Rival Watch: MLB analysts react to Dodgers forcing Game 7 vs. Blue Jays
For the 41st time ever, the World Series is headed for a Game 7.
The Toronto Blue Jays returned home to Rogers Centre for Game 6 with two shots at clinching the third title in franchise history. But after Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a second excellent outing and the Los Angeles Dodgers escaped a ninth-inning jam, thanks to some luck at the wall, the series will head to a winner-take-all matchup on Saturday night (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT).
Friday’s Game 6 was defined early on by the pitching performances of Yamamoto and Kevin Gausman, as the two aces renewed acquaintances after previously squaring off in Game 2.
Both ended up throwing six innings in the contest, but ultimately, the three runs Gausman allowed in the third proved to be the difference.
The Blue Jays had their chances to cut into their deficit; however, they went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. That includes 0-for-2 in the ninth, when Toronto put runners on second and third with no outs after Addison Barger drove a ball into the Rogers Centre padding and was limited to a ground-rule double.
It all sets up a do-or-die Game 7, where the Commissioner’s Trophy will be handed out one way or another on Saturday in Toronto. Before things get underway in one of the biggest baseball games north of the border in decades, here’s a look at what some of American media members are saying about the drama of Game 6.
Yahoo Sports — World Series 2025: For once, a Blue Jays rally comes up short as Dodgers force Game 7 with wild ninth inning
Much of the attention following the Blue Jays’ loss on Friday was, rightfully, placed on how the ninth inning played out.
In a season full of Toronto comebacks, it seemed like the Blue Jays were building toward a game-tying rally at the very least, even after Barger was sent back to second.
It wasn’t meant to be, though, as the Dodgers turned to Tyler Glasnow out of the bullpen, who got Ernie Clement to pop out and Andrés Giménez to fly out to Kiké Hernández. Once Hernández caught the ball, he fired in quickly to Miguel Rojas at second to double off Barger and end the ballgame.
Yahoo Sports’ Jordan Shusterman dove deeper into just how often the Blue Jays had come through when trailing all season long.
“No major-league team has authored more come-from-behind victories than the Blue Jays in 2025 — 49 in the regular season, plus another five in October — and Toronto appeared to be cooking up another comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6.
Shusterman added that it’s tough to fault Toronto for its approach against Glasnow, since it remained true to who it was all season by aggressively attacking at the plate and avoiding the strikeout.
“The Blue Jays had done what they do best, putting the ball in play when they needed to most with a World Series title within reach. But as it turns out, good things don’t always happen.”
MLB Network — Chris Young discusses Barger’s baserunning blunder
From being the hero one minute, racing around the bases as the Dodgers outfielders decided on how to handle the lodged ball, to the final out of the game just three pitches later, Barger felt both the highs and lows of post-season baseball in a matter of minutes.
The Blue Jays right-fielder said post-game that he got a “bad read” on Giménez’s sinking liner and was too aggressive trying to score the tying run.
As the MLB Network panel discussed the play in the aftermath of the wild ninth inning, Chris Young, a 13-year big-leaguer, broke down what a runner at second base should be looking to do in that scenario.
“I understand you’re trying to be aggressive on the bases right there, but you can’t lose the game right there in that spot…
“Kiké catches this ball at his head height. You have to know where he’s starting off — when Giménez comes to the plate, the left-fielder is going to be shallow.”
Young further explained that Barger didn’t have a chance to score as soon as he froze, so there wasn’t a point in getting stuck that far off of second base while waiting to see if Hernández was going to make the catch.
New York Post — World Series Game 7 has all the right ingredients — but who has the edge, Blue Jays or Dodgers?
With the dust settled on Game 6, many have begun to look toward Game 7 as the Blue Jays and Dodgers will put a bow on the 2025 MLB season at Rogers Centre.
Toronto will turn back to Max Scherzer to take the ball for the game and Los Angeles is presumed to be using Shohei Ohtani as its starter to avoid having to work around the two-way player rule.
The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman broke down the two sides, diving into how both clubs stack up with a World Series title on the line.
“The Dodgers have bigger names and a higher payroll. But very little separates these two teams.
“The Dodgers won 93 games in the regular season, the Jays 94…
“Both have relaxed managers, and their teams reflect that. This should be fun.”
Heyman went on to give the Blue Jays the edge in the hitting and pitching departments for Game 7, citing Toronto’s current form at the plate and bullpen as potential separators with the stakes at their highest.
He did give the Dodgers the “intangibles” advantage, however, based on their previous post-season experience.
