 runs, 18 total bases, just 2 runners left on base and 1 strikeout. This was good enough for a .529 batting average, .550 on-base percentage, 1.059 slugging percentage and a 1.609 on-base plus slugging. Fairytales. No way he could continue this ridiculous pace.

Oh but he can, well maybe not that exact pace but still beyond belief. In 7 against the Mariners Vladdy went 10 for 26 with 3 more home runs, 3 runs batted in, 1 base on balls, 6 runs, 22 total bases (including 9 in Game 3) and struck out just twice.

These two series totals amount to historic postseason numbers. In 11 total games he now has appeared at the plate 51 times for 43 at bats, was hit by 1 pitch and walked twice, and has 19 hits, a franchise record 6 home runs (tied 13th all time), 3 doubles, 11 runs, a .442 average, .510 on-base percentage, .930 slugging percentage and a 1.440 on-base plus slugging. This postseason he’s tied for 1st with Springer in runs, has the solo lead in hits, is second in average behind Judge, has hit the most home runs, driven in the most runs, collected the most total bases, third highest on-base percentage, and highest slugging percentage, on-base percentage and oWAR.

Soak it all in Jays fans, they’re going to the World Series. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the American League Conference Series’ Most Valuable Player of 2025.

World Series Matchup

The ball will be handed back to the youngster at the Dome on Friday, October 24th. Signalling the start of the fight for the ultimate podium in the sport. He will be facing off against the always formidable Blake Snell. Snell has pitched 21 innings this postseason, and the Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) have won all three of his playoff outings with his last two being one-hitters.

After Mr. Snell, the Jays will likely see Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has also been ace-worthy this postseason and prior. His postseason numbers do not reflect that of a secondary starter, nor do the remaining starters Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow.

That’s four aces. Well the other side of the ball can’t be that impressive, can it? They have five combined MVP awards across what’s generally the top three hitters in their batting order.

Shohei Ohtani – 2021 (Angels), 2023 (Angels), 2024 (Dodgers)
Freddie Freeman – 2020 (Braves)
Mookie Betts – 2018 (Red Sox)

If you count the retiring left-handed future hall of fam chucker Clayton Kershaw, they have six MVPs across 4 studs. The Dodgers have the largest payroll in baseball, totalling $350,024,106 and $268,807,958 on their 26-man roster. The Blue Jays support the 6th highest payroll in the Show, spending almost $100,000,000 less than the Dodgers.

To make matters even crazier, their premier talent and the best player in the history of the sport has deferred a gigantic portion of his 10-year $700,000,000 contract to a decade from now. Until 2034 he will be paid and take up just a $2,000,000 cap hit. Once 2034 rolls around, if we ever make it there, Shohei will be set to receive $68,000,000 a year for the following decade. This contract has positioned the Dodgers front office in such a way that they can provide Ohtani with very well paid pieces all around the clubhouse, enabling him best to solidify is legacy.

The Dodgers currently employ seven different players with over an average annual value over $20,000,000 on their contracts.

It’s no secret that the Toronto Blue Jays are underdogs in this World Series, considering George Springer would be the seventh highest paid player on their roster. Toeing off against the league’s best team and player, reigning Champions, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It seems as though the common ideology among sports books according to Sports Betting Dime, is that the Dodgers are -224 favourites to win it all. Leaving the Blue Jays is measly +185. But, evidently, Vegas has been wrong before. They will be wrong again. Being at +185 is a whole lot better than +1629 or +3550.

Four games to glory. Don’t count this team out.

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