Reflecting on Game 7: How the Blue Jays lost a heartbreaker

The odds were always somewhat in the Dodgers’ favor, but the Blue Jays didn’t make it easy for their rivals in the World Series by taking it all the way to Game 7, back at Rogers Center. The game of baseball has always gone off-script, but this time it caused indescribable heartbreak in the Blue Jays’ dugout.

These types of opportunities don’t come around often, at least not in Blue Jays franchise history. It took more than three decades for Toronto to reach the World Series, and the team has struggled to win playoff games since 2016. From that perspective, Toronto’s deep playoff run in 2025, which took the team to the World Series stage, represented so much more than just the ticket to the playoffs themselves.

Bo Bichette had a chance to win

The Blue Jays squandered scoring opportunities early in the bottom half at first and second base when they stranded a total of three baserunners. However, the Blue Jays got another chance to put runs on the board, finding themselves with George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the bottom of the third. on the bases. This time, Bo Bichette didn’t miss his throw, with an exhausted Shohei Ohtani on the mound, and sent the baseball straight over the center field wall for a three-run home run to put the Blue Jays ahead.

This home run was the defining moment for Toronto, which looked for ways to beat the Dodgers after the pent-up frustration of Game 6 the day before. In addition to taking the lead in the game, the home run also showcased Bichette’s ability to deliver a clutch hit even after missing much of the playoff games. In a game where other all-star players like Guerrero, Alejandro Kirk and George Springer struggled to take control, the Blue Jays showed they had another card up their sleeve. Yet the euphoria was threatened not long afterwards.

Toronto’s home run problem resurfaced

The Blue Jays had more chances to score during Game 7, but in the event they couldn’t score insurance runs, it was their job to maintain the lead they had. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a gigantic task for a team that had trouble with pitching throughout the regular season.

Scoring was often a problem for the Blue Jays, but the pitching staff’s persistent problem with long balls became the Achilles heel that came back to bite the team in the most decisive game of the World Series.

The lack of depth made the difference

The biggest difference between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers this season was the depth of their roster. During the regular season, the Dodgers were plagued by early injuries, especially to their pitching staff, but they still found ways to top their division (NL West) because they had more than a few star players to rely on. This allowed them to create one of the most fearsome lineups with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith. On the pitching side, the Dodgers came with a stronger pitching core with Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which gave them more of a competitive advantage in the playoff stage.

In contrast, the Blue Jays’ lineup wasn’t as star-heavy, with only a few big-name players like Bichette, Guerrero, Springer, Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer. Even with other role players like Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes and Davis Schneider coming into the fold this season, the offense was more reliant on stars playing like stars than the Dodgers, as the Blue Jays’ bench wasn’t as deep as the defending champions.

The Blue Jays’ pitching core was certainly a reliable group, but was not known for their lockdown potential. Everyone from Kevin Gausman to Jeff Hoffman had to deal with the home run problems at some point. While the bullpens of both the Dodgers and Blue Jays had their moments, the Dodgers’ pitching staff was one of the biggest reasons they won the World Series this year.

Question marks for the Blue Jays this offseason

The Blue Jays’ offseason started on a sour note, with so many “what if” questions on the table heading into the World Series. Had they won the World Series, the season might have looked brighter, but with such a bitter loss on their hands, the team now has to think about who to re-sign and bring in to add more dimension to the team.

After such a successful playoff run in 2025 after a disappointing season in 2024, the Blue Jays are expected to rebuild a competitive team in 2026. Some of the notable free agents this offseason include Chris Bassitt, Bo Bichette, Shane Bieber, Eric Lauer and Max Scherzer, and the Blue Jays will have to decide who to bring back and who to part ways with. The most tense and interesting free agency discussion will be over whether the Blue Jays can re-sign Bichette, as he will join Guerrero Jr. has been the face of the franchise.

The biggest question the Blue Jays will have to answer this season, aside from the possibility of re-signing Bichette, will be the starting rotation. Who do they sign to fill the gaps that Bassitt, Bieber (if he withdraws) and Scherzer will leave? Are they interested in bringing back any of these pitchers? A strong rotation is paramount for this team if they want to have a shot at becoming one of the top teams in the AL East, especially since the other four teams are expected to experience some form of positive regression in 2026.

Rounding out their bench depth will also be critical as the Blue Jays have learned from their playoff run and are interested in bringing in more players who can provide more of an offensive edge along with defense. These types of players will be in high demand this offseason, but it will also be a bet Toronto should make to extend the lineup.

PRESENTED BY VIVID CHAIRS