The script for the 2025 World Series was written in Hollywood, yet the execution has been pure Toronto grit. The Los Angeles Dodgers, once seemingly cruising toward a repeat, now face elimination down 3-2, heading back to a raucous Rogers Centre.
The great narrative of this Fall Classic was supposed to be the “Shohei Ohtani Show,” but as I stated in my initial preview, the Dodgers’ greatest strategic flaw has been the answer to the simple question: Are you going to pitch to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?
The answer, thus far, has been clear, mystifying, and ultimately, series-altering: Yes, the Dodgers have pitched to him, and he has destroyed them.
The Tale of the Tape: Guerrero’s Grind vs. Ohtani’s Peaks
The core of this series has been the performance disparity between the two global superstars. My opinion that Shohei Ohtani’s performance is being outshined by the consistent performance of Vlad Guerrero Jr. has been validated by the relentless production from the Blue Jays’ cornerstone.
Check Out Our Custom-Designed Los Angeles Dodgers Merch!
| Player | Postseason Slash Line (Entering Game 6) | Key Stat/Context |
| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) | .419 / .500 / .806 (15 G) | 7 Postseason HRs (Franchise Record). 27 total hits (2nd most in MLB single-postseason history). |
| Shohei Ohtani (LAD) | .250 / .392 / .717 (15 G) | 5 of his 8 HRs came in only two games. Has gone hitless in 6 of 15 games. 30% Strikeout Rate. |
Guerrero’s Unwavering Consistency: Vlad Jr. has been relentless, reaching base in all but two of Toronto’s playoff games. His most profound moment came in Game 4, when he crushed a two-run home run off Ohtani himself, a shot that restored the Blue Jays’ advantage and seemed to wave off the Dodgers’ ace. Guerrero is a metronome of production, dictating the pace and setting the tone for the entire Blue Jays lineup.
The Ohtani Illusion: Ohtani has delivered two Mount Rushmore-level performances (the three-homer, 10-K pennant clincher, and the 4-for-4, two-homer Game 3 marathon), but these legendary peaks are masking significant valleys. He has not managed an extra-base hit in 10 of 15 playoff games and has struck out 30% of the time. The Dodgers’ offense is structured around Ohtani’s sustained dominance, and when he is merely mortal, the entire chain reaction stalls.
The Fatal Flaw: Pitching To The Beast
In our initial analysis, the debate centered on whether Dave Roberts would pitch to Guerrero. The Blue Jays’ Game 5 victory, punctuated by Guerrero’s back-to-back home run to start the game off against Blake Snell, provides a grim answer.
The Blue Jays’ 1-5 hitters have executed a masterclass in grinding out at-bats and attacking pitches in the zone, effectively wearing down the Dodgers’ elite starting pitching:
| Team | 1-5 Hitters (Postseason Context) | Dodgers’ Pitching Strategy Failure |
| Blue Jays | Davis Schneider, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho, Cavan Biggio | The Blue Jays rank higher in postseason OPS than their regular season mark (by over 60 points). The Dodgers have tried to force chases, but Toronto’s low K-rate and the power of Guerrero have neutralized this approach. |
| Dodgers | Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy | The top four batters combined to go 1-for-15 with 8 strikeouts in Game 5. Mookie Betts is 3-for-23 this series. The lineup is striking out far too often, allowing Yesavage and Gausman to escape jams. |
The Managerial Chess Match: Roberts’ Tweaks vs. Schneider’s Trust
The strategic battle between Dave Roberts and John Schneider has been one-sided since Game 3.
Dave Roberts’ Necessary Adjustments:
Roberts is running out of options. His attempts to spark the offense by moving a slumping Mookie Betts down in the lineup and benching the struggling Andy Pages in Game 5 were futile.
- Past Performance: Roberts is often praised for his ability to manage a deep roster, but his bullpen management, outside of the Game 3 miracle, has been a major liability. Excluding the 18-inning win, the Dodgers’ bullpen has allowed nine earned runs in 8 1/3 innings.
- The Next Move: With the season on the line in Game 6, Roberts has the right man in Yoshinobu Yamamoto (coming off a one-run complete game in Game 2). However, he must finally adjust the philosophy against Guerrero. It’s time to walk him and challenge the rest of the lineup, forcing Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho to beat them, rather than watching Vlad do it.
John Schneider’s Defining Strategy:
Schneider’s defining strategy has been unwavering trust, even in the face of conventional wisdom.
- The Yesavage Sensation: The ultimate testament to this trust is the handling of rookie Trey Yesavage. After a shaky Game 1 start, Schneider let the 22-year-old “black out and compete,” as Yesavage described his own mindset. Yesavage responded in Game 5 with a World Series rookie record 12 strikeouts over seven brilliant innings, demonstrating a “slow heartbeat” and a fierce competitive nature that the Blue Jays clubhouse has rallied around.
- The Bullpen Advantage: Thanks to Yesavage’s length, Schneider goes into Game 6 with a full-strength, confident bullpen. He has expertly managed his right-handed heavy relief corps to exploit the Dodgers’ left-handed power when Ohtani is not at his absolute peak.
The momentum has shifted completely north. For the Dodgers to force a Game 7, they need Yamamoto to deliver another complete game and for Roberts to stop trying to force the action against the most dangerous hitter in baseball.
Otherwise, the 2025 season will end back where it began for the Blue Jays: in Toronto, celebrating a championship.
