OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Fountains Up -- A Kansas City Royals Franchise

3Bplay · 10-28-2025, 02:20 PM

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RECAP
Dodgers, Blue Jays set to battle for it all

By MLB.com staff
10/22/2025

Los Angeles rolls; Blue Jays and Mariners play out the string: Well, we're finally down to the last two teams.

While the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners were locked into a tight, competitive series that went the full seven games, the eventual winner of that series in the Blue Jays will face a rested Dodgers squad that steamrolled over the Brewers with a +21 run differential in a four-game sweep. They were plus-21 in run differential; and pitched a pair of shutouts, one in Game 1 and the other in Game 4.

But will the longer layoff affect the Dodgers? There isn't any conclusive evidence that a longer layoff affects those teams more heading into the World Series, but there are two examples of this happening. The 1981 Yankees and 2007 Rockies are the only two teams in modern baseball history to win their respective league pennant, but go on to lose the World Series to a team that played five games or more in their respective league championship.

The ALCS by contrast was tight and much more entertaining, with both teams holding serve at home through the first four games and neither team winning by more than two runs. Seattle finally broke through with a road win at the Rogers Centre in Game 5, but the Blue Jays responded with a pair of two-run victories in Seattle for Games 6 and 7.

At any rate, the Dodgers look like the more complete team of the two -- excellent starting pitching, a lineup without many holes and a deep bench, and they do have a solid back end of the bullpen. They also get Mookie Betts back for the World Series, which will be a massive boost. However, they do have a soft underbelly in their middle relief. It wasn't as apparent in the Brewers' series because they were so bad offensively, but the Phillies' elite offense really took advantage of their mediocre middle relief.

They did get Roki Sasaki back for the NLCS, and was solid in tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. The back end of the bullpen is also good with Brock Stewart and Alex Vesia, but at times they have struggled to get there as the Dodgers' middle relief corps in the Philadelphia series for the NLDS posted an ERA of over 10.00.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will be without Shane Bieber for the World Series, as he was ruled out with an ankle injury that he suffered making a play on a groundball during the Seattle series. Despite a subpar regular season, Bieber has been one of the better starters in all of the postseason with a 2.17 ERA and a 2-1 record in five starts.

His replacement on the roster, Bowdwn Francis, hasn't pitched since September 28th and finished the season with a 4.99 ERA. To deal with the Dodgers' lefty-heavy lineup with stalwarts like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy, the Nlue Jays also jettisoned righty relievers Ryan Burr and Austin Voth for Mason Fluharty and Brendon Little, a pair of southpaws to add to Eric Lauer's presence.

Francis isn't slated to pitch until Game 4, but in a do-or-die situation could easily be pre-empted by projected Game 1 starter Chris Bassitt on short rest, who has pitched well despite an 0-2 postseason mark. Jose Berrios is expected to start the second game with Kevin Gausman in Game 3. The Dodgers are expected to go with the Japanese duo of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Ohtani in Games 1 and 2, respectively, with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow for the next two.

10-28-2025, 02:20 PM	#36
3Bplay Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 336	LCS In Review (10/22) LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RECAP Dodgers, Blue Jays set to battle for it all By MLB.com staff 10/22/2025 Los Angeles rolls; Blue Jays and Mariners play out the string: Well, we're finally down to the last two teams. While the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners were locked into a tight, competitive series that went the full seven games, the eventual winner of that series in the Blue Jays will face a rested Dodgers squad that steamrolled over the Brewers with a +21 run differential in a four-game sweep. They were plus-21 in run differential; and pitched a pair of shutouts, one in Game 1 and the other in Game 4. But will the longer layoff affect the Dodgers? There isn't any conclusive evidence that a longer layoff affects those teams more heading into the World Series, but there are two examples of this happening. The 1981 Yankees and 2007 Rockies are the only two teams in modern baseball history to win their respective league pennant, but go on to lose the World Series to a team that played five games or more in their respective league championship. The ALCS by contrast was tight and much more entertaining, with both teams holding serve at home through the first four games and neither team winning by more than two runs. Seattle finally broke through with a road win at the Rogers Centre in Game 5, but the Blue Jays responded with a pair of two-run victories in Seattle for Games 6 and 7. At any rate, the Dodgers look like the more complete team of the two -- excellent starting pitching, a lineup without many holes and a deep bench, and they do have a solid back end of the bullpen. They also get Mookie Betts back for the World Series, which will be a massive boost. However, they do have a soft underbelly in their middle relief. It wasn't as apparent in the Brewers' series because they were so bad offensively, but the Phillies' elite offense really took advantage of their mediocre middle relief. They did get Roki Sasaki back for the NLCS, and was solid in tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. The back end of the bullpen is also good with Brock Stewart and Alex Vesia, but at times they have struggled to get there as the Dodgers' middle relief corps in the Philadelphia series for the NLDS posted an ERA of over 10.00. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will be without Shane Bieber for the World Series, as he was ruled out with an ankle injury that he suffered making a play on a groundball during the Seattle series. Despite a subpar regular season, Bieber has been one of the better starters in all of the postseason with a 2.17 ERA and a 2-1 record in five starts. His replacement on the roster, Bowdwn Francis, hasn't pitched since September 28th and finished the season with a 4.99 ERA. To deal with the Dodgers' lefty-heavy lineup with stalwarts like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy, the Nlue Jays also jettisoned righty relievers Ryan Burr and Austin Voth for Mason Fluharty and Brendon Little, a pair of southpaws to add to Eric Lauer's presence. Francis isn't slated to pitch until Game 4, but in a do-or-die situation could easily be pre-empted by projected Game 1 starter Chris Bassitt on short rest, who has pitched well despite an 0-2 postseason mark. Jose Berrios is expected to start the second game with Kevin Gausman in Game 3. The Dodgers are expected to go with the Japanese duo of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Ohtani in Games 1 and 2, respectively, with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow for the next two.