After a flight east and an off day, the World Series is back in action on Friday night with a potentially decisive Game 6. The Toronto Blue Jays have a chance to close things out on home turf with a game to spare, securing the franchise’s first title since Joe Carter’s legendary 1993 home run. In the opposite dugout, the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to keep their dream of back-to-back championships alive.
Those different situations played out in real-time on Thursday at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays’ optional workout consisted of little more than kids playing catch in the outfield. The Dodgers, faced with the prospect of elimination, all chose to be on the field.
Is that indicative of a telling contrast in attitudes? Or is it just two different approaches from two different teams? And, in complete fairness, the Dodgers seemed pretty comfortable, as demonstrated by manager Dave Roberts’ failed foot race.
But, with all of that being said, let’s get down to business and look at Game 6 of the 2025 World Series.
Starting Pitchers, Possible Lineup Changes
On the pitcher’s mound, we’ll get a second round of Game 2’s matchup, with LA’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking on Toronto’s Kevin Gausman. The former threw an absolute gem his last time out, throwing his second consecutive complete game and retiring the last 20 Blue Jays he faced in order. The latter more than held his own, though, allowing four hits and three runs across 6 2/3 innings before leaving as the hard-luck loser.
But what will the rest of the lineups look like?
The biggest question mark in Toronto’s starting unit is George Springer, who missed Games 4 and 5 with an oblique issue. He looked ready to pinch-hit in Game 5, but he never entered the fray.
Ahead of Game 6, though, Blue Jays manager John Schneider suggested that his leadoff hitter could be ready for a return.
“Not many, to be honest with you,” he explained when asked how many boxes Springer had left to check. “I think just making sure he feels comfortable and confident tomorrow, and not just for one at-bat, to go in and compete and kind of get locked into a game. He’s kind of checked every box physically so far, so see how tomorrow goes.”
That would presumably push Bo Bichette from the DH spot to second base, aiming to keep Toronto’s biggest bats in the lineup.
On the Dodgers’ side of things, Roberts has already made some tweaks to his sputtering lineup. Speaking ahead of Game 6, he didn’t rule out any further adjustments.
“I might change it up a little bit,” the manager explained. “I’m contemplating, but I’m still kind of up in the air. So it could be a little bit of a change.”
It’s worth noting that LA doesn’t have a Springer or Bichette-level player to come off the bench. Roberts’ options are largely limited to reshuffling his batting order or bringing someone like Alex Call, Miguel Rojas or Hyeseong Kim into the mix.
Game 6’s Key Matchup
When you’re in a potentially decisive game, every matchup is important, but LA’s Yamamoto will play a massive role in how Friday night unfolds.
During Game 2, he neutralized the potent Toronto offense. It goes without saying that a similar performance will give the Dodgers a strong chance of holding on to win; you can’t lose the game if the other team struggles to score.
Yamamoto’s role, though, looms even larger on Friday due to two additional factors.
First, the LA’s bullpen has been an Achilles’ heel this postseason. With Alex Vesia unavailable for the series, there isn’t a safe path to closer Roki Sasaki. And when you factor in the Blue Jays’ plate discipline and ability to put the ball in play, it’s easy for a starter to get in trouble if he’s not on his game, which leaves the entire house of cards wobbling.
It’s also worth remembering that Toronto will be playing at home with a chance to capture a historic championship. A hot offensive start will only amp up the atmosphere, but if Yamamoto can quiet the Blue Jays’ bats, nerves could set in.
From Schneider’s perspective, though, the experience of Game 2 will only help his club.
“I think it’s always easier when you actually see a guy and kind of feel what his stuff is playing like, and kind of what it does in comparison to other guys you’ve faced,” the manager said. “The delivery is a little unique, obviously, and there’s some deception there, but that’s about it. It comes down to putting together a good plan, and kind of seeing how he’s going to attack. Is it going to be the same way, which he had a lot of success with, or is he going to deviate a little bit, and can we be ready to kind of pivot with him.”
The Canadian Context: Have the Blue Jays Ever Won the World Series?
When you think of the Toronto sports scene, the Blue Jays haven’t exactly been a historical powerhouse. Thanks to their position in the AL East, the club spent plenty of time getting beaten up by the Red Sox and Yankees, with visiting fans filling the Rogers Centre seats.
With that being said, though, the Commissioner’s Trophy has come north of the border twice. The Blue Jays won back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993; the Montreal Expos never took home the title during their existence, although things might have been different if not for the 1994-95 strike.
And while the Blue Jays’ status as Canada’s only baseball team would always give them a national following, there’s a bit of extra pride at play given recent US-Canada relations.
What the Blue Jays and Dodgers Are Saying Before World Series Game 6
John Schneider about being back at home with a chance to clinch the title:
“It feels great. I can’t wait. For one, it’s nice to be back here and sleep in your own bed. I can’t wait to see what this place is like tomorrow. Watching it on video from across the country with the people here watching, I’ve never seen anything like that. I’ve never seen a watch party like that. So I’m just excited as hell to see what this place is like tomorrow. The guys are too. They’re talking about it as well. We can’t wait. You kind of want the game to start right now. But it should be fun.”
Dave Roberts about his players being caught in between during their at-bats:
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this. I’m sure our guys, too. I think it’s more of—all that being said, intent, mechanics, I think right now, we got to find a way to win one game. And I could dive into my thoughts, but I think at the end of the day, they just have to compete and fight in the batter’s box. And it’s one-on-one, the hitter versus the pitcher, and that’s it. Really. I mean, I think that sort of mindset is all I’ll be looking for and expect good things to happen from that.”
Schneider on the vibe flying back from Los Angeles:
“Yeah, the vibe was exactly how it always is coming home with an off day. Again, I was impressed. Kind of walking through the clubhouse after I got done talking to you guys, there was obviously just more people in the clubhouse than a regular season, but I was impressed with just kind of the back-and-forth that was happening and the not getting too high and kind of getting ready to get on a bus and get on a plane and come back here and get ready to play.
So the vibe was good, but it was nothing different than what it usually has been this season. I actually texted my wife. She said, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ And said, ‘Are you having fun?’ And I said, ‘I’m actually kind of calm, which is weird.’ After three days like that and an 18-inning game, I felt pretty calm. It was just like, all right, put on your headphones, watch a movie, have a beer, and kind of just chill. So it was a normal plane ride.”
If you’re curious, Schneider watched “Den of Thieves, a good bank robber movie from L.A.”
Roberts on the right approach to an elimination situation:
“I think elimination games, which we’ve had a lot of experience with, is all mindset. I really do. It’s fight or flight, it’s whatever adage or saying you want to kind of come, leave it all out there. It’s certainly not war. I’m not trying to compare that to war. But in our world, in our small world of baseball, it is war. So that’s the mindset—for me, it’s all mindset.”
Where to Watch World Series Game 6
As with the rest of the World Series, the action will air on Fox in the United States and SportsNet in Canada. Things get underway at 8 p.m. ET.
If a Game 7 is necessary, it will be played on Saturday night, with the first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m.
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