Blue Jays' John Schneider Downplays Dodgers Matchup Before World Series Rematch

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Apr 6, 2026 2:00 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays are back home this week and looking to reset after an uneven stretch to begin the season—but they won't have it easy.

Toronto sits at 4-5 after dropping five of six games entering Monday, a span featured losses against two teams that finished well under .500 and with the two worst records in the MLB last season.

The Blue Jays are still near the top of the American League East, but Toronto has yet to establish some consistency in every facet of the game.

Coming up next: the Los Angeles Dodgers, who arrive in Toronto with an MLB-best 7-2 record following a sweep of the Washington Nationals and after scoring 31 runs in the nation's capital.

"I'm expecting, for the first time in my life, to get booed."

It's the World Series rematch, even if no one wants to call it a rematch.

From @SonjaMChen and I, a look at #BlueJays vs. Dodgers and what both sides are saying:https://t.co/umsbJgvtww
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) April 6, 2026

The early-season matchup will see both teams face each other a few months after they last did in the World Series, which extended into a deciding Game 7 that went to extra innings before the Dodgers claimed their second consecutive championship.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider, speaking ahead of Monday's series opener, has decided to take a measured approach to the upcoming World Series rematch.

“I was joking with the guys that it’s not a three-game rematch of the World Series, it’s just three games you’ve got to cover and try to win,” Schneider said.

Schneider has also addressed the matchup inside the Blue Jays locker room, avoiding creating any more buzz around the narrative surrounding the opponent and instead focusing on getting ready for another set of baseball games.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider talks to reporters before a game.Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

“Doesn’t matter who you’re playing, where you’re playing, what time you’re playing,” Schneider said. “If you’re not playing your baseball, good things usually don’t happen.”

Following this already-tough series, Toronto will face the Minnesota Twins and the Milwaukee Brewers, with the latter currently tied with the Dodgers for the best record in the MLB through Sunday.

For now, the Blue Jays will host the Dodgers in the series opener on Monday evening, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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