The Los Angeles Dodgers have the Toronto Blue Jays where they want them in the World Series — at home for three games in three days.
Tied 1-1, the best-of-seven series resumes Monday night, when the Dodgers will be powered by their raucous home crowd in a bid to become the first team to win back-to-back championships since the New York Yankees won three from 1998-2000.
The Dodgers beat the Yankees in New YorkLast year to obtain the eighth world championship title. Their only home win was at Dodger Stadium in 1963.
Twenty hours after walking off the field under the closed roof at Rogers Center, the Blue Jays practiced at Dodger Stadium on Sunday under a hazy sky that obscured the San Gabriel Mountains. They arrived at the hotel at 4 am
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not arrive at the ballpark until 5 p.mAfter flight delay.
Three-time Cy Young Award winnerMax ScherzerStarts Game 3 for the Blue Jays at 41 years, 82 days. They’re hoping he can repeat his appearance in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, when Scherzer walked the Seattle Mariners to two runs over 5 2/3 innings.
“Obviously as you get older, you don’t have the same things. I know they don’t have the same leash as they used to,” Roberts said. “But man, he’s still a great competitor. It’s still going to be a tough test for us regardless because he wants to beat us so bad.”
Dodger fans have their own memories of Scherzer, and they’re not good ones. Scheduled to start for Los Angeles in Game 6 of the 2021 NLCS, he was a late scratch due to an arm strain. The Dodgers lost to the Atlanta Braves that night and were eliminated.
“I will never look back for any motive,” Scherzer said. “I have a lot of motivation. I’m here to win and I have a club full of players who want to win too.”
Scherzer and Shane Bieber, who will start Game 4, will become the eighth duo of former Cy Young winners to start back-to-back World Series games for one team, the Elias Sports Bureau said.
Tyler Glasnow starts Monday for the Dodgers, the team he rooted for while growing up about 30 miles away in Santa Clarita. He allowed one run and seven hits with 18 strikeouts, eight walks and a 0.68 ERA in three postseason appearances.
“It’s very emotional and amazing, but I think that’s the thing I’ll look at more and focus on and really feel his emotions maybe when this is all over. I’m just trying to go to work and do a good job,” he said.
Toronto played three road games in three days in the ALCS against Seattle. The Blue Jays won their first two games and lost the third, winning seven games to earn their first trip to the World Series since 1993.
“Starting pitching will be important for both sides, and players who can throw multiple innings will be important these next three days,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “But I think especially against this team, you want to try to wear down their starters and get into their fold.”
The Dodgers had a 5.26 ERA in September, third-worst in the National League that month. Their relievers blew several late leads and allowed 12 home runs.
Los Angeles got along awkwardly from the startYoshinobu YamamotoIn Game 2, when he became the first pitcher since Mike Clevinger in 2023 to throw consecutive complete games at any point and the first in the postseason since Curt Schilling in 2001. There hasn’t been one in a World Series since 2015.
“It starts with the starters going deep,” Roberts said. “Three times in a row is really important to diversify the diluted look and kind of get the best matches possible.”
Roberts said he plans to limit the use of rookie Ruki Sasaki in the ninth inning.
Scherzer’s performances have diminished in recent years as he has struggled with injuries. But he’s still as sharp as ever, and Schneider was reminded of that during their fiery exchange when he visited the mound for Scherzer’s ALCS start.
“I’ll try to avoid any visits to the hills with Max tomorrow,” he said.
Poe went back to the beginning
torontoBeau BechetHe will start at second base on Monday. He exited the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning of a 5-1 loss in game two and stayed in the game at second.
“I felt good coming out yesterday,” Schneider said. “I think with every day that goes by, it’s probably going to get as close to normal as possible at this point in the year.”
Bichette is a two-time All-Star and Friday’s opener was his first time at second base since a game in Triple-A in 2019. He went 1-for-2 with a walk in an 11-4 Game 1 win, his first action since injuring his knee Sept. 6 against the Yankees.
“I have a lot of respect for him because he’s changing positions now at this point where everything really matters,” said Toronto’s Andres Gimenez, who previously switched from second base to shortstop. “He showed that he can play second at a good level. He showed you that today by playing a backhand that was really difficult.”