Dodgers Analysis: LA’s Series Win over Jays in August Was A Microcosm of the Year

LOS ANGELES — At long last, the Dodgers know their World Series opponent: the Toronto Blue Jays. And, as luck would have it, these two teams have some pretty recent history, with the Dodgers taking two out of three from the Jays at Chavez Ravine in August. Though it’s certainly not indicative of how the postseason will go (Milwaukee learned that the hard way), it’s useful to look back to see if any trends emerge. Let’s hop in the Wayback Machine, shall we?

Game 1, 8/8/2025: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1

In a throwback duel of future Hall of Famers at Dodger Stadium, Clayton Kershaw outlasted Max Scherzer as the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays 5–1. Both aces went six innings, with Kershaw limiting Toronto to one run on seven hits (four strikeouts) and leaning on three huge double plays, including a bases-loaded liner that Mookie Betts snagged at shortstop and turned into two outs to steady the second inning. Scherzer matched zeros until the fifth, when Shohei Ohtani ripped a two-out ground-rule double and Betts followed by hammering a first-pitch slider for a go-ahead two-run homer; the Dodgers added three more in the seventh against the Jays’ bullpen to pull away. The night doubled as a celebration of two icons still shaping pennant races late in their careers—Kershaw a tick craftier, Scherzer still lighting up the gun—before they swapped jerseys postgame, a fitting cap to a vintage matchup.

Game 2, 8/09/2025: Dodgers 9, Blue Jays 1

In his second start since his return from the IL, Blake Snell looked every bit worth the wait, striking out 10 in five scoreless innings as the Dodgers rolled the Blue Jays 9–1 at Dodger Stadium, their second straight win over the AL East leaders. The offense set the tone with Max Muncy’s opposite-field two-run shot in the fourth and Shohei Ohtani’s 40th homer (417 feet to dead center) in the fifth, then broke it open with a six-run sixth: two HBPs and two walks loaded the bases before Dalton Rushing and Mookie Betts punched two-run singles and Andy Pages capped the burst with a two-run double, his second hit of the inning. Snell’s return from a four-month layoff, headlined a rotation that was starting to finally resemble the spring blueprint, with Tyler Glasnow slated to start the following game as the Dodgers went for a sweep. As Dave Roberts put it, this staff was starting to look “stacked.”

Game 3, 8/10/2025: Dodgers 4, Blue Jays 5

The Dodgers let a winnable finale slip away, falling 5–4 to the Blue Jays despite 10 hits and a season-high 13 walks from Toronto’s staff. Tyler Glasnow was sharp (5⅔ IP, 2 ER, 8 K) and handed a 3–2 lead to a bullpen that couldn’t close: Blake Treinen surrendered back-to-back eighth-inning rockets to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger, and after Freddie Freeman’s bases-loaded walk re-tied it, Alex Vesia gave up a first-pitch ninth-inning homer to Ernie Clement. The offense never cashed in, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranding 16, including six over the final two frames. Shohei Ohtani had two hits and his 41st homer to extend his hit streak to nine, but he was thrown out trying to steal third with two outs in the sixth and struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth before Mookie Betts ended it on a forceout. The blown lead trimmed the Dodgers’ NL West cushion over the surging Padres to two games and underscored the club’s most persistent concern: a shaky relief corps that couldn’t secure the final 10 outs.

Conclusion

So what, if anything, can be learned from this brief encounter? Well, quite a bit in point of fact. First, this series marked the beginning of the full-strength Dodgers starting rotation, one that has only gotten better since mid August. And while the Blue Jays did get looks at Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, they haven’t seen the version that will be hitting them in the World Series. Clayton Kershaw versus Max Scherzer is interesting historically, but don’t expect Kersh to get many meaningful innings next week. Scherzer, however, could indeed play a pivotal role, as he did in the ALCS. The Game Three loss highlights a concern that has still not been fully put to rest: a sometimes shaky bullpen. In addition, it reminds us that the Jays have some pop in the lineup, not the least of which is Vladdy Jr., who is playing the postseason of his life right now. The Dodgers had better tread lightly when it comes to pitching to the likes of him, Addison Barger, and and George Springer. It could get ugly in a hurry otherwise.

But also, we have to remember that this August series did NOT feature one of each team’s secret weapons. For the Jays, starter Trey Yesavage was still a couple of weeks away from his first big league start. On the Dodgers’ side of the ledger, Roki Sasaki was still rehabbing in OKC at this time. Each figures to play a key role in his team’s success in the Fall Classic.

So, not to sound like a broken record, but the outlook for the Dodgers is pretty much the same as it was the last three series. If the starting pitching holds up for another half a dozen, games, you’re looking at back-to-back champions. If not, get used to hearing “Oh Canada” a lot in the next week or so.

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