Dodgers and Blue Jays talk about what makes Shohei Ohtani a special player
USA TODAY Sports interviewed members of the Dodgers and Blue Jays ahead of the World Series to discuss Shohi Ohtani’s unique talent.
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TORONTO — Game 7 of the World Series is truly made for Hollywood, and not just because of the drama inherent in a winner-take-all game.
Simply put, it’s the time when the screenwriter can lay out the script, but it’s ultimately up to the director to guide the plot to its destination.
And that brings us to Game 7, Dodgers vs. Blue Jays, at Rogers Center. The former is aiming for back-to-back Major League Baseball titles since 2000, and the latter is aiming for Canada’s first Commissioner’s Trophy since 1993.
Is everyone on deck? pretty. All 12 Blue Jays pitchers are available, manager John Schneider said, while all Dodgers pitchers except Game 6 hero Yoshinobu Yamamoto are available.
“We’re hoping everyone will be ready,” Schneider said about three hours before the first pitch.
One thing is for sure: Max Scherzer, who started the most recent Game 7 of the World Series for the 2019 champion Washington Nationals, will be ready from the jump. Or long before that.
“I walked past him last night and it looked like he was going to kill someone,” Schneider said of the 41-year-old man.
His opponent is two-way legend Shohei Ohtani, and this will be the first time in his career that he will be pitching after a three-day rest period. How far Ohtani can fight is probably the most important storyline of Game 7.
One more thing: When will the Blue Jays release rookie Trey Yesavage, who will rest for two days after his heroics in Game 5? That could be sooner, Schneider says. There may be delays.
Indeed, Schneider and Roberts penciled in the scenario. The stars then take the reins and edit the script as necessary.
“I just have to play,” Dodgers left fielder and Game 6 hero Quique Hernandez said while playing in his 103rd playoff game.
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Shohei Ohtani hit a single to center field in the top of the first inning against Max Scherzer and advanced to second base on the fielder’s choice. But Scherzer hit Freddie Freeman to center fly and Mookie Betts to ground out to keep Ohtani in scoring position.
Starting pitcher: Shohei Ohtani
- Shohei Otani (left) P
- Will Smith(R)C
- Freddie Freeman (left) 1B
- Mookie Betts(R) SS
- Max Muncy (L) 3B
- Teoscar Hernandez (R) RF
- Tommy Edman(S) CF
- Enrique Hernandez (R) LF
- Miguel Rojas(R) 2B
Starting pitcher: Max Scherzer
- George Springer (R) DH
- Nathan Rooks (left) LF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
- Beau Bichette (R) 2B
- Addison Berger (L) RF
- Alejandro Kirk (R) C
- Dalton Varsho (left) CF
- Ernie Clement(R) 3B
- Andres Jimenez (left) SS
TORONTO — For better or for worse, Game 7 of this World Series will not only decide the champion between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, but for better or for worse, it will also decide the achievements of the participants.
Sadly, today’s ring culture can turn perception into reality. So here are five players whose reps might get polished or a little burnt when the first champagne cork hits the floor.
- Shohei Otani
- max scherzer
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- mookie betts
- Trey Yesavage
– Gabe Lux
All told, there have been 40 Game 7s in World Series history, including a rare Game 8 in 1912 due to a tie in Game 2 of the series.
Here’s how Game 7 of the World Series has looked over the past 30 years.
- October 30, 2019 — Nationals 6, Astros 2
- November 1, 2017 — Astros 5, Dodgers 1
- November 2, 2016 — Cubs 8, Indians 7 (10 innings)
- October 29, 2014 — Giants 3, Royals 2
- October 28, 2011 — Cardinals 6, Rangers 2
- October 27, 2002 — Angels 4, Giants 1
- November 4, 2001 — Diamondbacks 3, Yankees 2
- October 26, 1997 — Marlins 3, Indians 2 (11 innings)
- October 27, 1991 — Twins 1, Braves 0 (10 innings)
- October 25, 1987 — Twins 4, Cardinals 2
- October 27, 1986 — Mets 8, Red Sox 5
- October 27, 1985 — Royals 11, Cardinals 0
- Yankees – 27
- Cardinals – 11
- Athletics – 9
- Red Sox – 9
- Dodgers – 8
- Giants – 8
Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has won two World Series championships in his career, in 2019 with the Washington Nationals and in 2023 with the Texas Rangers. The 41-year-old also appeared in the 2012 Fall Classic with the Detroit Tigers, becoming the first player in history to pitch in the World Series for four different teams.
- 2024: Dodgers
- 2023: Rangers
- 2022: Astros
- 2021: Braves
- 2020: Dodgers
- 2019: Nationals
- 2018: Red Sox
- 2017: Astros
- 2016: Cubs
- 2015: Royals
- 2014: Giants
- 2013: Red Sox
- 2012: Giants
- 2011: Cardinals
- 2010: Giants
Game 7 of the World Series is being broadcast on FOX in the United States.
The World Series is a best-of-seven series. This means a team must win four games to become champions.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in five games in the 2024 World Series.
Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk is 5 feet 8 inches tall. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star has five home runs and 13 RBIs in 17 games this postseason.
This will be the Blue Jays’ third appearance in the World Series, having won in 1992 and 1993.
Since the first World Series in 1903, the Dodgers have made history by winning eight titles in franchise history. The Dodgers won titles in 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2000 and 2024.
The Dodgers will play today at 5pm Pacific Time.
Toronto last won the World Series in 1993, the second time in a back-to-back series.
Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers before the 2024 season. At the time of his signing, it was the largest contract in North American professional sports history, and the deal defers the package’s $680 million to payments starting in 2034.
pitcher (12): LHP Anthony Banda, LHP Jack Dryer, RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP Edgardo Henriquez, LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Will Klein, RHP Loki Sasaki, RHP Emmett Sheehan, LHP Blake Snell, RHP Blake Treinen, LHP Justin Robleski, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Position, dual wielder (14): SS Mookie Betts, OF Alex Cole, OF Justin Dean, INF/OF Tommy Edman, 1B Freddie Freeman, INF/OF Quique Hernandez, OF Teoscar Hernandez, INF/OF Kim Hye-sung, 3B Max Muncy, DH/P Shohei Ohtani, OF Andy Pages, INF Miguel Rojas, C Ben Rotvedt, C Will Smith.
pitcher (12): RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Shane Bieber, RHP Seranthony Dominguez, RHP Braydon Fisher, LHP Mason Fluharty, RHP Kevin Guzman, RHP Jeff Hoffman, LHP Eric Lauer, LHP Brendon Little, RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Lewis Berland, RHP Trey Yesavage.
position player (14): C Tyler Heineman, C Alejandro Kirk, INF/OF Addison Berger, INF Beau Bichette, INF Ernie Clement, INF Ty France, INF Andres Jimenez, INF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., INF Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, OF Nathan Rooks, OF Davis Schneider, OF George Springer, OF Miles Stroh, OF Dalton Varsho.
Watch World Series Game 7 live on Fubo
Game 7 of the 2025 World Series is being played at the Rogers Center in Toronto, home of the Blue Jays.
Game 7 is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT Saturday, November 1st
