Fri Oct 31 • Rogers Centre
Game 6 • TOR leads series 3-2
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10/31/25 21:01Dodgers take an early lead
– Jamie Ross
The Dodgers grabbed the lead first in the top of the third inning. Gausman had been cruising, striking six of the first seven L.A. hitters he faced. But after Tommy Edman doubled, and Shohei Ohtani was issued an intentional walk, L.A. got on the board thanks to a Will Smith double down right field line. The Dodgers loaded the bases with Mookie Betts coming to the plate, and though he’s been ice cold of late, Betts came through with a two-out single to cash in two runs. 3-0 Dodgers.
10/31/25 20:39Jays fans in CalgaryOpen this photo in gallery:
Regan Taylor, left, and Derrick Foster cheer while watching the Blue Jays take on the Dodgers in game 6 at Trolley 5 Brewpub in Calgary, Alta., on October 31, 2025.LEAH HENNEL/The Globe and Mail
– Matthew Scace
Hey, Jays fans – Matthew Scace here. I’m with The Globe’s Alberta bureau and I’m back on 17th Avenue in Calgary, known during playoff season as the Red Mile. My first stop is Trolley 5, one of our most popular sports bars.
Alberta isn’t exactly Jays land, but Michael Kehler, who painted the team’s logo on his forehead with the help of only his mirror, says there’s no better place to cheer them on than the Prairies.
“Well, there’s nowhere better to show your Canadian pride than here in Alberta, because we’re all part of one country,” Kehler says with a wink.
Upstairs, we have a group of long-time buddies , including Regan Taylor and Derrick Foster. Taylor shaved a fresh moustache and is wearing sport goggles in a successful attempt at his best Davis Schneider. Foster, meanwhile, is wearing one of the 140 Jays caps he owns, none of which are the traditional navy-blue cap. He’s been collecting them since 2014. They’re in a bag in his closet.
“My girlfriend doesn’t like my purchases,” says Foster.
10/31/25 20:26When good pitching meets good hitting
– Michael Snider
There’s a saying in baseball that good pitching beats good hitting. It means that when a great pitcher is on and hitting his spots, they can still make an offensively potent team look silly, no matter how well they’ve hit before.
What I love about this series is strength versus strength – the Dodgers starting pitching versus the Jays’ offence. On paper, the Dodgers staff – Snell, Yamamoto, Ohtani and Glasnow – is supposed to be lights out, but it’s only been Yamamoto who’s lived up to the baseball cliche.
I have to admit, I figured the Dodgers’ hurlers were going to make short work of the pesky Jays. Fine, call me an unbeliever. There’s a reason that baseballism is itself a baseballism. Good pitching does beat good hitting. Except the Jays are showing it’s got to be really good pitching because they have really good hitting.
10/31/25 20:17Top of the first, it’s three up, three down
– Jamie Ross
Kevin Gausman breezed through the top of the first inning, striking out the side. He fanned Ohtani to start the game.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith met the same fate. Freddie Freeman, the hero of the marathon, 18-inning Game 3, was the third strikeout casualty of the inning.
10/31/25 20:15Ohtani neutralized at the start of the game
– Jamie Ross
It’s time for our Obligatory Shohei Ohtani post. After reaching base an insane nine times in Game 3 (including four intentional walks and two home runs), Ohtani is hitless. That’s two games in a row Ohtani has been neutralized. He didn’t go three games without a hit all season, but it did occur in these playoffs, in the last two games of the NLDS and the first one of the NLCS.
The Japanese superstar is the heartbeat of the Dodgers’ offence. He’s hitting 6-for-19 (.316) in the World Series with three home runs and seven walks.
Ohtani led off the game to a chorus of boos from the Toronto fans. He struck out, and everyone inside the Rogers Centre went nuts.
10/31/25 20:08A (short) tale of two anthems Open this photo in gallery:
Fans cheer for the national anthem before game six of the 2025 MLB World Series at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Oct 31, 2025 (Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
– Cathal Kelly
Tonight’s national anthem comparison:
The Star Spangled Banner: Audio issues to begin with. Someone forgot to punch a button? A little pitchy throughout. Some Sinatra-esque freelancing in the middle. Held the note on ‘free’ like he gets paid by the hour. Underwhelming. 10/10
O Canada: Excellent large flag deployment. No one got run over. Singer encouraged a sing-along. Crowd held up its end. Didn’t try to overwhelm the crowd. Last few bars gave you chills. 10/10
Once again, the Rogers Centre puts on the sort of anthem show that you’d expect to see before a holiday pageant at a suburban high school. Not good, but very Canadian. 6/10
10/31/25 20:05Taking predictions with a grain of salt
– Michael Snider
In the Fox pre-game, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter predict a Dodgers win. Made me think of the MLB.com power rankings back at the beginning of October that had the Jays ranked sixth behind the Yankees as most likely to advance in the playoffs. When they gonna learn?
10/31/25 19:54Max Scherzer set to start tomorrow if Dodgers force Game 7
– Jamie Ross
‘Mad’ Max Scherzer could see the mound one more time in this World Series. The veteran right-hander would get the start in Game 7 should Toronto lose tonight.
Scherzer, 41, has been on this stage before. He pitched Game 7 of the World Series in 2019, recording a no decision in the Washington Nationals’ win over the Houston Astros.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said today that Scherzer’s experience and his willingness to share it has been to the benefit of the entire team, himself included.
“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,” Schneider said. “I’ve already had my 20-minute sit-down with him today and he’s been great. I think when you’ve been through things like this that not many people have, you can really offer some good advice and feedback.”
Scherzer has made two starts in these playoffs since being left off the roster in the American League Division Series against the Yankees. He pitched against the Mariners in the second round, recording a win, and in Game 3 of the World Series. He threw 4⅓ innings in the Blue Jays’ Game 3 loss. He has allowed five earned runs over 10 innings in the playoffs.
A two-time World Series champion, Scherzer’s intensity has become the stuff of legend across baseball, earning him the nickname Mad Max.
10/31/25 19:47Battle of the World Series broadcasts
– Michael Snider
I’ve been flipping between the Rogers and Fox broadcasts during the World Series – and TBS and ESPN during the ALDS – because I like to hear what non-home team broadcasters are saying about the Jays.
Don’t throw any chin-music at me – I love Dan and Buck and Jamie and Joe and Hazel. They’re pros and whenever I watch or listen to them, it feels like home.
The Fox pre- and post-game broadcast features former superstars David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, and the in-game play-by-play and colour analysis features Joe Davis and John Smoltz, who spent 21 years pitching for the Atlanta Braves.
Ortiz has been a Jays booster from the start – mostly because of his connection to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and looks to be the one guy on the panel having the most fun. Don’t forget, he’s the one who led Vladdy in the “DAAAAAA Yankees lose” chant. ARod speaks in soundbites and catch phrases, and Jeter, who is the most cautious of the crew, usually finds a unique angle to focus on. Davis and Smoltz’s in-game chatter is excellent, and I can’t say enough about Smoltz’s insight into pitching. He can see a change in the game before it happens and does a great job explaining what he’s seeing and why it matters to viewers.
10/31/25 19:31The view from rainy VancouverOpen this photo in gallery:
Ian Balkwill, left, who had tickets for Game 6 in Toronto, but instead he’s watching it at Dublin Calling, a pub along Vancouver’s Granville Street where fans are settling in for the night.James Keller/The Globe and Mail
– James Keller
Ian Balkwill had tickets for Game 6 in Toronto, but instead he’s watching it at Dublin Calling, a pub along Vancouver’s Granville Street where fans are settling in for the night.
The game conflicted with a long-ago planned trip to B.C. to see the Canadian indie rock band Born Ruffians – twice – this weekend. He gave the Jays tickets, which he had because he’s a season ticket holder, to his brother.
“I love the sport. I would rather see someone go to the game and enjoy it than make a ton of money,” he said. “My brother and I, we have a hell of a good time at the games together. He’s going to be cheering everyone on.”
Balkwill says he likes the Jays’ chances to end the series. “There’s no reason why they can’t win as long as they hit the baseball.”
10/31/25 19:23Fans hard-pressed to find Jays hats and jerseys tonight
– Mariya Postelnyak
Trying to score a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. jersey? Or a white panel World Series cap?
You’re not alone.
“It’s been really, really crazy,” said Tex Thomas, owner of Pro League Sports in Toronto’s East End. Jerseys, sweatshirts, T-shirts and hats have all been flying off the rack, with online business up 129 per cent compared to last year, said Thomas. In-store sales have nearly doubled as well.
After the team’s Game 5 win in Los Angeles, the pandemonium reached a fever-pitch. Fans have also started flooding him with requests for Trey Yesavage gear – jerseys, hats, the works.
He’s managed to keep stock moving, adding new items like Guerrero and Yesavage T-shirts that weren’t on offer six weeks ago.
Though fans are too late to head to the shop tonight – the store closed at six sharp so Thomas could speed off to the Rogers Centre – there will be plenty more merch to go around if the Jays take Game 6 for the win.
“Today is really big…if they can call this out, we get the World Series product in starting tonight!”
10/31/25 19:16Opinion: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s transformative playoff run gives him superstar status
– Cathal Kelly
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s October for the ages means there’s no denying he’s a generational player, writes Cathal Kelly.Mark J. Terrill/The Associated Press
Back when he thought he was losing him to free agency, Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro pronounced on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s baseball standing: Good, but not great.
“I don’t know, generational player? What’s your definition of that?” the Jays cheque-signer said after last season. Though Shapiro tried to walk it back after signing him, he wasn’t wrong. But you can’t argue it anymore.
By anyone’s definition, Mr. Guerrero is generational now, and more. Over the last week, he’s become the foil to the best player in the game. Does that make him the co-best? Second best? It’s something in that range.
You could argue that other players through history have had better playoffs. A couple, maybe. No one has ever had a more transformative one. It happens so rarely in Toronto that it’s difficult to believe, but every once in a while, comes the moment, comes the man.
Read the full column break-down of Vladdy’s October for the ages here.
10/31/25 19:12How the Blue Jays helped my dad connect with Canada
– Adrian Cheung
Adrian Cheung, left, and his father, Eddie Cheung at Game 2 of the ALDS.Supplied
It’s easy to see why Canada is completely in love with the Blue Jays. But for my dad, a die-hard fan, his reasons are both simple and complex.
When he, my mom and my sister immigrated from Hong Kong in 1988, my dad had no idea what baseball was. Balls, strikes and outs? A complete unknown. But in Toronto, he saw how much people cared about their team. He caught on quickly, wanting to banter with colleagues. It didn’t take long before he became a big fan, outfitting his kids in Blue Jays gear and taking them downtown to the games.
During the World Series chases and victories in 1992 and 1993, all of Canada was locked in, with the Jays gaining new fans – just like they are now. It became way bigger than just baseball.
My dad witnessed pure joy in Canada, as millions flooded the streets to celebrate across the country. Suddenly he was swapping talk with colleagues and new friends about Pat Borders, MVP of the ‘92 World Series, and genuflecting on Cito Gaston, the manager who led the team to the championship both times. It was an instant, shared cultural language that didn’t need translation.
In this way, the reason my father loved the Jays was because they showed him the best of what Canada was capable of, what it can be, at the exact same moment he was searching for meaning and belonging in a new place he called home.
10/31/25 19:03Jays’ ace Kevin Gausman looks to help close World Series tonight
– Jamie Ross
Kevin Gausman celebrates a strikeout in Game 2.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Kevin Gausman, Toronto’s starter, had the misfortune of going up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 of this series and was saddled with a loss despite a decent performance. Gausman, a fastball pitcher, has been a steady hand for the Blue Jays throughout these playoffs. He’s pitched at least 5 2/3 innings in each of his postseason starts and even tossed an inning of relief in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Mariners.
Here are his playoff appearances by the numbers:
2 wins, 2 losses (4 starts, 5 appearances)
24 2/3 innings pitched
7 earned runs
4 home runs
9 walks
2.28 walks-per-nine-innings
18 strikeouts
6.85 strikeouts-per-nine innings
2.55 ERA
10/31/25 18:51On brink of defeat, Dodgers shake up slumping line-up once again
– The Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, centre, rehearses his pitch during batting practice ahead of Game 6.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
The Los Angeles Dodgers are shaking up their lineup again for Game 6.
After moving from second to third in the order in Wednesday’s Game 5 loss, shortstop Mookie Betts dropped into the cleanup spot against Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman.
Catcher Will Smith was set to bat second for the second straight game. Freddie Freeman moved from fourth to third.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he wanted to give leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani, Smith and Freeman the chance to get on base in front of Betts, adding that Betts had a good day of work on Thursday’s off day.
“Where his swing is at mechanically is as good as it’s been in a week,” Roberts said. “I really feel good about that.”
Tommy Edman moved from second base to center field, his first outfield start this postseason, and was set to bat eighth. Miguel Rojas made his first start of the World Series at second base, batting ninth.
10/31/25 18:44Checking in from the University of Toronto watch party
– Kate Helmore
Hi, I’m Kate Helmore, and I usually cover agriculture and food policy for the Report on Business. Today I’ll be putting grain prices to the side and heading to the University of Toronto front lawn to watch the Blue Jays game with the city’s college community.
10/31/25 18:41Yamamoto a formidable obstacle on Blue Jays’ path to victory
– Jamie Ross
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto during the ninth inning of his completed Game 2.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the highest hurdle standing between the Blue Jays and a World Series title. His latest work has been well recounted: A stellar Game 2 start, his second-straight complete game, in which he held the Blue Jays to one run and four hits.
Yamamoto mixed in six different pitches against Toronto the last time out, but relied heavily on his trio of a splitter, curve ball and fastball to limit the normally productive Blue Jays bats.
Yamamoto was up and warming in the bullpen in the late stages of the Dodgers on Monday, but his entry never came to pass.
10/31/25 18:37The mad dash for standing-room only
– Marty Klinkenberg
Kevin Adam and his 15-year-old son Josh were first in line to rush for standing-room only, after they scored resale tickets for $1,250 apiece.Marty Klinkenberg/The Globe and Mail
Kevin Adam and his 15-year-old son Josh arrived at Rogers Place at 8 a.m. today and waited in their lawn chairs in the rain outside Gate 5. Kevin paid $1,250 each for two standing-room only tickets from a third-party broker. “I didn’t want to leave anything to chance,” he said.
The pair from Niagara-on-the-Lake were first in line and sprinted through the concourse on the 100 level and found spots right on the rail above the Dodgers bullpen.
“Joe Carter hit a home run in Game 6 32 years ago to win the World Series for the Blue Jays,” Kevin said. “I think history will repeat itself and I want to be able to say I was here when it happened.”
10/31/25 18:30Canadian women’s team shortstop here to cheer on Jays
– Marty Klinkenberg
Krista Rolland, Team Canada’s shortstop, with her friend Shannon Sutcliffe, who caught a ball from Shohei Ohtani in Game 2.Marty Klinkenberg/The Globe and Mail
Shannon and Randy Sutcliffe and their friend Krista Rolland, all from Guelph, arrived at Union Station at 1:30 p.m. today and made the quick walk to Rogers Centre. They were among the first people to line up outside the arena, trying to get a good spot in the standing-room-only section when the gates opened at 5 p.m. Before Game 2, Shohei Ohtani had tossed a ball up to Randy. “We’re huge fans,” Shannon said. “That’s how we spend our summer.” Krista plays shortstop for Team Canada, which will travel to Cocoa Beach, Fla., soon for a tournament.
10/31/25 18:24From starter to bullpen, Chris Bassitt will do anything to win the World Series
– The Canadian Press
Chris Bassitt throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 4.Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press
For three years, Chris Bassitt has been hoping for another chance at winning a World Series. Now that the opportunity has arrived, he’ll do anything to make it happen.
Bassitt, who has been a starting pitcher for most of his 11 years in Major League Baseball, will again be in the bullpen as his Blue Jays host the Dodgers in Game 6.
“I just prayed many, many, many times to get back in this moment,” said Bassitt, who said that losing in the National League’s wild-card series with the New York Mets in 2022 taught him a lot about what it takes to win in the playoffs.
“I’m just trying to have fun in the moment,” said Bassitt on Wednesday before Game 5. “I’m not trying to go crazy. I’m not trying to be World Series MVP.
The transition to reliever has been seamless for Bassitt, who hasn’t allowed a run in five appearances this post-season, striking out eight over 6 2/3 innings.
“You never really know with starters going into the bullpen,” said manager John Schneider last week. “Chris does weird really well and probably the one starter that can just go be a reliever on a given day.”
10/31/25 18:17Gifted an ALCS fly ball a decade ago, this Jays fan gave it back tonight
– Pippa Norman
Sid Berliner passes back the gifted signed ALCS fly ball that Peter Hwang gave him a decade a decade ago.
A reunion ten years in the making is taking place against the backdrop of Game 6 tonight.
A decade ago, Sid Berliner walked out of an American League Championship Series playoff game with a fly ball that former Blue Jays player Ben Revere threw into the crowd.
But Berliner, now 17, didn’t catch it. Peter Hwang did, and when he saw 7-year-old Berliner out of the corner of his eye, he gave it up to the wide-eyed youngster.
Berliner kept the ball close. Until last week, when he decided it was time to return it. With nothing to go off except for a photo from 2015 and the name Peter, Berliner used what he says were a series of “sketchy” websites and facial recognition tools to track down three possible emails for Hwang. He started with the first one.
“Hey Peter, My name is Sid. Not sure if you remember but when I was 7 years old (2015), you gave me a ball at ALCS.
After you being mentioned countless times amongst my family the last 10 years and the Jays being in the World Series, I feel it is only right that I return the ball to the rightful owner.”
Berliner signed off with his phone number. An hour later, Hwang called.
At today’s game, Berliner plans to give Hwang his ball back. The pair have discussed exchanging it every 10 years to satisfy both sides.
10/31/25 18:02Let’s go Boo Jays! Fans meld team pride with Halloween spirit
– Meera Raman
Alex Chen added a gash on his face to go watch Game 6 tonight at the Nathan Philipps Square viewing party.Meera Raman/The Globe and Mail
Here’s the situation at Union Station: 60 per cent of people are decked out in Jays gear. 20 per cent are in Halloween costumes. 15 per cent are in normal clothes.
But then there’s that small 5 per cent of people who are in BOTH Jays gear and costumes. I’ve seen a shark onesie paired with a jersey, and kitty ears on top of Blue Jay caps.
Alex Chen is heading to Nathan Phillips Square to watch Game 6 but wanted to be a little festive because it’s Halloween, after all. He painted his face blue and white with a stitch on his cheek. “I did a pretty bad job,” he said.
10/31/25 17:57Jays give restaurants and bars a World Series boost
– Mariya Postelnyak and Bianca Thompson
In a corner of Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood, Toby’s Pub & Eatery has each one of its 27 TV Screens ready to catch the big game.
But if you stop by tonight, you’re unlikely to find a place to stand – let alone sit. “We have 170 seats and every single seat will be taken,” said Mohan Arumugam, owner and operator. “We got over 100 calls for reservations.”
Sales of beer, spirits and pub grub at the bar have quadrupled during the World Series run and twice as many servers have been working during the playoffs. “This is the best [thing] that ever happened to all of us,” said Arumugam.
His words ring true for many in the city’s restaurant industry. After economic turmoil, tariffs and dwindling consumer sentiment, new OpenTable data reveals that dining in Toronto surged 30 per cent year over year daily (on average) during the Jays’ most recent home games.
Steam Whistle Brewery near Rogers Centre broke its all-time sales record last Friday, with roughly 4,000 fans packing in for Game 1. With walk-ins only tonight, they’re expecting the same energy, plus the crowd coming for their costume contest.
“You can’t go 10 feet on a Toronto street without seeing a Blue Jays logo,” said Catherine Oppedisano, vice-president of marketing. “Everybody’s got a pep in their step. It’s really nice for the city, and for Canada.”
10/31/25 17:46In Dunedin, Fla., where Yesavage was pitching in July, Jays fans cheer on their team
– Globe staff
While one of the underlying themes of the World Series has been the not-so-subtle twist of a Canadian team dominating in the “American pastime” during a moment of heightened tension between the countries, there’s one place in the U.S. where they’re definitely all in on the Jays: Dunedin, Florida.
The home of the Jays spring training – and the place where star pitcher Trey Yesavage started his first professional season this summer – has been hosting popular watch parties at its TD Ballpark throughout the World Series, where the community is unequivocable about which team they’re cheering for.
10/31/25 17:40Game 6 could be Bichette’s last with Blue Jays
– Rachel Brady
Toronto Blue Jays Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the dugout during Game 5.Ashley Landis/The Associated Press
Bo Bichette could play his final game as a Blue Jay tonight, but he’s not ready to think about that yet.
The Jays slugging infielder is slated to enter free agency when the season ends, and his team has a chance to finish off the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight.
“I would be lying if I hadn’t thought about that at some point during the season,” said Bichette at a press conference before Friday’s game. “But I’ve got a World Series to win.”
Bichette, who missed both the ALDS and ALCS because of a knee injury suffered late in the regular season, made his return for the World Series and has started four of the five games.
He wanted to return to play, even if that meant risking injury before the off-season and jeopardizing his chances in free agency.
This World Series is also a chance to win something his father, former major league outfielder Dante Bichette, didn’t in his career.
“My dad never had an opportunity to play in a World Series. So I mean, your whole career everybody’s telling you don’t take winning for granted,” said Bichette. “But you have to learn that for yourself. There’s been a lot of times where I thought we would win and we didn’t. So to be here and to learn from past seasons is – it’s special to be here.”
10/31/25 17:32Halloween decorations channel World Series thrills and chills
– Globe staff
Lesley Keyes says she couldn’t resist a World Series scene when the Jays’ run coincided with Halloween.Supplied
The end of October is full of fear, excitement and blood-curdling screams. And that’s just from the Blue Jays fans watching the World Series.
With the Fall Classic potentially being decided tonight on Halloween, some supporters have leaned into a Jays theme for their spooky decor. Afterall, there’s no dying in baseball!
Lesley Keyes in Whitby, Ont. says her set-up – including two skeletons wearing Jays caps and looming over a grave marked with the Dodgers’ logo – started as a cute nod to the team’s performance in the postseason. But as Toronto has advanced, “it has really brought the community together – the local baseball team came by in uniform to take photos!” she wrote.
Another vignette shows a skeleton reclining and watching a TV displaying George Springer’s “Springer Dinger” three-run home run that clinched the ALCS over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7.
“We try to keep current with pop culture, and mix in scenes across generations and interests,” said Keyes, adding that they change the scenes every three to four days. Other recent ones have included Taylor Swift at Travis Kelce’s NFL game, KPop Demon Hunters and Secret Lives of Mormon Skelly Wives.
See all the spookiest Halloween decorations from Globe readers here.
10/31/25 17:21A grandfather’s 1993 World Series wisdom resonates today
– Mariya Postelnyak
Toronto Blue Jays fan Jason Chapman dug up a wellspring of mementos, including a handwritten note from his grandpa wrote not long after the Jays’ back-to-back World Series wins.Jason Chapman/Supplied
For Jason Chapman, the memory of the Blue Jays’ last World Series win is still fresh in his mind as he gets ready to watch Game 6 from the couch with his wife, two kids and 20 neighbours dressed in Halloween costumes.
He’ll be decked out in the same Jays jersey he bought in 1993. The one without a name or number.
It was June 8th when he bought it at a regular season game at the Skydome in Toronto, just months before the team’s unforgettable championship win that year. Along with the jersey, Mr. Chapman dug up a wellspring of mementos, including a handwritten note from his grandpa written not long after the Jays’ back-to-back World Series wins.
“There’s a good chance the Jays may not be world champs for a good many years,” said the note prophetically. “When my grandpa gave me this note, I remember thinking, Grandpa, come on, the Jays are going to win all the time, what a silly thing to write!” said Mr. Chapman.
Three decades later, the message hits differently. “Thirty-two years have passed since they last won and 30 years since my grandfather wrote this note full of wisdom,” he said. “It’s just a very cool moment that unites the city and unites the country.”
10/31/25 17:16Rush for last-minute Jays merch before Game 6 – and trick-or-treating
– Meera Raman
Vera Volgusheva, 7, waiting in line to get a Jays hat at Lids in Union Square before she goes trick-or-treating.Meera Raman/The Globe and Mail
Vera Volgusheva, 7, is excited to go trick-or-treating tonight but not before stopping by the Lids store in Union Station to get a Blue Jays hat (“I think I need either a blue or pink hat,” she said).
She says she loves the Blue Jays because she “likes birds.” The line at the store stretched around the corner as fans rushed to get last-minute items.
Vera’s mom is talking her out trick-or-treating tonight, but said she’ll be checking the score on her phone.
Lids president Bob Durda said daily product deliveries are selling out completely in a single day. Traffic and sales are up two to three times compared to baseline across Canada, with larger gains in Toronto.
10/31/25 17:03Blue Jays pride flies high in Halifax
– Rita Trichur
Blue Jays pride stretches to the East Coast.Rita Trichur/The Globe and Mail
They are cheering hard for the Toronto Blue Jay here at Halifax Stanfield International Airport this afternoon. #GoJaysGo
10/31/25 16:56The ultimate way to prove you’re not a bandwagon fan? Vintage Jays merch
– Meera Raman
Anyone can grab a new Blue Jays cap (guilty), but the real flex at tonight’s game is rocking vintage gear from the team’s 1992 or 1993 World Series wins.
Toronto influencer Erin Chau, 27, and her dad turned heads at Game 2 in matching limited-edition Roots jackets from each of those championship years — the very ones her die-hard fan dad has kept tucked away for decades.
“They are his babies, we were not allowed to touch them growing up,” Ms. Chau said.
On eBay, one of those jackets is now listed for about $1,400. So, when fans at the game asked where they scored theirs, the Chaus got to proudly say they’ve been in the family for more than 30 years.
“Hopefully we can add a 2025 World Series champ jacket to his collection,” Ms. Chau said.
10/31/25 16:51With Gausman and Yamamoto, the splitter is back in the spotlight
– The Associated Press
Dodgers’ pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto celebrates his complete game after Game 2.David J. Phillip/The Associated Press
Mr. Splitty has returned.
Showcased by World Series Game 6 starters Kevin Gausman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, split-finger fastballs have been used for 6.8% of post-season pitches this year, more than double last year’s 2.4% and up from 1.5% when pitch tracking started in 2008.
“There’s so many good pitches in today’s game — there’s so many good sweepers and sliders and cutters,” Gausman said. “I think the split is almost kind of just a little bit different of an animal. You can recognize the spin and you can still have a pretty ugly swing on it if the metrics are right.”
Splitters are thrown with index and middle fingers spread wide, intended to have substantial downward break.
Toronto used splitters a league-leading 9.3% of the time during the regular season, according to MLB Statcast, the highest percentage of any team since pitch tracking started in 2008.
Gausman has thrown his splitter 41.4% of the time in the post-season, followed on the Blue Jays by fellow starter Trey Yesavage (27.7%), closer Jeff Hoffman (25.9%) and relievers Seranthony Domínguez (16.7%) and Yariel Rodríguez (8.6%).
Roki Sasaki, shifted from rotation to relief, tops the Dodgers at 45.9%, followed by Yamamoto at 24.7% and Shohei Ohtani at 7.4%.
10/31/25 16:47Rogers Centre already in a flurry
– Marty Klinkenberg
Ivy Hill holds a sign promising no crying – except if the Jays win Game 6 – outside Rogers Centre.Carlos Osorio/Reuters
Still an hour or more before the gates open at Rogers Centre for Game 6 of the World Series but a lot is going on inside.
The Blue Jays are taking batting practice, to be followed by the Dodgers. Music is already blaring. Fox is preparing its set on the 100 level for the arrival of David Ortiz, the legendary Red Sox player, a.k.a. Big Papi, and Alex Rodriguez, a.k.a. A.Rod, and the rest of its panel. Employees scurrying about getting ready to greet 44,000 visitors.
10/31/25 16:41TTC, Metrolinx add more service for World Series crowds
– Colin Freeze, The Canadian Press
TTC and Metrolinx are adding service for Game 6 tonight, and encouraging Blue Jays fans to take transit to the World Series.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
City officials have urged fans to take transit to the game and parties to avoid problems with traffic and parking, while the Toronto Transit Commission advised of increased service and potential disruptions.
The TTC said it will increase service on the two main subway lines and on downtown streetcar routes where possible for Game 6 and, if necessary, Game 7. Planned subway closures tonight and over the weekend have been postponed to a later date.
“The TTC will also monitor series-deciding games and may need to adjust downtown bus and streetcar routes in the core,” spokesman Stuart Green said in a statement. “This could include diversions or short turns to avoid crowded streets.”
Metrolinx, which runs the region’s GO commuter rain and bus service, said it had additional trips planned.
“Metrolinx is adding additional GO services for Game 6 [and a possible Game 7] at Rogers Centre,” said spokesperson Andrea Ernesaks. The Kitchener Line, Barrie Line, and Stouffville Line will carry commuters home for around 2 a.m., she said.
10/31/25 16:32Where to find watch parties around the GTA
– Colin Freeze
Blue Jays fans at a watch party at Nathan Philips Square for Game 1 last Friday.DUANE COLE/The Globe and Mail
The game will screen in downtown Toronto tonight inside Scotiabank Arena (for a $15 entry fee, donated to MLSE Foundation), Nathan Phillips Square outside City Hall and at the University of Toronto’s Front Campus. Further north, the Aga Khan Park is hosting a public watch party.
Fans can also join watch parties in public squares in cities such as Brampton’s Garden Square, Mississauga’s Celebration Square and Aurora’s Town Square.
10/31/25 16:28The buzz at Toronto’s gateway to the World Series
– Meera Raman
Nick Papas, a Blue Jays season ticket holder from Arizona since 2016, will be watching Game 6 tonight.DUANE COLE/The Globe and Mail
Hey, I’m Meera, and I usually cover personal finance. But this afternoon, I’m parked at Union Station in Toronto, joining fans as they rush into the city. Stay tuned.
10/31/25 16:25Ramped up security plans as the Jays come back home
– Colin Freeze
It will be a Halloween like no other in Toronto, as the city and its baseball fans welcome back the Blue Jays for a potential World Series-clinching home game.
The Toronto Police Service says its officers are rooting for the Jays and peaceful crowds. But the high stakes have also prompted increased security measures, including no-fly zones for drones, physical barriers outside the Rogers Centre, and road closings in some areas.
“The service is fully mobilized for the weekend, and every division and unit is engaged. We’ll also have assistance from neighbouring police services,” said Nadine Ramadan, a spokesperson. “Fans can expect to see a significant and visible police presence both inside and outside Rogers Centre.”
10/31/25 16:18The Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 6 tonight
– Globe staff
The Dodgers shook up their line-up for Game 5, and those decisions appear to have mostly stuck even after the loss. Here’s a full list of the Dodgers’ starting lineup:
Shohei Ohtani (L) DHWill Smith (R) CFreddie Freeman (L) 1BMookie Betts (R) SSTeoscar Hernández (R) RFMax Muncy (L) 3BEnrique Hernández (R) LFTommy Edman (S) CFMiguel Rojas (R) 2B10/31/25 16:14The Blue Jays’ starting lineup for Game 6 tonight
– Globe staff
The Blue Jays revealed their starting nine and have their star slugger, George Springer, back for Game 6. Here’s a full list of the Jays’ starting lineup:
George Springer (R) DHNathan Lukes (L) LFVladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1BBo Bichette (R) 2BDaulton Varsho (L) CFAlejandro Kirk (R) CAddison Barger (L) RFErnie Clement (R) 3BAndrés Giménez (L) SS10/31/25 16:07Covering Game 6 from the Jays’ clubhouse and beyond
– Rachel Brady
Hi, I’m Rachel Brady, a sports reporter in Toronto. I’ve been covering the Jays daily throughout the post-season.
I’ll be inside Rogers Centre before, during and after tonight’s game, reporting from the press conferences, the Jays’ clubhouse and up in the press box.
10/31/25 16:05George Springer back in Jays starting lineup for Game 6
– Rachel Brady
Springer, who has missed two World Series games due to an injury, is back in tonight’s starting lineup.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
George Springer is back in the Blue Jays starting lineup for tonight’s Game 6 of the World Series.
The star slugger will return in his leadoff role, as the designated hitter. The 36-year-old did not play in Games 4 and 5 after suffering an injury to his right side in Game 3.
Jays manager John Schneider said Springer was ready to enter Game 5 off the bench if he had been needed. They decided to give him the extra rest to prepare for tonight instead.
Bo Bichette will start at second base and hit cleanup.
10/31/25 15:40The challenge for the Blue Jays? Treating Game 6 of the World Series like any other day
– Marty Klinkenberg
Pitcher Max Scherzer warms up during practice ahead of Game 6.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
They are an eyelash from winning the World Series, but that went unspoken at Rogers Centre on Thursday by John Schneider. No need to provoke the baseball gods.
In the clubhouse after their dominating Game 5 win and on the 4,000-kilometre transcontinental flight, Mr. Schneider noticed his players were calm. No whooping it up.
“The vibe was exactly how it always is coming home for an off day,” the manager said. “I was impressed with just kind of the back-and-forth that was happening. They weren’t getting too high. It was a normal plane ride.”
Neither Mr. Schneider nor his players got much sleep on the plane. Maybe a few winks at home. No boasting, no predictions, other than that they can’t wait for Game 6.
Fans have lived and died through the team’s peaks and valleys and have filled Rogers Centre for nearly every game since the mid-season break. The place will be a madhouse tonight.
“I can’t wait to see what this place is like,” Mr. Schneider said yesterday. “I’m just excited as hell to see that and the guys are too. They’re talking about it. We can’t wait.”
10/31/25 15:05Gausman vs. Yamamoto tees up ‘old-school pitchers’ duel’
– Marty Klinkenberg
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 2.Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press
Kevin Gausman, the ace of Toronto’s pitching staff, will get the start in Game 6. Los Angeles will go with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has pitched two straight complete games in the post-season. In his last outing in Game 2, he gave up just four hits and beat Mr. Gausman, 5-1.
“I think Kevin’s outing kind of got overlooked because Yamamoto was so good,” Mr. Schneider said. “Kevin kind of matched him pitch-for-pitch until the seventh inning. You kind of look at [Game 6] and it seems like an old-school pitchers’ duel is about to happen, but you never know how it will unfold.”
10/31/25 14:45Devon White to throw first pitch at Game 6, David Grenon and John Vincent to sing anthems
– The Canadian Press
Former Toronto Blue Jays player Devon White also threw the first pitch at Game 3 of the 2015 ALCS.Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press
Former Blue Jays outfielder Devon White will throw out the first pitch, while singer-songwriter David Grenon will perform O Canada before Game 6 tonight at Rogers Centre.
White, a three-time all-star over his career, was a key member of the Blue Jays team that won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993.
Grenon, who also performs under the name SoulBear, recently retired after 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces.
American singer John Vincent will perform The Star Spangled Banner.
10/31/25 14:30Where to watch the Blue Jays game against the Dodgers tonight
– Globe staff
Season ticket holders of the Blue Jays affiliate team, the Vancouver Canadians, attend a watch party at Nat Bailey Stadium for Game 1.Jennifer Gauthier/The Globe and Mail
Whether you want to beat the World Series crowds or the crowds beat you in the Ticketmaster race, there are plenty of options to watch Game 6 tonight at home.
Canadians can watch on television on Sportsnet or CityTV, or stream it online on Sportsnet+.
And if you’re on the move or want to listen on the radio, you can tune in to CJCL/Sportsnet 590 The FAN (590 AM) in Toronto. For fans outside the GTA, find your local Blue Jays Radio Network station here.
10/31/25 13:55Ohtani could return as Dodgers’ relief pitcher in Game 6
– The Associated Press
Shohei Ohtani rehearses his pitch during batting practice ahead of Game 6.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Shohei Ohtani could pitch out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in Toronto tonight.
Ohtani has never pitched in relief during his major league career. He made a handful of relief appearances in Japan for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, mostly as a rookie in 2013.
The two-way superstar did close out Japan’s victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, coming out of the bullpen and memorably striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout of Team USA to end it.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday he hadn’t yet spoken to Ohtani about where he fits into the team’s pitching plans for the rest of the best-of-seven Series.
“When you’re talking about Game 6, potentially Game 7 of the World Series, all hands on deck,” Roberts said before Game 5. “If he can go, if it makes sense, certainly he would be an option.”
10/31/25 13:50Halloween party planners hustle to squeeze World Series into the agenda
– The Canadian Press
When Toronto Blue Jays fans pile into The Cat’s Cradle Sports and Spirits to watch Game 6 of the World Series on Friday night, they may get a little more than they bargained for: namely, fake cockroaches, bloody handprints and severed body parts.
Owner Barbara MacPhee is among the Torontonians trying to squeeze the matchup between the Jays and the Dodgers into a night already packed with parties and plans. She’ll take her three kids trick or treating from 6 to 7 p.m., hand out candy until 8, and then drive to the bar, which she said takes roughly 45 minutes with traffic. After the game, they’ll move back into scheduled spooky programming – so long as it’s not another 18-inning nail-biter.
“The whole day is going to be chaos from top to bottom,” said McPhee.
Others, like organizer Prit Vyas of the Boo Jays Halloween Night, are leaning into the convergence. The Jays-gear-mandatory party at The Pint House in downtown Toronto, not far from the Rogers Centre, sold out right after Game 5.
Vyas will also be commuting to the event after trick-or-treating with his kids in the suburbs. “Halloween’s already crazy as it is,” he said.
10/31/25 13:45From ticket prices to uniforms, here’s what’s changed since the Jays’ last World Series in 1993
– Moira Wyton
Former Blue Jays star hitter Joe Carter celebrated after his World Series-winning three-run home run in 1993, 32 years before George Springer cheered his own three-run home run that clinched the ALCS and sent the Jays to their third-ever World Series.The Associated Press
The last time the Blue Jays won a World Series, you had to line up or mail a cheque to buy tickets, Rogers Centre was still called the SkyDome and more than three-quarters of the team’s 2025 World Series roster hadn’t even been born.
The 1993 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies was the team’s second World Series win in a row, and holds a special place in the hearts of Blue Jays’ fans across Canada. But so much has changed for the team, its supporters and Toronto in the 32 years since.
From player salaries to uniforms and the price of hot dogs, take a look back at what’s changed since 1993.
10/31/25 13:30The full World Series schedule and game start times
– Globe staff
The World Series logo is placed on near home plate as ground crews at the Rogers Centre prepare the field on Thursday.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Set your alarms, baseball fans! Here’s a look at the rest of the schedule as the Blue Jays and Dodgers battle it out, taking the field tonight:
Game 6 – Friday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. ET in TorontoGame 7 – Saturday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. ET in Toronto (if necessary)10/31/25 13:30The Dodgers’ official World Series roster
– Globe staff
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, a pitcher and designated hitter, hits during batting practice on Thursday.Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press
Los Angeles announced its full 26-man lineup for the World Series last week. Here’s a full list of the players that made the cut.
Pitchers:
Anthony BandaJack DreyerTyler GlasnowEdgardo HenriquezClayton KershawWill KleinRoki SasakiEmmet SheehanBlake Snell (starting game 1)Blake TreinenJustin WrobleskiYoshinobu YamamotoShohei Ohtani (also a designated hitter)
Infielders:
Mookie BettsFreddie FreemanMax MuneyMiguel Rojas
Outfielders:
Alex CallJustin DeanTeoscar HernándezAndy Pages
In and outfielders:
Tommy EdmanKiké HernándezHyeseong Kim
Catchers:
10/31/25 13:30The Blue Jays’ official World Series roster
– Globe Staff
Shortstop Bo Bichette is back on the Jays roster for the World Series after a knee injury sidelined him for more than six weeks.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
Toronto announced its 26-player lineup for the World Series against the L.A. Dodgers last week. Here are all the players who made it.
Pitchers:
Chris BassitShane BieberSeranthony DomínguezBraydon FisherMason FluhartyKevin GausmanJeff HoffmanEric LauerBrendon LittleMax ScherzerLouis VarlandTrey Yesavage (starting Game 1)
Infielders:
Addison BargerBo BichetteErnie ClementTy FranceAndrés GiminézVladimir Guerrero Jr.Isiah Kiner-Falefah
Outfielders:
Nathan LukesDavis SchneiderGeorge SpringerMyles StrawDaulton Varsho
Catchers:
Tyler HeinemanAlejandro Kirk