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Friday, 31 October 2025
Thursday, 30 October 2025
Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman to start Game 6 of World Series vs. Dodgers
The Toronto Blue Jays‘ ace is taking the mound once again as the World Series shifts back to Toronto.
Righty Kevin Gausman has been tabbed as the Blue Jays’ starter for Game 6 of the World Series on Friday with a chance to claim the World Series title. (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).
“It’s exciting. Rogers Centre is going to be fun. It’s going to be electric. It’s going to be everything that it has been for the last month and probably more,” Gausman said ahead of Wednesday’s Game 5 win. “We’re excited to get back there. Obviously, we’re really good at home, so we feel confident playing in front of our own team.
“The fans there have been awesome, especially lately. They bring the energy, they pick us up when we need it.” So yeah, obviously, coming here was the goal to get back to Toronto.”
It’ll be the sixth October appearance for Gausman this year and his second of the Fall Classic after getting the nod in the Blue Jays’ 5-1 Game 2 loss.
The 34-year-old pitched well despite that loss, spinning 6.2 innings of three-run ball while striking out six. He did, however, give up home runs to Will Smith and Max Muncy in the seventh inning, which built up a Dodgers lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
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Watch the Blue Jays in the World Series on Sportsnet
The World Series is coming back to Toronto with the Blue Jays one win away from capturing their first title since 1993. Watch Game 6 on Friday at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Over his five post-season appearances, Gausman has a 2-2 record with a 2.55 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He has given up 10 walks and 14 hits, four of which were home runs.
He made an appearance out of the bullpen for the Jays in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners, pitching a shutout seventh inning to help Toronto secure the tight 4-3 win and cement their spot in the Fall Classic.
The Dodgers have yet to confirm who their Game 6 starter will be, however, Yoshinobu Yamamoto lines up to get the ball. The Dodgers righty was dominant in Game 2 when they first squared off, pitching his second complete game in a row.
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Wednesday, 29 October 2025
AP sources: Rozier will not receive salary while on leave
Embattled NBA guard Terry Rozier will not receive his salary from the Miami Heat while on leave because of his arrest on federal charges related to a gambling scheme, two people with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Rozier’s salary — about $26.6 million this season, paid in installments — will be held in some sort of account pending resolution of the legal case, said the people, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the details were not released publicly.
If Rozier is cleared and allowed to return to the NBA, which placed him on leave hours after his Oct. 23 arrest, he would receive the held payments in full, one of the sources said.
It was not immediately known if Portland coach Chauncey Billups, who has also been placed on leave by the league after his arrest on gambling-related charges last week, would have his salary held in a similar fashion.
Meanwhile, Rozier’s attorney said Wednesday that a federal lien filed with regard to the player’s tax bill in 2021 was satisfied.
The Internal Revenue Service filed that lien against Rozier in November 2023, showing an “unpaid balance of assessment” of $8,218,211.70 for the 2021 tax year. But Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, said in an email to The Associated Press that the actual amount owed to the IRS at that time was a sliver of that total.
“There was never a debt of $8 million,” Trusty wrote. “Out of his total taxes owed in 2021 ($8m), he actually owed $9000. That was paid, but the now-defunct lien still needs to be pulled from the local courthouse.”
ESPN first reported the lien’s existence. The lien is a public record, and there is no publicly available document showing it has been removed.
Officials in Broward County, Florida — where the lien was filed — did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A call seeking information from an IRS revenue officer was unanswered. Revenue officers work for the IRS to collect delinquent taxes.
Rozier owns a home in Broward County, and records show his property taxes have been paid in full each year. That property is about 30 miles from where the Heat play their home games.
Rozier was playing for the Charlotte Hornets during that 2021 tax year and is now on the Heat roster. He, Billups and nearly three dozen other individuals were arrested last week on gambling-related charges detailed in two separate indictments.
Federal officials alleged that Rozier conspired with associates to help them win bets based on his statistical performance in a game when he was with the Hornets on March 23, 2023 — more than seven months before the lien was prepared and nearly eight months before it was formally filed. Rozier played sparingly in that game, and gamblers who wagered that he would finish “under” certain statistical totals won those bets.
The charges against Rozier are similar to what former Toronto player Jontay Porter faced before he was banned from the league by Silver in 2024.
Rozier did not play in the final eight games of that 2022-23 season, with him and the Hornets citing a foot injury. The Hornets had several players injured at that time and were already eliminated from playoff contention.
Sportsbooks detected unusual patterns of wagers on the Charlotte game in question — prop bets involving Rozier were flagged and immediately brought to the NBA’s attention — and the league probed the matter but did not find enough evidence to conclude that Rozier broke any rules. The NBA, unlike federal law enforcement, does not have subpoena power.
The NBA said earlier this week that it is reviewing how sensitive information like injury reports — which are public and updated hourly — should be handled going forward. Members of the House and Senate have both asked the NBA for more information as well.
Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on that panel, wrote NBA Commissioner Adam Silver this week seeking details “about how the NBA investigated and handled these allegations” and why the NBA allowed Rozier to continue playing.
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Steelers acquire safety Kyle Dugger from Patriots
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired safety Kyle Dugger from New England in hopes of giving the back end of the secondary another experienced option with starter DeShon Elliott out indefinitely with a knee injury.
Pittsburgh sent a sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft to New England in exchange for Dugger and a seventh-round selection.
Dugger, a second-round choice by the Patriots in 2020, had 17 tackles in seven games with New England this season. The six-year veteran has nine career interceptions, including a pair of Pick-6s in 2022.
Elliott injured his right knee in the second half of Pittsburgh’s 35-25 loss to Green Bay on Sunday night. Dugger joins a safety group that includes Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers.
Pittsburgh’s secondary is struggling. The Steelers are dead last in the NFL against the pass and have surrendered over 700 yards in their last two games to Cincinnati’s Joe Flacco and Green Bay’s Jordan Love.
Things won’t get any easier for Pittsburgh this weekend when AFC South-leading Indianapolis (7-1) and the NFL’s top offense visit Acrisure Stadium.
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Vinicius Junior apologizes for outburst at Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso
MADRID — Vinícius Júnior has apologized for his outburst toward Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso after being replaced in the clasico against Barcelona, blaming his “passion” and “competitive nature”.
“I want to apologize to all Madrid fans for my reaction after being substituted,” he said on X on Wednesday. “Just as I already apologized in person during today’s training session, I also want to apologize again to my teammates, the club and the president.”
Vinícius was visibly upset when he found out Alonso was replacing him with Rodrygo in the 72nd minute of Madrid’s 2-1 league win over Barcelona on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The Brazil forward opened his arms and kept talking to himself as he left the field. Vinícius went straight to the changing room before rejoining his teammates about five minutes later.
He did not mention Alonso in his apology on X.
“Sometimes my passion gets the better of me,” Vinicius said. “I always want to win and help my team. My competitive nature stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since day one.”
Vinícius has been substituted more often than he used to be under previous Madrid coaches. He also did not start in a couple of matches.
He also exchanged words with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal during the clasico, and was involved in a scuffle between players after the match.
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Max Domi breaks out of slump as Maple Leafs rally to beat Flames
TORONTO — Max Domi needed that one, and so did the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There was a time, not so long ago, that the Maple Leafs would size up an opponent like the 2025-26 Calgary Flames and start dreaming of touchdowns on scoreboards and Hall & Oates on repeat.
The monsters would be out to munch cookies.
Stat-Padding Night at ol’ Scotiabank Arena.
And if, by chance, the mighty Leafs didn’t take care of business?
Well, it would be because (a) they decided not to bother or (b) the other guys’ goalie did cartwheels and, oh, well, tip the cap.
Those days are not these days.
The 2025-26 edition of the Maple Leafs — through 10 games at least — has been incapable of steamrolling an NHL lesser light like the one that trudged in from Alberta on Tuesday.
And so, although an overpowering power-play and waves of top-six offence are no longer turning regular-season mismatches into child’s play, and although the Leafs aren’t locking one-goal leads under lock and key like they did last year, a 4-3 comeback win over the league’s 32nd-place team is still a victory.
A two-goal mini breakout for the inconsistent Max Domi is still worth highlighting.
“We won today. So, nothing else matters, man,” Domi said post-game between sips of a smoothie.
“Honestly, you’re not going to get much in terms of the individual stuff. That stuff is so irrelevant. It’s a long season, and we need everyone.”
Today’s Maple Leafs needed everyone to string two W’s in a row, while the woebegone Flames watched their NHL-worst goal differential drop to minus-15.
Points must be stacked while the Leafs, who still very much envision themselves a contender, heal up and figure things out.
Take ’em and build. Even if the process looks a little shaky or the pre-Blue Jays crowd gets a little sleepy.
Aurora, Ont., native Morgan Frost opened the scoring in Period 1 off a nice passing sequence by Calgary, putting Toronto into an early hole.
Domi countered with a peppery shot in transition that beat Dustin Wolf clean glove side in the second frame.
Joel Farabee restored the visitors’ lead when he was granted clear access to goaltender Anthony Stolarz’s crease and jammed the puck right through the netminder. Ugh.
A response strike by Matthew Knies in tight with just 35 remaining before intermission knotted the contest and punctuated one of the better second periods for the home side.
The Maple Leafs have generally been getting caved in with the long change, but outshot Calgary 16-8 in the middle period.
“Way better,” coach Craig Berube said. “Might’ve been our best second period of the year.”
Hey, when performance has been uneven, you cling to the positives. You trumpet your resilience.
That momentum carried into the final period, when Knies (again) took advantage of Calgary’s fourth minor penalty and a mad net-front scramble to slam in a go-ahead goal while lunging on one knee.
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The offensively challenged Flames struck back, however, when Samuel Honzek was left all alone in front — underscoring Toronto’s knack for surrendering quality looks in tight games.
But Domi played hero in the 57th minute, sniping the winner and his second of the night.
Huge fist pump.
“Max, for me, the last three games, has been a different player,” Berube said. “More engaged. And when he’s an engaged player, he’s a good player.”
Slowly gaining confidence, Domi and the Maple Leafs jetted to Ohio after the final horn and will play the similarly inconsistent Blue Jackets (4-4) in less than 24 hours.
Toronto’s upcoming two-game road trip — the club heads to Philadelphia on Saturday — marks its longest of the month, a fine chance to get out of town and on the same page.
Ten games in, the Maple Leafs are treading water in the middle of the mediocre Atlantic and still searching for their first full 60.
“Yeah, we’re champing at the bit to get on the road. We love playing at home, certainly being at home with our families and playing in front of our great fans,” Domi said.
“But that’s when you really take the next step forward, when you have a few days together. That’s what it’s all about at this level, building relationships off the ice as fast as you can and come together as quick as you can, because that translates directly into on-ice success.”
Fox’s Fast Five
• Big two-goal night for the struggling Domi, who tripled his goal total.
The playmaker is still looking for his first assist. He has two hits and is a team-low minus-7 through 10 games. He’s bounced around the lineup and is centring the fourth line.
Asked pregame to assess the $3.75-million forward’s season so far, Berube suggested the injury Domi suffered in September is lingering. That may explain the lack of physicality.
“Up and down. Missed a lot of camp. That always hurts a guy a little bit,” Berube said. “Just kind of not fully healthy, in my opinion.”
• The Maple Leafs blueline misses Chris Tanev (upper body) but has managed a 2-1 record in the former Flame’s absence while changing all three pairings.
“I mean, I don’t think you replace Taney. Other guys have to take on more responsibility and adjust their roles,” Morgan Rielly says. “That’ll be a work in progress. But I think we’re doing a good job. We have open communication back there. We’re playing with different guys and different sides and stuff, so there’s an adjustment there. But it’s really nothing we can’t handle.”
• Good sign for Calgary native William Nylander, who sat out his first regular-season game in 1,300 days (April 4, 2022) Saturday with a lower-body injury.
The game-time decision returned to action, set up Knies’ second-period goal, and has now splashed the scoresheet in 11 straight games against his birth-town team.
• Stolarz will get a night off Wednesday in Columbus, but the ex-Flyer projects to start Saturday in Philadelphia.
That’ll be his ninth start in Toronto’s first 12 matches.
“My body feels good. Everything’s great,” the 31-year-old maintains. “I prepared for this in the off-season. Obviously, the (save) numbers aren’t there for what I want, but it’s a long season.”
• California products Nick Robertson and Dustin Wolf, both 24, played together as youngsters on the West Coast.
“He’s a great goalie. He’s a great kid. I’ve known him since I was really young. I think six years old back in L.A. we played together. He was one of my first teammates,” Robertson recalls.
“He was a really good goalie then, and he’s a good goalie now. He’s a great guy. He’s obviously done really well since being in the league.”
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Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Maple Leafs notebook: Woll’s return, McCabe’s moment, ‘Scratch ‘N Score’
TORONTO — Telling, isn’t it, that the Toronto Maple Leaf most enthusiastic about the return of Joseph Woll is the man who plays the same position.
“It was awesome. Just seeing his infectious smile,” said Anthony Stolarz, following Woll’s first practice with the team in more than a month.
“For me, just seeing him back of the net, we were just talking how we miss our goalie hugs.”
Takes two to hug. Just as it takes two to give the Maple Leafs confidence in their crease.
As evidenced by the size of the ice bags wrapped around Stolarz’s surgically repaired knees after Friday’s loss in Buffalo — enough to fill a Coleman — the 1A can’t welcome his 1B soon enough.
“He’s a great human being. He’s somebody who’s been around this group a long time, and somebody who I’m friends with very closely,” Stolarz said.
“Just to get him back, for us, could be a huge spark. Could give us a little energy.”
Stolarz’s energy is lower than usual, his own coach said, as he readies to make his eighth start Tuesday in his club’s first 10 games.
The 31-year-old has never had such a hectic start to the season. To ease the mental burden, the Leafs recalled Dennis Hildeby to back up Saturday, giving Stolarz a full night off to stretch, relax and just watch.
And while much credit is due to waiver pickup Cayden Primeau (two wins in two starts, both in back-to-backs), this roster depends on tandem goaltending to thrive.
Last year, Toronto’s goalies had the league’s fourth-best save percentage (.905); they have sunk to 27th (.873) this season.
That doesn’t mean Stolarz and Primeau are to blame. After all, the skaters in front of them are handing out Grade-As easier than a gym teacher.
But it does means that Woll’s return to action is critical — and must be handled with care.
“Awesome having him back,” Morgan Rielly said. “I mean, you want to support everyone. Over the course of a career a long season, we all go through things. In terms of playing a team sport, you want to be there for each other. So, this is a good opportunity for everyone to rally.”
Woll, 27, took practice reps as Toronto’s third goalie Monday but was not made available to reporters. Absent since training camp while he dealt with a personal matter, Woll won’t speak publicly until he is “comfortable” doing so, Brad Treliving said.
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According to the general manager, Woll’s conditioning is “fabulous.” He has been hitting the ice roughly every other day over the past two weeks while he was away from his teammates and has now had a couple days on the ice with Leafs staff.
An AHL conditioning stint with the Marlies will likely precede NHL action next month.
“I do have a date circled, but we’ll have to see what it is,” said Treliving, careful not to announce a deadline in case it’s missed.
“We’re not going to rush it. It’ll happen when he’s ready to go.”
Stolarz was optimistic: “He’s a true pro, so I don’t think it’ll take him much time at all.”
All the talk Monday was that Woll needs time to get his reads back. He needs NHL practice reps and work dealing with net-front traffic and cross-crease plays.
There is also a mental side to sports, too, and Woll’s mind must be in a positive place before he starts a big-league game instead of Stolarz.
“(NHL players) deal with the same things we all deal with, right? It gets magnified because of the line of work they’re in. There’s more coverage of it,” Treliving said.
“I’m proud of how the organization has supported Joe, and we will for every player.”
Ticked-off McCabe is the best McCabe
Berube credited the Leafs’ “pissed off” attitude for fuelling Saturday’s 4-3 slump-busting comeback win over the Sabres.
Why so angry?
“Lost three in a row. That’s probably why,” Berube replied, before breaking into a devilish grin.
“If I lost three in a row and I was playing, I guarantee ya I woulda in got into two fights.”
Ex-Sabre Jake McCabe put together his best two games of the season over the weekend, even without trusted partner Chris Tanev.
He blocked 11 shots, threw five hits, gathered an assist and — best of all — crushed Bowen Byram in open ice, then dummied challenger Alex Tuch with one punch.
“My record against Buffalo hasn’t been too great since I left them, so I was eager for two points,” said McCabe, summoning more emotion in one sequence than some of his teammates have all year.
“I think it’s been a little lacking here this first little while. I’m certainly guilty of it, too, through the first five, six games,” McCabe said. “At the beginning of the year, sometimes you kind of dip your toe in the water rather than jump full in. Made it a mission here the last couple of nights to bring that side of my game out a little bit more, ’cause I’ve certainly played better — and I know my teammates feed off it.”
Nick Robertson agreed: “We need that energy.”
So did Dakota Joshua: “Nice to see when someone can step up and do it all.”
Joshua has skated for six seasons and three organizations of varying quality.
How does the power forward gauge the emotional level of these Leafs through nine games?
“Good, tough question. I mean, yeah, maybe there’s a little bit of waiting early on for somebody to do something that swings the momentum or the confidence in the team. It’s just hard to put your finger on what exactly that looks like and how that comes to form,” Joshua said.
“Like Jake the other night — very organic situation that found its way to him, and he was able to contribute and give our team a boost for the night. So, it’s got to be different guys every night stepping up. Whether it’s a blocked shot or a big hit or a fight that turns the tide.”
Does the emotional tipping point need to be organic? Or can you force it?
“It doesn’t have to be,” Joshua said. “It just seems like when it happens that way, that’s when you get the best outcome. And then other times, it’s tough when you’re searching for it and it doesn’t happen. Then you’re sitting there like, ‘Well, s—.’ Or pissed that it didn’t go that way. Doesn’t have to be organic, but that’s usually when you get the best turn.”
Scratch ’n score
Death, taxes and Nicholas Robertson finding the back of the net after a night in the press box.
Turns out, the path for the snakebitten Robertson to score his first of the season was to bench him.
Seemingly forever the Leafs’ 12(½)th forward, Robertson was nicknamed “Scratch ’N Score” on Leafs Talk by J.D. Bunkis and lived up to the moniker by potting his fifth goal over his past six return-to-action games.
“You guys know it’s not a situation that I’m foreign to,” Robertson said, after pounding a puck past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Saturday’s win.
“Good for my confidence.”
Robertson’s jump on the sleepy half of the home-and-home versus Buffalo was noticeable — and no doubt inspired by his temporary promotion to Auston Matthews’ top line.
Robertson, who learned where he’d be skating just 10 minutes before puck drop, logged a season-high 14:54 and deserves to stick in the lineup even if Nylander (lower body; day to day) is good to suit up Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. Berube liked his first look at Robertson–Matthews–McMann.
“Speed,” Berube said. “A lot of speed on the wings, getting on top of people. It was a good goal by Nicky coming in off the bench and finding that hole there; they made a nice play to him. But Nicky’s got speed, Bobby’s got speed, Matthews (has) got speed. So, it’s a fast line.
“They got to just play direct and do their job off in the offensive zone and make sure they’re responsible defensively.”
One-timers: Tanev (upper body) and Scott Laughton (foot) are both on the road to recovery. They hit the ice on a separate sheet with return-to-play staff. Tanev is unlikely to play this week. Laughton is planning to be on the plane to Philadelphia this weekend and may practice with the team as early as Friday.… Calle Järnkrok was absent from practice and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He took a hard shot off the foot Saturday…. John Tavares has 499 career goals. It would be sweeter to hit 500 at home than in Columbus or Philadelphia later this week.
Maple Leafs projected lineup Tuesday vs. Calgary Flames:
Robertson* – Matthews – McMann
Knies – Tavares – Maccelli
Joshua – Roy – Cowan
Lorentz – Domi – Blais*
Benoit – McCabe
Rielly – Myers
Ekman-Larsson – Carlo
Stolarz starts
Primeau
(*If Nylander plays, Robertson or Blais will get scratched.)
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Ex-wife of Angels employee says she saw players party with pills during trial over pitcher’s death
SANTA ANA, Calif. — The ex-wife of a Los Angeles Angels employee at the center of the overdose death of one of its star pitchers testified in a civil trial Monday that she saw players and clubhouse attendants passing pills and alcohol while partying on the team plane.
Camela Kay told jurors in a Southern California courtroom she had traveled on the Angels team plane with her then-husband Eric Kay, who was convicted of providing drugs that led to the 2019 death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, and seen players partying, playing card games, gambling and drinking.
“They’re treated like kings,” Camela Kay said of her observations on the plane. “I had seen them passing out pills or drinking alcohol excessively.”
The testimony came in a trial for a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ family contending the Angels should be held responsible for letting a drug-addicted and dealing team communications director stay on the job and access its players. The Angels have said team officials did not know Skaggs was taking drugs and that any drug activity involving him and Kay happened on their own time and in the privacy of the player’s hotel room.
Camela Kay said she was concerned that her then-husband had a drug problem after observing his erratic behavior, and family members mounted an intervention with him in 2017. The next day, she said, two team officials came over to speak with him and one of them pulled a series of plastic baggies containing white pills from the bedroom, which fueled her concerns that Eric Kay was not only struggling with substance abuse but selling drugs to make money.
“Him being in the clubhouse with the players, my guess would be he is supplying to them,” she said.
Camela Kay also described how her then-husband was driven home by an Angels employee after he was dancing in his office, shirtless, at the stadium in 2019. After he got home, she found a bottle with blue pills inside and called police to press him to go to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed an overdose involving six different drugs, she said.
He was hospitalized for three days and then went to rehab, which was communicated in text messages between Camela Kay and team officials shown to jurors.
She said her sister-in-law told her after visiting Eric in the hospital that he told her the pills were for Skaggs. She said she found text messages on his phone about him getting his “candy” at the stadium and relayed the information about both to Angels officials.
She said she was concerned about Eric heading on the road with the Angels after completing a six-week stint in rehab, adding he was still acting erratic and she suspected he was abusing a drug meant to treat opioid addiction.
After Skaggs’ death, Camela Kay filed for divorce, according to Orange County court records.
She is expected to continue testifying on Tuesday.
The trial comes more than six years after Skaggs, then 27, was found dead in the suburban Dallas hotel room where he was staying as the Angels were supposed to open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. A coroner’s report said Skaggs choked to death on his vomit and a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was found in his system.
Eric Kay was convicted in 2022 of providing Skaggs with a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl and sentenced to 22 years in prison. His federal criminal trial in Texas included testimony from five MLB players who said they received oxycodone from him at various times from 2017 to 2019, the years he was accused of obtaining pills and giving them to Angels players.
Skaggs had been a regular in the Angels’ starting rotation since late 2016 and struggled with injuries repeatedly during that time. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Skaggs’ family is seeking $118 million in lost earnings, compensation for pain and suffering and punitive damages against the team.
After Skaggs’ death, the MLB reached a deal with the players association to start testing for opioids and to refer those who test positive to the treatment board.
The trial is expected to take weeks and has included testimony from Angels outfielder Mike Trout and team employees.
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Scout’s Analysis: What Lukas Reichel brings to the Canucks
The Canucks started the season without the services of centre Teddy Blueger, but once he returned to the lineup Vancouver seemed relatively solid down the middle of the ice with Elias Pettersson, Filip Chytil, Blueger and either Max Sasson or Aatu Raty.
Unfortunately for the Canucks, they can’t seem to escape the injury bug. Blueger’s return to the lineup lasted only two games and Chytil is on the shelf with what appears to be a likely concussion after absorbing a massive hit from Washington’s Tom Wilson. Other players in sick bay include Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Nils Hoglander and Derek Forbort. It’s hard to believe, but things might have just gone from bad to worse with captain Quinn Hughes suffering a lower body injury on the weekend and missing the game Sunday night versus the Edmonton Oilers.
With injuries adding up Vancouver acquired forward Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks last Friday. The fact it only cost Vancouver a 2027 fourth-round pick might be surprising — or alarming — considering Reichel was drafted in the first round (17th overall) by Chicago in 2020. But the reality is that things weren’t working out for him there and he needed a change of scenery.
The much-needed new start will come in Vancouver and, after two games in his new uniform, here’s a look at what Reichel can potentially provide the Canucks.
Scouting report
Reichel’s pro career has produced high end impact at the AHL level (42G-74A in 121GP) but inconsistent results at the NHL level (22G-36A in 176GP)
Having said that, I was confident enough in his upside to provide the following report in the fall of 2023 after a game between Chicago and Boston:
“Reichel is a skilled forward who is averaging just over 14 minutes of ice time per game to start the season with the Hawks. All of his shifts come at even strength and the power play. He’s playing quick and fast and is a threat with the puck on his stick in transition. His speed backs opponents off their blue line and allows for generally clean offensive zone entries for his group. Leans shooter more than distributor and has to take better advantage of open lanes to the net instead of directing pucks on goal from the perimeter. His defensive detail ranges, not because he doesn’t arrive on time, but more due to lack of awareness/responsibility to lock onto his man. At the end of the day his offensive upside wins out. Reichel could end up as a middle-six option for Chicago as he matures.”
Positives
• Reichel isn’t going to overwhelm opponents with his physical play (he’s six-foot, 170 pounds) but his speed allows him to arrive in all three zones on time and usually ahead of schedule. He’s rated in the 96th percentile when it comes to max skating speed (23.04 mph) according to NHL EDGE.
• Although Reichel’s detail in terms of engaging properly in the defensive zone ranges at times, I’ve noticed improved awareness recently with some of his defensive sequences resulting in zone exits that lead to scoring chances for his group.
Here’s an example of what I’ve noticed more often from Reichel in the defensive zone:
Reichel suited up for the Canucks on very short rest after being traded from Chicago. I thought his energy and overall engagement was generally sound for his first game in Vancouver on Saturday night and he carried it over with a consistent effort Sunday night versus the Oilers.
Here’s an example of Reichel executing responsibly on and off the puck in his Canucks debut against the Montreal Canadiens this past Saturday. He extends the play on the half-wall and makes sure he is above the Canucks’ pinching defenceman for support. He’s in solid position in the neutral zone to regroup for another potential offensive zone entry:
What the Canucks need from Reichel
First and foremost, they need Reichel to evolve offensively. He is capable of generating more scoring chances with his speed and skill. I’m of the belief that Reichel had lost his confidence in Chicago. His shot volume, and overall scoring chances, reflect a skill forward who isn’t using his attributes to the best of his ability.
Here’s a look at how many shots on goal Reichel has generated so far this season. He’s clearly more comfortable directing plays to the net from his strong side, but I’m hoping he’ll become more aggressive driving to the middle of the ice with the Canucks.
(Note: These statistics are provided by NHL EDGE)
The Canucks only have one centreman with a face-off wining percentage above 50 (Raty). Elias Pettersson has taken the most draws of any Vancouver centre, but he’s only winning around 42 per cent of his draws. If the team expects Reichel to play centre long-term he will need to improve in the face-off circle, especially on his weak side. Here’s a look at Reichel’s success rate taking face-offs so far this season:
Some positives came out of the Sunday versus Edmonton in terms of Reichel’s overall game. He was deployed for a season-high 16:33 and rewarded the Canucks with much better results in the face-off circle.
There are players scattered throughout the NHL who, for whatever reason, didn’t find success with the team that drafted them. Sometimes the fit simply isn’t there and the surroundings don’t agree with the prospect.
I believe Reichel can provide more offence than he has shown so far in his NHL career. While with Chicago, there were several times when he was deployed less than 10 minutes per game and his confidence had to have taken a hit in the process. It appears as though Vancouver is willing to give him a chance to develop into the player many teams, not just the Hawks, thought he could become when he was drafted 17th overall in 2020.
The Vancouver Canucks didn’t have to invest much to acquire 23-year-old Reichel from Chicago. He became a diminishing asset, but he now has a chance to reset his young career and the Canucks are a team desperate for more impact from Reichel as they work through the injuries that have impacted the group to start the season.
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Grey Cup returning to Regina in 2027 with full festival planned indoors
The Grey Cup game is returning to Mosaic Stadium.
The CFL announced Monday it has awarded the 2027 Grey Cup to Regina.
The game was last held at Mosaic Stadium in 2022 when the Toronto Argonauts edged the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-23 before more than 33,000 spectators.
This year’s game will be held Nov. 16 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, while the 2026 contest is slated for Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.
“Rider Nation is legendary,” CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement. “Saskatchewan’s winning bid was an unmistakable reflection of this incredible fan base, filled with passion, celebration, a strong sense of community and of course, a deep love of Canadian football.”
This will mark the fifth time that Regina hosts the CFL championship game (1995, 2003, 2014 and 2022).
In 2013, the hometown Saskatchewan Riders beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23 before 44,710 spectators. That’s the last time the Riders won the Grey Cup.
“Grey Cups in Saskatchewan are incredibly special,” said Riders president/CEO Craig Reynolds. “More than a game, they are week-long gatherings that bring the entire CFL community together. Mosaic Stadium was built to host events of this magnitude, and welcoming the league here again in 2027 is a tremendous honour.
“Rider Nation’s energy and hospitality are second to none, and we can’t wait to celebrate with them once more. Our deepest thanks go to the province of Saskatchewan, the city of Regina and our many partners whose support made this possible.”
For the first time, the entire 2027 Grey Cup Festival will be hosted indoors, including the street festival.
“I look forward to seeing Rider Pride on full display as Saskatchewan welcomes fans from across the nation for the 2027 Grey Cup,” said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. “Our government is excited to support this event and the economic benefit that it will bring to local businesses and our province’s growing tourism sector.”
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Monday, 27 October 2025
Joseph Woll’s timeline for return to Maple Leafs uncertain, William Nylander skates
The Toronto Maple Leafs are inching closer to getting their goaltending tandem back at full strength.
Joseph Woll returned to practice for the first time Monday as he continues to work towards a return to play following his leave of absence, which began during training camp.
However, Woll won’t be ready to play once his stint on long-term injured reserve is over, general manager Brad Treliving told reporters.
The goalie also skated with the team on Saturday, but not in a formal practice.
Woll is eligible to play for the Maple Leafs as of Nov. 1, but despite continuing to skate while away from the team, the goaltender will likely need to participate in some conditioning games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies before he returns to the NHL club.
William Nylander also returned to practice on Monday after missing Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres with a lower-body injury. Fellow forward Calle Jarnkrok was absent.
Defenceman Chris Tanev and Scott Laughton skated on their own before practice as both work back from injuries.
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Grey Cup returning to Regina in 2027 with full festival planned indoors
The Grey Cup game is returning to Mosaic Stadium.
The CFL announced Monday it has awarded the 2027 Grey Cup to Regina.
The game was last held at Mosaic Stadium in 2022 when the Toronto Argonauts edged the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-23 before more than 33,000 spectators.
This year’s game will be held Nov. 16 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, while the 2026 contest is slated for Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.
“Rider Nation is legendary,” CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement. “Saskatchewan’s winning bid was an unmistakable reflection of this incredible fan base, filled with passion, celebration, a strong sense of community and of course, a deep love of Canadian football.”
This will mark the fifth time that Regina hosts the CFL championship game (1995, 2003, 2014 and 2022).
In 2013, the hometown Saskatchewan Riders beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23 before 44,710 spectators. That’s the last time the Riders won the Grey Cup.
“Grey Cups in Saskatchewan are incredibly special,” said Riders president/CEO Craig Reynolds. “More than a game, they are week-long gatherings that bring the entire CFL community together. Mosaic Stadium was built to host events of this magnitude, and welcoming the league here again in 2027 is a tremendous honour.
“Rider Nation’s energy and hospitality are second to none, and we can’t wait to celebrate with them once more. Our deepest thanks go to the province of Saskatchewan, the city of Regina and our many partners whose support made this possible.”
For the first time, the entire 2027 Grey Cup Festival will be hosted indoors, including the street festival.
“I look forward to seeing Rider Pride on full display as Saskatchewan welcomes fans from across the nation for the 2027 Grey Cup,” said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. “Our government is excited to support this event and the economic benefit that it will bring to local businesses and our province’s growing tourism sector.”
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Sunday, 26 October 2025
Mackenzie Dern wins vacant strawweight title at UFC 321
Mackenzie Dern is a UFC champion.
The popular star defeated her Brazilian compatriot Virna Jandiroba via five-round unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 321 to win the organization’s vacant strawweight title Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
Two judges scored the bout three rounds to two, while the other had it four rounds to one, all in favour of Dern who’s now 2-0 against Jandiroba in her career.
This was a rematch almost five full years in the making. Jandiroba and Dern met in late 2020 with Dern escaping with a hard-fought, three-round unanimous decision victory.
Dern, 32, joined the UFC in 2018 after a successful pre-MMA career as a jiu-jitsu world champion, while Jandiroba debuted in the UFC in 2019 as a former Invicta FC champion.
Jandiroba, 37, had success taking Dern down to the ground, securing multiple takedowns in each of the first four rounds, but Dern was landing the more aggressive and damaging strikes overall.
Dern has gone 6-4 since beating Jandiroba in their first meeting, with other notable decision wins over Tecia Torres and Loopy Godinez, and was coming off a January submission win over Amanda Ribas to position herself to fight for the vacant belt. Dern was the betting favourite entering the weekend and is now on her first three-fight win streak in four years.
Jandiroba had won five in a row entering UFC 321 and earned a title shot with back-to-back wins over past title challengers Amanda Lemos last summer and Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314 earlier this year.
The reason the UFC 321 co-main event was for a championship is that longtime 115-pound champion Zhang Weili vacated her title in order to move up to flyweight to challenge 125-pound champion Valentina Shevchenko next month at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden.
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Quillan Salkilld lands brutal head kick knockout on UFC 321 prelims
Quillan Salkilld capped off the UFC 321 preliminary card with one of the most vicious head kick knockouts you will ever see.
The touted 25-year-old from Australia put an exclamation mark on his short-notice bout with Nasrat Haqparast with the highlight-reel finish that occurred midway through the opening round of Saturday’s featured preliminary bout at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Salkilld timed a high kick perfectly that rendered Haqparast unconscious immediately. Haqparast remained unconscious on the canvas for several minutes after the KO before eventually coming to.
Haqparast, who had a five-fight winning streak snapped, is 4.5 years older than Salkilld and made his UFC debut before Salkilld had even begun training in mixed martial arts.
Salkilld lost his pro debut in 2021 but has since won 10 consecutive fights, including three at the UFC level, and is one of the more promising young fighters on the UFC roster.
Although he’s unranked at 155 pounds, Salkilld is quickly climbing the lightweight ladder and called for a ranked opponent in his next fight.
In other preliminary action, middleweights Ikram Aliskerov and Jun-yong Park had a gruelling 15-minute contest with Aliskerov getting his hand raised via unanimous decision. Aliskerov was successful on five of his seven takedown attempts in the fight, which was ultimately the difference on the scorecards.
Ludovit Klein earned a bittersweet majority decision win over Mateusz Rebecki in a bloody lightweight bout. Klein rocked and cut open Rebecki multiple times throughout first two rounds, however he sustained a gruesome ankle injury early in the final round.
Klein claimed he broke his ankle after it twisted underneath him during a Rebecki takedown attempt. Rebecki, 33 from Poland, inflicted a lot of damage in the third round but Klein, 30 from Slovakia, was able to hold on and make it to the final horn. Klein was up on the scorecards after 10 minutes and it was enough for him to squeak out a decision win to rebound from a May decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot. Rebecki has now lost two in a row and three of his past four.
Valter Walker extended his own UFC record by earning yet another heel hook submission win. The 27-year-old Brazilian heavyweight tapped out UFC newcomer Louie Sutherland in just 84 seconds. He has won each of his past four fights via first-round heel hook, which is a UFC record, and is now tied with former UFC middleweight Rousimar Palhares for the most total heel hook victories in UFC history.
Mizuki Inoue returned from a two-year layoff with a dominant showing against Jaqueline Amorim who had finished her past four opponents. Mizuki more than tripled Amorim’s output, landing 150 total strikes while absorbing just 48. Mizuki, 31, rocked Amorim with ground strikes at the end of the opening round and recorded a knockdown in the third round with a knee to the body en route to a unanimous decision in the strawweight division.
Mitch Raposo earned his first UFC win with a unanimous decision over Azat Maksum in a catchweight matchup. Raposo was a significant underdog heading into the matchup and the Fall River, Mass., native was clearly aware. “Plus-350 my ass!” Raposo said in response to the betting odds during a passionate post-fight interview.
Maksum, who has now lost three in a row in the UFC all by decision, was one of two prelim fighters that came in overweight at Friday’s weigh-in, missing the non-title flyweight limit by three pounds.
The other fighter to miss weight was featherweight Jose Delgado who was one pound overweight. Delgado went back and forth with Nathaniel Wood for three rounds and ended up on the wrong side of a close decision.
Delgado had Wood in trouble early after landing a knockdown courtesy of a spinning backfist, but Wood battled back and later in the round knocked Delgado down. Both fighters have recorded knockdowns in each of their past three UFC bouts. Rounds two and three were tightly contested with all three judges giving Wood the slight edge.
In a sloppy meeting of stocky heavyweights, Hamdy Abdelwahab picked up a one-sided unanimous decision win over Chris Barnett. The fight was slow and uneventful outside of Abdelwahab being deducted a point in the opening round for an illegal strike to the back of Barnett’s head. Abdelwahab is now 2-1 since returning to the UFC following a two-year suspension stemming from a failed drug test in 2022.
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Whitecaps look to keep proving critics wrong in MLS Cup Playoffs
What a season it’s been for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Written off by a lot of media pundits at the beginning of the 2025 MLS regular season, the Whitecaps proved them all wrong by finishing second in the Western Conference and fifth overall in the league standings.
Vancouver enters the MLS Cup playoffs as the lone Canadian club, looking to join Toronto FC (in 2017) as the only club from north of the border to hoist the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy.
Here’s what you need to know about the Whitecaps’ first-round playoff series against FC Dallas.
How this playoff series works
The first round of the MLS playoffs in the Western and Eastern Conferences is made up of best-of-three series (rather than single-elimination contests). In the best-of-three, no games can end in draws. If a match is tied at the end of regulation time, it’ll go straight to a penalty shootout. The first team to win two games moves on to the conference semifinals.
The schedule
Game 1: Sunday, Oct 26 at 4:30 p.m. PT at BC Place, Vancouver, BC
Game 2: Saturday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m. PT – Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Game 3 (if necessary): Friday, Nov. 7 (time TBD) – BC Place, Vancouver, BC
Vancouver/Dallas faces the winner of Los Angeles FC vs. Austin FC series in the single-elimination Western Conference semifinal. Vancouver would host that match if it beats Dallas.
Whitecaps proving the critics horribly wrong
The MLS website gave the Vancouver Whitecaps plenty of motivation prior to the start of the regular season when the league’s panel of experts — featuring writers, TV commentators and former players — offered their predictions for the campaign. Eight out of the nine panellists predicted the Whitecaps would fail to make the playoffs, with one of them saying they would end up dead last in the Western Conference.
How wrong they were! The Whitecaps ended up finishing second in the Western Conference, setting club records for most points in a single MLS season (63), most wins (18), most road wins (eight), and most goals scored (66). Vancouver also led the league in 2025 in goal difference (plus-28) and finished tied for the fewest losses (seven).
The lack of respect shown to the Whitecaps this season has been nothing short of shocking, and it’s fuelled them during the entire campaign, especially during an eight-match unbeaten run from Aug. 17 to Oct. 11 that included a 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Union, who won the Supporters’ Shield as the regular season champions. Winning the MLS Cup would force everybody who wrote Vancouver off at the start of the year to eat their words.
Whitecaps player to watch: Thomas Müller
As if they weren’t strong enough, the Whitecaps pulled off a major coup in August when they landed free agent forward Thomas Müller in one of the biggest player signings in MLS history.
Müller’s reputation preceded him as an icon with Bayern Munich, where he ranks as the German club’s third all-time leading scorer with 250 goals, and won a record 13 Bundesliga titles, six German Cups, eight domestic Supercups, and two Champions League titles. He also helped Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where he won the Golden Boot, and ranks among the top 10 all-time scorers in the tournament’s fabled history with 10 goals in 19 matches.
Any thoughts that the 36-year-old was coming to Vancouver for a paid vacation was quickly put to rest. The German veteran hit the ground running in MLS by scoring seven goals and adding three assists in seven games (six starts), earning praise from coach Jesper Sørensen.
“He couldn’t have played at the level he’s been playing at his entire career without having tremendous quality. The way he sees the game, the way he’s committed all the time to helping his teammates. Setting high demands to everybody around him, he’s very easy to coach,” Sørensen said.
Whitecaps more than just Thomas Müller
Thomas Müller garners the majority of the headlines, but it’s hardly a one-man show in Vancouver. This Whitecaps side is one of the most balanced teams in MLS with great depth and genuine quality at every position.
It stars in net with Japan’s Yohei Takaoka, who led the league with 13 shutouts and was named a finalist for the MLS goalkeeper of the year award. Tristan Blackmon, a defender of the year candidate, anchored a back line that conceded just 38 goals in the regular season (second-best defensive record in the league).
Sebastian Berhalter led the team in assists with 11, the star of a solid midfield core that also includes Canadian internationals Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson, Ecuadorian Pedro Vite and Ryan Gauld (a league MVP finalist in 2023). Forward Brian White bagged a team-leading 16 goals this season as part of the third-best attack in MLS (66 goals).
Tying things all together is Jesper Sørensen, who is up for the MLS coach of the year award. Not much was known about the Danish manager before he was hired in January, but it proved to be an astute appointment by the Whitecaps.
Who is FC Dallas?
Vancouver can’t afford to take Dallas lightly, especially after everything the Texas-based club has been through this season. Dallas hit a brick wall when it picked up just one win in a 12-game stretch from May 3 to July 16 and dropped to 13th in the West. It also sold former league MVP Luciano Acosta to Brazilian club Fluminense in August after acquiring the Argentinian midfielder in a blockbuster trade with FC Cincinnati prior to the season.
But coach Eric Quill’s side managed to turn things around and enter the playoffs with a world of confidence after suffering just one loss in their last 10 games of the season (five wins and four draws). Croatian forward Petar Musa is coming off a sensational regular season in which he scored 18 goals and tallied six assists (both team highs).
Former MLS star Dax McCarty, now a TV commentator, has picked Dallas as one his dark-horse teams for the playoffs.
“Vancouver is the favourite in their round one series, but we just saw Dallas go up to BC Place [and win last weekend]. The early red card helped, sure. But that result does wonders for their confidence, and Dallas could be primed to spring an upset,” McCarty said.
Vancouver vs. Dallas: A brief history
Dallas leads the all-time series against Vancouver with a record of 13 wins, 11 losses and nine draws dating back to their first meeting during the 2011 MLS season when the Whitecaps were an expansion club.
One of Dallas’ 13 wins over Vancouver came during the 2014 playoffs: The Texas-based club earned a 2-1 home decision over the Whitecaps in the first round.
Vancouver is 7-4-6 at home vs. Dallas and sports a 4-8–3 road record against their Western Conference rival.
The teams split the 2025 regular season series. The Whitecaps earned a 1-0 road win on March 15 courtesy of Tristan Blackmon’s 54th-minute goal. Dallas earned a measure of revenge on the last day of the season last weekend with a 2-1 win in Vancouver.
Editor’s note
John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 20 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is currently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.
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Saturday, 25 October 2025
Kraken place Jared McCann on IR, Brandon Montour back with team
The Seattle Kraken will look to push forward without a key forward.
Jared McCann has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
The 29-year-old was off to a strong start to the season with three goals and four points in his first five games.
The Kraken are currently without Kaapo Kakko, Ryker Evans, and Freddy Gaudreau.
In positive news, defenceman Brandon Montour is returning to the team after he was away to attend to a family matter. He missed the last three games.
Montour, 31, has four assists in four games this season while averaging 22:48 of ice time per game.
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Blue Jays expose Dodgers’ weaknesses to take Game 1 of World Series
TORONTO — The baseball industry assembled north of the border for the first time since Joe Carter gave a generation of fans their signature moment and the Toronto Blue Jays showed themselves ready to once again be the sun at the centre of the World Series’ orbit.
The American League champions repositioned their roster in an attempt to not only erode the many strengths of the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, but also to expose their weaknesses. They sent a 22-year-old in his first year of professional baseball to stare down a glitzy array of stars and he held his own, even without his best pitch, to give his team a chance. They wore down a power-armed lefty who has long tormented them and then feasted on those who followed in stunning and relentless fashion. And they did so much to bury the tired David-versus-Goliath narrative lazily foisted upon them that by the end of an 11-4 rout that opened the 121st Fall Classic, it was reasonable enough to wonder if maybe, just maybe, they were really the Goliath.
One game in a best-of-seven is, of course, only one game, and the Blue Jays were the first to caution against everyone getting ahead of themselves. But after a nine-run sixth turned what had been a 2-2 affair into an utter blowout, highlighted by Addison Barger’s pinch-hit grand slam, a first in the World Series, what’s very clear is that the Dodgers are in for their sternest test of the season just as much as the Blue Jays are.
“Our team is kind of a different animal right now. We’re firing on all cylinders,” said Ernie Clement, whose RBI single in the fateful sixth put the Blue Jays up for good. “We know who we’re playing, they’re the best in the world. We think we’re right there with them. You know you’re not going to back down at all, but we know they’re going to be coming tomorrow.”
Kevin Gausman, debuting in the World Series in his 13th season, starts against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Saturday night’s Game 2 (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+), with the Blue Jays suddenly in position to put the Dodgers in a hole before the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3, 4 and, if necessary, 5.
And the way the Blue Jays seized control of the opener revealed many of the key fault lines they want to exploit in this matchup.
Bo Bichette, returning from the PCL sprain in his left knee suffered Sept. 6, started at second base for the first time at the big-league level. But more important to the Blue Jays than where he played was getting his bat back in the lineup to put further pressure on Dodgers pitchers.
Ty France was also added to the roster for an extra righty bat off the bench if needed, moving the Blue Jays to a 14-12 roster split after going 13-13 in the series wins over the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. Scoring hadn’t been a problem, but they wanted more weapons with which to attack a Dodgers rotation that handled 64.1 of their 92 innings during one-sided series wins over the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers.
That kept their relievers, their main vulnerability, from being overly exposed, which is why Blue Jays manager John Schneider said “you’ve got to really try to wear these guys out and in a seven-game series, try to get into their bullpen. Their starters are really tough. Not that we have to score more than we did, but attacking each series a little bit differently… the overall theme was we’re going to have to scratch across some runs.”
The Dodgers did that initially as Trey Yesavage, struggling to find his splitter, allowed an RBI single to Kiké Hernández in a second inning in which he had to strike out Andy Pages with the bases loaded before getting Shohei Ohtani on a grounder to first, and then an RBI single to Will Smith during a third in which Bichette saved a run by scooping Teoscar Hernandez’s grounder to his right, before relaying to first for the out.
“That’s a huge play because if that ball gets through, it’s 3-0 at the time,” said George Springer of Bichette. “Just shows you who he is as a player. He was asked to do something he had never done before and he did it to the best of his ability, which is why he’s beloved in this locker room.”
Yesavage followed with a clean fourth to run through the lineup twice and then in the fifth, a second key fault line showed up when the Blue Jays used Mason Fluharty, he of the near-impossible Aug. 10 save with the bases loaded and Ohtani and Betts due up, was again assigned the top of the order.
Fluharty neutralized Ohtani on a strikeout and Freddie Freeman on a fly out around a Betts base hit and how well the Blue Jays’ lefties can handle the Dodgers’ lefties is a pivotal matchup to watch. Seranthony Dominguez came on to get Will Smith and then followed with a clean sixth, setting the stage for the offence to break through.
“That’s our pocket,” said Fluharty. “Obviously (Max) Muncy’s down in the lineup there, too, lefties are going to go against the lefties. But that was the game plan. … It’s going to be whole-team contributions to come out on top in this World Series and tonight was a good start.”
The nine-run outburst began in the Blue Jays’ prototypical, death-by-a-thousand-cuts way, as Bichette worked a leadoff walk — getting immediately pinch-run for by Isiah Kiner-Falefa — before Alejandro Kirk singled and Daulton Varsho, whose two-run homer in the fourth tied the game 2-2, was hit to load the bases.
That was it for Blake Snell, who threw eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts against Milwaukee in his last start, and reliever Emmet Sheehan promptly allowed the game to unravel. Clement’s single up the middle broke the 2-2 tie. Nathan Lukes rallied back from 0-2 count to work a bases-loaded walk. Andres Gimenez ripped a run-scoring single to make it 5-2. After George Springer’s fielder’s choice, Barger came in for Davis Schneider, the Dodgers turned to Anthony Banda and a slider flew 413 feet out to right centre as a crowd of 44,353 nearly blew the Rogers Centre’s lid off.
“I was just trying to put the ball in play, get a run home, hopefully,” said Barger. “It ended up working out better than that.”
The Blue Jays didn’t stop there, either, as Kirk added a two-run homer that made it 11-2 before the inning was over, turning the remaining three innings into mop-up duty.
“That’s kind of the epitome of our offence,” said Clement. “We work some counts, get a couple singles and then Barger comes through with a big hit. So it’s just hammering away until they make a mistake and we can capitalize.”
Added Varsho: “They have a good pitching and starting staff, so I think for us just to be able to grind out at-bats, knowing we needed to pass the baton to the next guy, that’s been our MO all year, and we trusted it.”
In low leverage the rest of the way, the Blue Jays went Braydon Fisher, who allowed a two-run homer to Ohtani in the seventh, Chris Bassitt and Eric Lauer to close out their first World Series win since Carter hit that home run to left field against the Phillies on Oct. 23, 1993, securing the second of back-to-back championships.
A fanbase that waited three decades for a sequel was so exuberant at the end that they chanted “We don’t need you,” before Ohtani, who spurned the Blue Jays’ high-profile courtship of him two winters ago, walked in the ninth. He was left on base when Lauer struck out Betts, dropping the Dodgers to 9-2 in these playoffs with an effort that showcased the best of the Blue Jays in so many different facets.
“I’m not just saying this because of the Dodgers versus us kind of thing, but we really have tried to not even think about what people think about us,” said Bassitt. “It’s just what we think about each other in this room, that’s really it.”
Fair enough, but for a baseball industry that had been so locked into its narratives that it may not have really known about the Blue Jays before arriving on their turf, well, now they know that they’re going to make this a series, and maybe even more, too.
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