Category: Baseball

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‘Don’t Poke the Bear’: Bassitt Warns Blue Jays Fans Chanting ‘We Don’t Need You’ At Ohtani

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 on Friday night.

Trailing 11-2 in the seventh inning, Ohtani hit a soaring two-run shot to right field off Braydon Fisher. It was his fourth homer in two games after connecting three times and striking out 10 as a pitcher in LA’s Game 4 win to clinch their NL Championship Series.

Ohtani’s homer Friday didn’t do much for Los Angeles’ chances after a flop by the Dodgers’ pitchers. Starter Blake Snell was knocked out of the game before getting an out in the sixth inning, and Toronto then pummeled the bullpen during a nine-run sixth highlighted by Addison Barger’s pinch-hit grand slam and Alejandro Kirk’s two-run homer.

Ohtani also missed an earlier chance to impact the game with his two-out, bases-loaded groundout in the second inning. Los Angeles led 1-0 at that point.

Blue Jay fans booed Ohtani loudly during pregame introductions. Before signing a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-way star met with Blue Jays officials on Dec. 4, 2023, at the team’s spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida. Toronto manager John Schneider joked Thursday that he wanted Ohtani to return a Blue Jays hat and a jacket for his dog, Decoy, that he took after that meeting.

Fans chanted “We don’t need you!” at Ohtani while he batted in the ninth inning. He walked in that at-bat, then was nearly picked off a moment later by left-hander Eric Lauer with two outs. Ohtani was ruled safe after a video review.

“Don’t poke the bear,” Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt warned about the Ohtani chants.

Ohtani helped lead the Dodgers to last year’s title, hitting .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases.

Back to pitching in a limited role this season as he returned from elbow surgery, he batted .282 with 55 homers, 102 RBIs and 20 steals while going 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts, striking out 62 in 47 innings. He’s expected to start Game 3 or 4 on the mound.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Live Updates, Score: Addison Barger’s Hits Grand Slam

One team is looking to repeat as champions and start a dynasty. The other is looking to break a title drought that stretches 32 years.

Here are the best moments and highlights from Friday’s Game 1. 

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8:02p ET

Friday’s Score

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10:40p ET

Alejandro Kirk goes deep

10:36p ET

Addison Barger breaks this game open

10:31p ET

Toronto takes its first lead

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9:36p ET

Blue Jays tie it up

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9:14p ET

Betts makes it a second

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8:47p ET

Dodgers get on the board first

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8:38p ET

Dodgers get out of bases-loaded jam

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Live Coverage for this began on 10:37p ET

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2025 World Series Odds: Dodgers Favored Over Blue Jays Ahead of Game 1

The 2025 MLB Fall Classic is here.

The Dodgers blew past the Yankees in the 2024 World Series, winning 4-1 to earn their second title in the past five years. 

Will L.A. make it three in six years? Will Toronto win its first title since the early 90s?

Let’s take a look at the odds to win the World Series at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 24.

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World Series winner odds

Los Angeles Dodgers: -215 (bet $10 to win $14.65 total)
Toronto Blue Jays: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total)

Game 1
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Moneyline: Dodgers -158, Blue Jays +129
O/U: 7.5

Correct score
Dodgers 4-1: +330
Dodgers 4-2: +380
Dodgers 4-3: +475
Blue Jays 4-3: +550
Dodgers 4-0: +600
Blue Jays 4-2: +700
Blue Jays 4-1: +1200
Blue Jays 4-0: +2000

The Defending Champion: L.A. has played 10 postseason games and sits at 9-1, after sweeping Milwaukee in the NLCS. The Dodgers’ pitching staff — Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani — absolutely dominated the Brewers, allowing four runs in four games. Sheesh. Not to mention, in Game 4, Ohtani struck out 10 in six scoreless innings and hit three home runs. L.A. will make its fifth World Series appearance in the last nine years, after losing in 2017 and 2018, and winning in 2020 and 2024.

The Challenger: The Blue Jays won the ALCS in seven hard-fought games over the Seattle Mariners, earning a 4-3 Game 7 victory on Monday night. So far this postseason, the Jays are leading the leauge in batting average, home runs, RBIs and hits. In other words, they are raking. However, L.A. is leading the postseason in quality starts, strikeouts, wins and saves. In other words, they are pitching. In the regular season, the Dodgers and Blue Jays faced off three times, with L.A. winning twice. The Blue Jays last made the World Series in back-to-back years in 1992 and 1993. They won both series. 

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Shohei Ohtani Reveals What ‘Bothered’ Him About His Historic 3-HR, 10-K Game

Shohei Ohtani is four games away from being a repeat World Series champion. And it was only last week that he had what could only be described as the best game ever by an MLB player. 

In Game 4 of the Dodgers‘ series-clinching victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Championship Series on Friday, Ohtani pitched six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts, while hitting three home runs. 

A performance that will likely never be duplicated. 

But there was still something that irked him about that once-in-a-lifetime effort. 

“The one thing that bothered me was that I couldn’t complete the seventh inning,” Ohtani told FOX Sports’ Kevin Burkhardt. “It would’ve been a little better if I could have finished that inning.”

‘Truly Special’ 💙 Shohei Ohtani on Dodgers’ Return to World Series and Historic 3-Homer, 10-K Game

'Truly Special’ 💙 Shohei Ohtani on Dodgers’ Return to World Series and Historic 3-Homer, 10-K Game

Regardless, it was one for the ages, and it has the Japanese two-way superstar four wins away from helping the Dodgers become the first back-to-back champions since the turn of the century.

And if they do beat the Toronto Blue Jays in this World Series, the three-time MVP will likely be one of the reasons why. It will take a different approach than last season. 

“Last year, I just wanted to contribute and be recognized as a member of the team. This year, I have to approach it as a reigning champion,” Ohtani said.  “There is a mixture of a little anxiety and excitement, but this year will have a different feel to the game.”

On the way to likely winning a fourth career MVP, Ohtani reflected on a remarkable year both on and off the diamond. 

“It was a special year for me, both personally and as a team. The birth of my daughter was a big event of my life, and on top of that, being able to participate in the World Series with the Dodgers made it a truly special year.” 

Being a family man has also allowed him and his wife to take up watching a new TV show.

“My wife and I are watching Riverdale,” he added.

Back on the diamond, Ohtani is chasing some history. But are the lofty expectations weighing down on him and his Dodgers teammates as they try to do something not done since the 2000 Yankees, who won three consecutive World Series?

“It would be something truly special. Winning the World Series once is a rare and difficult achievement,” Ohtani added. “Winning it back to back would be even more difficult … We want to reach that goal together, one step at a time.” 

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Dodgers A Lock to Make History? MLB on FOX Crew Makes World Series Predictions

It all comes down to this: the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers will look to make history as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series.

Will Toronto make history in the club’s first World Series appearance since 1993? Or will L.A. etch its own place in the record books as the first team to win back-to-back titles since the 1999-2000 New York Yankees?

Ahead of Friday’s Game 1, A-Rod, Big Papi and Jeter weighed in on the “MLB on FOX Pregame” show with their picks for this year’s Fall Classic.

2025 World Series Predictions: Big Papi, A-Rod & Jeter make their picks | MLB on FOX

2025 World Series Predictions: Big Papi, A-Rod & Jeter make their picks | MLB on FOX

Derek Jeter: Dodgers in 6

Jeter: I’m going with the experience of the Los Angeles Dodgers to win this series in six games, but they can’t let Toronto get any games early on.

Alex Rodriguez: Dodgers in 7

A-Rod: My heart says Toronto, but I’m gonna with my brains here and say Dodgers in 7. Too strong pitching, too deep, too much experience.

David Ortiz: Blue Jays in 7

Ortiz: I love my boy Mookie. He’s got what? — three rings? I love my people in L.A., you guys know that I love you guys. But I gotta tell you, I gotta cheer for my boy Vladdy this one time. I’ve got the Blue Jays in 7.

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