Dodgers force World Series to decisive Game 7

Dodgers force World Series to decisive Game 7 by holding off Blue Jays 3-1

REWIND. SUCH AN EXCITING CONVERSATION. UW-MILWAUKEE ALUM HEADING TO THE WORLD SERIES. TAYLOR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN HEAR US AND THAT YOU’RE JOINING US. I WANT TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE YOUR BROTHER, FOR THE FIRST TIME IS ABOUT TO PLAY IN THE WORLD SERIES FOR THAT TITLE. I GOT TO ASK YOU, HOW IS HE FEELING RIGHT NOW? HOW IS HE DOING? WHAT ARE THOSE CONVERSATIONS LIKE? YEAH, I THINK JUST BEING A HOMETOWN FROM WISCONSIN, WISCONSIN NATIVE AND, YOU KNOW, IT, IT’S EXCITING FOR HIM TO BE IN THE SITUATION AND FOR HIS FAMILY TO SUPPORT HIM THROUGH THE PROCESS AND JUST ENJOY THE MOMENT. WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE SERIES AT THIS POINT, I THINK IS REALLY EXCITING. I THINK JUST GETTING THERE IS IS HALF THE BATTLE, BUT IT’S ALL IT’S ALL THE LITTLE STEPS THAT I’VE TAKEN, THAT HE’S TAKEN TO GET THERE AND HOW MUCH HARD WORK HE DOES OUTSIDE OF THE BASEBALL SEASON AND WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. SO REALLY PROUD OF HIM. AND OBVIOUSLY IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE BLUE JAYS, YOU KNOW HE HAD A ROUGH START TO THE YEAR. DIDN’T COME BACK RIGHT AWAY. BUT YOU KNOW AND THEN PULLED HIS HAMSTRING HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR. SO HE’S BEEN UP AND DOWN AND KIND OF LIVED THE REHAB LIFE A LITTLE BIT. BUT REALLY PROUD OF OF HIM AND CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HIM EXECUTE HERE IN THE WORLD SERIES THIS FRIDAY. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND WE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOME GOES AS WELL WHEN DEALING WITH POSTSEASON BASEBALL. COACH, I HAVE TO ASK YOU, LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ONE OF THE FINAL TWO TEAMS THAT ARE LEFT IN POSTSEASON BASEBALL. WE KNOW VARSHA WILL BECOME THE FIRST UW ALUM TO APPEAR IN THE WORLD SERIES. SO WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THAT LEVEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT BASEBALL THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN? YEAH, OBVIOUSLY IT TAKES TALENT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE TALENT TO GET TO THAT LEVEL. BUT IT’S A DRIVE. IT’S A WORK ETHIC. IT’S THE ABILITY TO BE CONSISTENT IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. THE BIG LEAGUERS ARE THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AT DOING IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND NEVER REALLY RESTING ON THEIR FAILURES. SO THAT’S WHAT’S BEEN FUN TO WATCH WITH DAULTON IS HIS MATURITY, HIS GROWTH. NOW, HIS CONSISTENCY IN BECOMING ONE OF THE BEST BASEBALL PLAYERS IN THE WORLD. ABSOLUTELY. I WANTED TO ASK AS WELL, WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT HE HAS TAKEN THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER FROM UW ALL THE WAY TO THE MLB? YEAH, I THINK DALTON’S ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN AN UNDERDOG AND HE’S HAD TO FIGHT FOR WHAT HE’S ABOUT TO RECEIVE. SO HE TAKES THAT SAME PERSONALITY INTO THE OUTFIELD, INTO HIS AT BATS. HE’S A TOUGH OUT. HE DOES DAMAGE WHEN IT CALLS FOR IT, BUT HE’S JUST A REALLY GOOD TEAMMATE AND A GOOD TEAM PLAYER. AND AS A GOLD GLOVE CENTER FIELDER, HE PROVIDES FOR HIS TEAM EVEN WHEN HE’S NOT DOING WELL OFFENSIVELY. AND LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE IN STUDIO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF HIS UNBELIEVABLE CATCHES. BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS INSANE CATCH FROM GAME TWO AGAINST SEATTLE. LET’S GO AHEAD AND PLAY THAT MOMENT. POSTSEASON ON A LINE TO CENTER FIELD. VARSHO BACK AT FIRST, COMES ON DIVES AND MAKES THE CATCH. OH MAN. HE SAVED HIMSELF AFTER GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION WITH THE FIRST STEP. TAYLOR, I HAVE TO GET YOUR REACTION FIRST. WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE SEEING THAT CATCH? WELL, I’LL BE HONEST, I THINK THE FIRST ONE THAT HE CAME BACK HIS FIRST GAME, WHERE HE CAUGHT IT BEHIND HIS BACK, THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MISSTEPPED A LITTLE BIT. I DID ASK HIM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK IT WAS THE WHITE RALLY TOWELS THAT THEY HAD. HE COULDN’T REALLY READ IT OFF THE OFF THE BAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, SO HE MAKES ADJUSTMENTS. HE’S A GREAT OUTFIELDER OBVIOUSLY. GOLD GLOVE WINNER LAST YEAR. AND YOU KNOW I’M I’M PROUD OF TO SAY THAT AS A SISTER. AND I KNOW HIS FAMILY IS ROOTING FOR HIM EITHER EVEN BACK HOME HERE IN WISCONSIN. COACH CAN YOU PRACTICE FOR A MOMENT LIKE THAT? I KNOW YOU CAN’T. I MEAN, YOU CAN YOU CAN SHAG AS MANY BALLS AND BP AS YOU WANT. AND IT’S GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. BUT TO DO THAT LIVE IS PRETTY SPECIAL. ABSOLUTELY. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THIS SERIES THAT WE’RE WALKING INTO, WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE THE MENTALITY FOR DALTON AND THE REST OF THE BLUE JAYS? YEAH, YOU’RE TAKING ON A $500 MILLION PAYROLL SO THEY KNOW THAT THERE’S REALLY GOOD PLAYERS ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND THEY’RE PAID TO DO THAT. SO THEY JUST GOT TO STAY TRUE TO WHO THEY ARE AND PLAY THE BEST VERSION OF BASEBALL THAT THEY CAN AND STICK TO WHO THEY’VE BEEN ALL THE WAY ALONG. DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ABSOLUTELY. TAYLOR AND COACH, I WANTED TO ASK YOU GUYS THIS FINAL QUESTION. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO BASEBALL, WE KNOW IT’S A LITTLE BIT SUPERSTITIOUS. DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS, TAYLOR, THAT YOU OR YOUR FAMILY DO BEFORE WATCHING A GAME? NO, I’M JUST GOING WITH THE FRESH MIND. BASEBALL IS A HARD ENOUGH GAME ON YOURSELF. AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU DWELL ON THE LAST AT BAT OR THE LAST PLAY, IT’S PROBABLY GOING TO CARRY OVER TO THAT NEXT AT BAT. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST GOING TO FRESH MIND LIKE MY DAD ALWAYS SAYS, AND MY MOM ALWAYS SAYS TOO. IT’S LIKE, JUST JUST ENJOY THE MOMENT. AND IT’S GOING TO BE EXCITING. BUT TAKE IT ALL IN. THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE ROOTING FOR YOU. AND WHETHER THEY’RE IN THE STANDS OR WATCHING IT ON TV, JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, HE’S A HE’S A GREAT PLAYER REGARDLESS OF THE RESULTS. ABSOLUTELY. WHAT ABOUT YOU, COACH? NO, I TRY TO GET MY KIDS IN BED SO I CAN WATCH THE GAME. YEAH, EXACTLY. WATCH IT IN SILENCE. YEAH, I JUST I JUST WANT OUR GUYS TO REALLY WATCH THE GAME AND LEARN FROM THE GAME AND NOT JUST BE A FAN, BUT REALLY BE A STUDENT OF THE GAME AND KIND OF WATCH WHAT MAKES THEM THE ELITE PLAYERS. ABSOLUTELY. WELL, WE’VE BEEN WATCHING DALTON’S JOURNEY EVER SINCE HE MADE IT INTO THE BIG LEAGUES. SO DEFINITELY THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. GOOD LUCK TO DALTON, TO YOUR BROTHER AND TO YOUR FORMER ATHLETE, IF YOU WILL. WE KNOW THAT HE’S BEEN REPPING KWIK TRIP. WE SAW HIM WALKING IN WITH THE KWIK TRIP SHIRT. SO HE HAS HOME VERY CLOSE TO HIS HEART. TAYL

Updated: 10:41 PM CDT Oct 31, 2025

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Dodgers force World Series to decisive Game 7 by holding off Blue Jays 3-1

Updated: 10:41 PM CDT Oct 31, 2025

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto beat Toronto for the second time in a week, slumping Mookie Betts hit a two-run single in a three-run third inning and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday night to force the World Series to a decisive Game 7.Yamamoto was not quite as sharp as in his Game 2 four-hitter, the first World Series complete game in a decade. He lasted six innings and allowed a third-inning RBI single by George Springer, who returned after missing two games with a right side injury.Video above: Wisconsin native Daulton Varsho heading to World SeriesRookie relievers Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki combined for six outs before starter Tyler Glasnow came out of the bullpen to escape a ninth-inning jam and rescue the Dodgers. Max Scherzer will start Game 7 on Saturday night for the Blue Jays. He also started the last Game 7, getting a no-decision when Washington won the 2019 title over Houston.Scherzer is about to become the only living pitcher to start a winner-take-all World Series Game 7 for a second time.Baseball will have its ultimate game Saturday night when Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays play the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are trying to become the first team to win consecutive titles since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees won three in row.Los Angeles had been expected to start Tyler Glasnow before he closed out a 3-1 victory in Game 6. The 6-foot-8 right-hander is likely still available, but manager Dave Roberts' options also include Shohei Ohtani, who could pitch 2-4 innings as an opener on short rest.Scherzer also started the last Game 7 in 2019, boosted by a cortisone injection for an irritated nerve near his neck. Mad Max didn't have a clean inning and left after five trailing by two runs before his Washington Nationals rallied to win 6-2 in Houston.Video below: Japanese media flock to Ohtani for Dodgers seriesOnly Bob Gibson (1964, '67, '68) and Lew Burdette and Don Larsen (both 1957 and '58) have started multiple winner-take-all Game 7s in the World Series. While Burleigh Grimes started Game 7 in 1920 and '31, his first was in a year the Series was best-of-nine.Toronto gave the three-time Cy Young Award winner a $15.5 million, one-year contract. Scherzer picked his destination hoping to win a third World Series ring, after titles with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. The 18-year big league veteran has eagerly shared his experience with the Blue Jays."He's not afraid to question baserunning, question defense, question offense. He still thinks he's our best baserunner on the team from his days with the Nationals," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday. "He's not afraid to push the envelope. He's not afraid to be curious. He's not afraid to share things that he's been through that maybe I haven't been through.""There's a lot of teams that don't like Max Scherzers just because he questions everything," teammate Chris Bassitt added. "He wants to know every little detail from outfield positioning to why you're throwing this pitch to who is playing here to how we control off days."So many organizations, I feel like, don't like to answer questions. They like you to be a robot and say, yes sir, and go about your business."Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts this season. The eight-time All-Star didn't pitch between March 29 and June 25 because of right thumb inflammation, then was left off Toronto's roster for the first round of the playoffs after he went 0-3 in his last five starts, bothered by neck pain.He turned back the clock during the American League Championship Series, winning Game 4 against Seattle after shouting down Schneider during a mound visit.Bassitt was asked by Toronto to assist in recruiting Scherzer, a teammate on the 2022 New York Mets, and praised general manager Ross Atkins for making the move."I told Ross: This was going to be a headache for you, having Max Scherzer. And then I told the pitching staff about him, and I told the coaching staff, like: This is a guy that's going to stir a lot of pots," Bassitt said. "So everyone looked at Max, the 41-year-old that might end up on the IL a couple times, and they don't understand the true value of having that veteran guy that knows what it takes to win, and then he might teach you a thing or two along the way, too."Glasnow got three outs on three pitches to end Game 6. After Roki Sasaki left runs at second and third with no outs in the ninth, Glasnow popped up Ernie Clement on the first pitch, then Andres Gimenez hit a liner to left fielder Kiké Hernandez, who caught it and doubled off Addison Barger at second base.Glasnow, acquired from Tampa Bay in December 2023, was sidelined between April 27 and July 9 by right shoulder inflammation. The 32-year-old right-hander has a 1.42 ERA in three starts and two relief outings this postseason.Toronto will be playing a World Series Game 7 for the first time — the Blue Jays won their only championships in six games in both 1992 and '93.The LA Dodgers won their only Series Game 7 at Minnesota in 1965 when Sandy Koufax pitched a three-hit shutout on two days' rest after his four-hit shutout won Game 5. They lost Game 7 at home to Houston in 2017. Going back, the Brooklyn Dodgers lost Game 7 to the Yankees in 1947, '52 and '56, and beat the Yankees in Game 7 in 1955.

TORONTO —

Yamamoto was not quite as sharp as in his Game 2 four-hitter, the first World Series complete game in a decade. He lasted six innings and allowed a third-inning RBI single by George Springer, who returned after missing two games with a right side injury.

Video above: Wisconsin native Daulton Varsho heading to World Series

Rookie relievers Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki combined for six outs before starter Tyler Glasnow came out of the bullpen to escape a ninth-inning jam and rescue the Dodgers.

Max Scherzer will start Game 7 on Saturday night for the Blue Jays. He also started the last Game 7, getting a no-decision when Washington won the 2019 title over Houston.

Scherzer is about to become the only living pitcher to start a winner-take-all World Series Game 7 for a second time.

Baseball will have its ultimate game Saturday night when Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays play the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are trying to become the first team to win consecutive titles since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees won three in row.

Los Angeles had been expected to start Tyler Glasnow before he closed out . The 6-foot-8 right-hander is likely still available, but manager Dave Roberts' options also , who could pitch 2-4 innings as an opener on short rest.

in 2019, boosted by a cortisone injection for an irritated nerve near his neck. Mad Max didn't have a clean inning and left after five trailing by two runs before his Washington Nationals rallied to win 6-2 in Houston.

Video below: Japanese media flock to Ohtani for Dodgers series

Only Bob Gibson (1964, '67, '68) and Lew Burdette and Don Larsen (both 1957 and '58) have started multiple winner-take-all Game 7s in the World Series. While Burleigh Grimes started Game 7 in 1920 and '31, his first was in a year the Series was best-of-nine.

Toronto gave the three-time Cy Young Award winner a . Scherzer picked his destination hoping to win a third World Series ring, after titles with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. The 18-year big league veteran has eagerly shared his experience with the Blue Jays.

"He's not afraid to question baserunning, question defense, question offense. He still thinks he's our best baserunner on the team from his days with the Nationals," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday. "He's not afraid to push the envelope. He's not afraid to be curious. He's not afraid to share things that he's been through that maybe I haven't been through."

"There's a lot of teams that don't like Max Scherzers just because he questions everything," teammate Chris Bassitt added. "He wants to know every little detail from outfield positioning to why you're throwing this pitch to who is playing here to how we control off days.

"So many organizations, I feel like, don't like to answer questions. They like you to be a robot and say, yes sir, and go about your business."

Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts this season. The eight-time All-Star didn't pitch between March 29 and June 25 because of right thumb inflammation, then was left off Toronto's roster for the first round of the playoffs after he went 0-3 in his last five starts, bothered by neck pain.

He turned back the clock during the American League Championship Series, winning Game 4 against Seattle after .

Bassitt was asked by Toronto to assist in recruiting Scherzer, a teammate on the 2022 New York Mets, and praised general manager Ross Atkins for making the move.

"I told Ross: This was going to be a headache for you, having Max Scherzer. And then I told the pitching staff about him, and I told the coaching staff, like: This is a guy that's going to stir a lot of pots," Bassitt said. "So everyone looked at Max, the 41-year-old that might end up on the IL a couple times, and they don't understand the true value of having that veteran guy that knows what it takes to win, and then he might teach you a thing or two along the way, too."

Glasnow got three outs on three pitches to end Game 6. After Roki Sasaki left runs at second and third with no outs in the ninth, Glasnow popped up Ernie Clement on the first pitch, then Andres Gimenez hit a liner to left fielder Kiké Hernandez, who caught it and doubled off Addison Barger at second base.

Glasnow, acquired from Tampa Bay in December 2023, was sidelined between April 27 and July 9 by right shoulder inflammation. The 32-year-old right-hander has a 1.42 ERA in three starts and two relief outings this postseason.

Toronto will be playing a World Series Game 7 for the first time — the Blue Jays won their only championships in six games in both 1992 and '93.

The LA Dodgers won their only Series Game 7 at Minnesota in 1965 when Sandy Koufax pitched a three-hit shutout on two days' rest after his four-hit shutout won Game 5. They lost Game 7 at home to Houston in 2017. Going back, the Brooklyn Dodgers lost Game 7 to the Yankees in 1947, '52 and '56, and beat the Yankees in Game 7 in 1955.

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