A nine-run sixth-inning barrage by the Blue Jays highlighted a glaring weakness for the Dodgers, whose bullpen was hit hard again in an 11-4 rout in Game 1 of the World Series.

Such is the partially ad hoc nature of this Blue Jays playoff run, as they won the American League East three weeks after Bichette suffered a sprained left knee ligament, then won seven of 11 postseason games to advance to their first World Series since 1993.

The Los Angeles Dodgers decided to unfortunately not allow one of their relievers to play this postseason after a sudden personal matter.

Forgive the Dodgers if they've become accustomed to the finer things. Their quality of life, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman likes to say, has been much improved with the way their rotation has thrown the ball this postseason.

Shohei Ohtani followed his two-way show for the ages with a homer in the Dodgers’ World Series opener, but he also grounded out with the bases loaded in Los Angeles’ 11-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger has potentially put Game 1 of the 2025 World Series out of reach for the defending champions.

The Dodgers replaced two of the relief pitchers who were on their NLCS roster, but otherwise will bring the same group to Toronto for the World Series.