Ohtani watch, Dodgers pitching, Vlad Guerrero Jr: What to watch in 2025 World Series
You can’t talk about the Dodgers without talking about Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese two-way superstar was in a bona fide slump at the plate this postseason… until Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers.
In addition to being the starting pitcher that game, Ohtani became just the 12th man to hit three home runs in the same postseason game. And he struck out 10 in six innings of work on the mound without allowing a run, earning NLCS Most Valuable Player honours. The Blue Jays need to find a way to keep him quiet.
Ohtani’s pitching is just one factor of a strong Dodgers rotation, which has seen massive contributions this postseason from its front two, Blake Snell and Yamamoto Yoshinobu.
Snell has held opposing teams to just two runs in 21 innings of work across three outings this postseason (3–0), striking out 28 and walking just five. He faced the minimum 24 batters (allowing a single hit) in eight innings against the Brewers and figures to be the Dodgers’ starter in Game 1 against the Jays. Yamamoto, meanwhile, has compiled a 2–1 record these playoffs, with 18 strikeouts in 19 and two-thirds innings. He pitched a complete game three-hitter, allowing only one run, against the Brewers.
However, question marks remain over the Dodgers’ bullpen. While Sasaki Roki has apparently established himself as the team’s closer, working to a 1.13 earned run average in seven outings this postseason with three saves, he looked shaky against the Crew in the NLCS. And other parts of the pen, such as Blake Treinen, continue to be leaky.
If the Blue Jays can find a way through, they will be in a good place — and it starts with their ALCS MVP, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
He has dominated this postseason for Toronto, tallying six home runs and 12 runs batted in in 11 games (51 plate appearances) this season, reaching safely 26 times for a slash line of .442/.510/.930.
And there’s backup coming. The Jays look set to have Bo Bichette available for the series against the Dodgers, after the shortstop missed the last six weeks of action across the regular season and postseason with a knee injury.
