The Toronto Blue Jays’ momentum was derailed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series. Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a complete game, and the Dodgers hit one home run after another, handing the Blue Jays a 5-1 loss that evened up the series.
The Blue Jays won’t be feeling any less urgency to win, as they remain three victories away from securing the franchise’s first World Series title since 1993. This means all hands are on deck, and manager John Schneider is certainly operating with that mindset.
Prior to Game 3, Schneider admitted that every reliever should be available and that taking on a heavy relief workload should be manageable at this point in the season. “I think everyone will be able to throw three days in a row,” Schneider said, per Arden Zwelling of MLB.com. “Guys that can throw multiple innings are going to be important in these next three days.”
Schneider will be valuing relievers who can pitch multiple innings the most. So, even though it was Louis Varland who allowed the Dodgers to firmly put the game out of the Blue Jays’ reach with a run in the eighth inning of Game 2, it stands to reason that Varland will be one of the first pitchers called upon to relieve Max Scherzer, who is scheduled to start Game 3.
The likes of Chris Bassitt and Eric Lauer have also shown a consistent ability to throw multiple innings, with Bassitt having been a part of the starting rotation in the past. The Blue Jays will need to operate with a great sense of urgency with every inning and every at-bat that passes. The Dodgers leave no room for error for their opponents, and Toronto will have to push all the right buttons if they hope to complete this upset against the reigning World Series champions.
### Blue Jays Look for Max Scherzer to Turn Back the Clock
Max Scherzer has been elite in the World Series before. However, at 41 years old, he is pitching worse than ever this season. He did start for the Blue Jays in the ALCS and allowed just two runs in 5.2 innings during a pivotal 8-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in Game 4 of that series.
That said, the Dodgers lineup is a whole different challenge. Scherzer will have his work cut out for him, but the Blue Jays are hoping he can deliver one last iconic performance as they look to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series.
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