LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have the Toronto Blue Jays right where they want them in the World Series: at home for three games in three days.
Tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series, the action resumes Monday night with the Dodgers backed by their raucous fans. Los Angeles is aiming to become the first team to win consecutive championships since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000. The Dodgers captured their eighth World Series title last year by defeating the Yankees in New York. The only title they have won at home was at Dodger Stadium in 1963.
Twenty hours after walking off the field under the closed roof at Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays worked out at Dodger Stadium on Sunday under hazy skies obscuring the San Gabriel Mountains. They arrived at their hotel at 4 a.m., while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t get to the stadium until 5 p.m. due to flight delays.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, age 41 years and 82 days, will start Game 3 for Toronto. The Blue Jays hope he can replicate his strong outing in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, when Scherzer held the Seattle Mariners to two runs over 5 2/3 innings.
“Obviously, with age, you don’t have the same stuff. I know they don’t have the same leash on him as he used to have,” Roberts said. “But, man, he’s still a great competitor. It’s still going to be a tough test for us regardless because he wants to beat us really bad.”
Dodger fans have their own memory of Scherzer, and it’s not a positive one. Scheduled to start for Los Angeles in Game 6 of the 2021 NLCS, he was scratched late due to arm fatigue. The Dodgers lost that game to the Atlanta Braves and were eliminated.
“I wouldn’t be looking backwards at all for any motivation,” Scherzer said. “I have plenty of motivation. I’m here to win and I’ve got a clubhouse full of guys who want to win, too.”
Scherzer and fellow Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, who will start Game 4, will become the eighth duo of former Cy Young winners to start consecutive World Series games for a team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
On the Dodgers’ side, Tyler Glasnow will start Monday’s game. Glasnow grew up about 30 miles away in Santa Clarita and has been exceptional this postseason, allowing just one run and seven hits with 18 strikeouts, eight walks, and a 0.68 ERA in three appearances.
“It’s very sentimental and amazing,” Glasnow said. “But I think that’s kind of something I’ll look back on more and focus on and really feel the feelings of it maybe when this is all done. I’m just trying to go to work and do well.”
Toronto recently played three road games in three days during the ALCS against Seattle. They won the first two and lost the third, eventually winning the series in seven games to earn their first World Series trip since 1993.
“Starting pitching is going to be important for both sides, and guys that can throw multiple innings are going to be important in these next three days,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “But I think especially against this team, you want to try to wear down their starters and get into their ‘pen.”
The Dodgers’ bullpen struggled in September, posting a 5.26 ERA — the third-worst in the National League that month. Their relievers blew multiple late leads and allowed 12 home runs.
Los Angeles received critical length from starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2, when he became the first pitcher since Mike Clevinger in 2023 to throw consecutive complete games at any point and the first in the postseason since Curt Schilling in 2001. There had not been a World Series complete game since 2015.
“It starts with the starters going deeper,” Roberts said. “Three in a row is very important to vary reliever looks and kind of get the optimum matchups that you can.”
Roberts also plans to limit hard-throwing rookie Roki Sasaki’s usage to the ninth inning.
Though Scherzer’s performance has tapered in recent years due to injuries, he remains as intense as ever. Schneider recalled their fiery exchange during a mound visit in Scherzer’s ALCS start.
“I’m going to try to avoid any mound visits with Max tomorrow,” Schneider said.
**Bo’s Back to Starting**
Toronto’s Bo Bichette will start at second base on Monday. He grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning of a 5-1 loss in Game 2 and stayed in the game at second.
“Felt good coming out of yesterday,” Schneider said. “I think with each day that goes on, he’ll probably get as close to normal as he can at this stage of the year.”
Bichette is a two-time All-Star shortstop, and Friday’s opener marked his first time at second base since a Triple-A game in 2019. He went 1 for 2 with a walk in an 11-4 win in Game 1, his first action since spraining his knee on Sept. 6 against the Yankees.
“I have such respect for him because he’s changing positions right now at this stage where everything is really important,” said Toronto’s Andrés Giménez, who previously switched from second to shortstop. “He’s showing that he can play second at a good level. He showed you the other day with the backhand play that was really difficult.”
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AP MLB News
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