Bandwagon Blue Jays fan guide to the 2025 World Series

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has lived up to expectations after signing a 14-year extension that kicks in next year, and George Springer is coming alive again at the plate after hitting the age of 37. Then there are also role players such as Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, and more, who are also having career years of their own, even if they may not be having an objective MVP-calibre season. In other words, most players reaching their highest potential have led the Blue Jays to put them in the position they are today.

2. Who are the star players? 

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the face of the franchise, but by now, everyone in Canada has probably heard of him at least once after his heroics in the playoffs. Shortstop Bo Bichette may not have played in the playoffs yet due to a knee injury, but he certainly has exceeded expectations at the plate and was the team’s go-to RBI machine.

Catcher Alejandro Kirk, also known as Captain Kirk, has blossomed into an all-around excellent catcher with his amazing defensive and framing skills, along with his resurgent bat. He’s also one of the more patient hitters in the Blue Jays’ lineup, which adds a different look.

Centre fielder Daulton Varsho has had a rollercoaster of a season with injuries, but his bat has come alive even in his limited plate appearances, and his defensive skills are still at a Gold-Glove level. Of course, right fielder and designated hitter George Springer has been a revelation this season after finding his form in his late 30s. Springer is leaning into his strength again offensively, which is why he came through in Game 7 of the ALCS with a game-changing three-run home run.

On the pitching side, the Blue Jays’ starting pitching ace is Kevin Gausman, who has been one of the more reliable pitchers this season and even in the playoffs, despite some letdowns. Jeff Hoffman is the new designated closer that the team signed last winter, and has really come through in the playoffs. Shane Bieber is the ultimate starting pitching acquisition at the trade deadline and has helped the Blue Jays add more pitching depth, ahead of the playoffs. Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer may have spent a good chunk of the start of the season on the IL, but he has shone in his playoff outing in the ALCS. This 41-year-old pitcher has made four postseason appearances and has already won two World Series with the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers.

The Blue Jays also have a star rookie weapon in the rotation (more on him below).

3. How did the Blue Jays get this far in the playoffs? 

Here is a quick breakdown of what exactly went right for the 2025 Blue Jays, specifically in the playoffs so far:

• Fewer strikeouts and more contact: The Blue Jays haven’t struck out that much this year, and they carried that trend over in the playoffs as well. What this means is that the team puts more balls in play, and putting balls in play usually gives a team more chances to score runs and create chaos. By and large, Toronto has been successful offensively because the team is also capable of coming through in big moments. They don’t just slap singles; they are capable of stringing multiple hits together and hitting clutch home runs.

• Strong defence: Toronto is also a very good defensive team. Yes, they have their moments here and there, but when opponents put balls in play, the Blue Jays’ fielders are great at executing key defensive plays and can shorten doubles into singles or rob home runs. Aside from out-hitting their rivals, Clean defence can win games because it can prevent runs. Most notably, the Blue Jays executed three consecutive double plays in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners. That’s their foolproof run prevention strategy.

• Comeback wins: Another Blue Jays’ specialty this year has been comeback wins. During the regular season, they had the most amount of comeback wins (49) out of all 30 teams in MLB. That storyline came into play in the playoffs, especially when the team dropped the first two games at home in the ALCS. The Blue Jays eventually woke up and won two games in Seattle, and while they lost the last game there, they came back to Toronto to clinch their spot in the World Series after winning two more games at home. Game 7 of the ALCS is going to be the most memorable comeback win for more recent Blue Jays fans. Remember, they were trailing the Mariners by the score of 3-1, and George Springer’s three-run home run quickly turned that into a 4-3 game. Toronto has been generating instant classics all season long, and that thankfully carried over to this playoff run.

4. Who are some of the unsung heroes on this team?

There are way too many players on this list, which is a testament to how the Blue Jays built their foundation for success.

Everyone, from All-Stars to bench players, has done something for the team, and that’s precisely why it’s hard to name just a few of them. But if you should keep any names in mind, it should be Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider and Myles Straw the offensive side of the team. On the pitching side, the Jays have Eric Lauer, who stepped up to really become a dependable starter during the regular season and is now in the bullpen working as a reliever.

There is also Seranthony Dominguez, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, Yariel Rodríguez and Louis Varland, who have stabilized the relief pitching depth on the team. If you are so inclined, Chris Bassitt counts as an unsung hero in the playoffs as well, and may become a wild-card with his relief pitching skills.

5. Who is Trey Yesavage?

Trey Yesavage was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2024 as a first-round pick. Even though most first-round picks tend to fast-track their call-up to the majors given their talent, Yesavage’s call-up is one of the fastest compared to other top prospects, not only in his draft class, but in the Jays’ franchise history.

His pitching delivery resembles that of Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, and his pitch release angle is the highest in the majors. Because of his pitching mechanics, he was able to help the Blue Jays win games in the regular season and in the playoffs. Yesavage has made fewer than 10 starts for the Blue Jays, and he has played at every level of minor league this year before making his debut with Toronto this September. The 22-year-old has been a pitching sensation and a secret weapon for the Blue Jays, who desperately needed more pitching depth.

6. Do the Blue Jays have a chance to win in the World Series?

Technically, yes, because probability will give both teams some odds of winning it all. However, the consensus is that the Los Angeles Dodgers have been a stronger team with great player depth in their roster.

The Dodgers also have a few formidable stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Will Smith, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto – that’s already more than a handful of players that are hard to beat. The Blue Jays appear to be the underdogs in this matchup despite a better regular-season record and will be coming off shorter rest than the Dodgers, who have only had to play four games in the NLCS after sweeping the Brewers.

But MLB playoffs are always filled with chaos and randomness – that’s what makes the playoffs fun to watch, and regardless of what happens, the Blue Jays have already made history by even setting foot in the World Series after 32 years. It should be a thrilling and nerve-racking series all around.