TORONTO — Will Smith kept it light to start, then settled into the work. The Dodgers’ catcher sounded energized by the wait, not dulled by it. He watched the American League play out, took notes, and came away convinced the opponent is legit. Toronto earned this. So did Los Angeles.
On his week of prep, Smith said it’s “been fun,” and he liked having time to study the ALCS. He explained that “watching the Mariners and the Blue Jays go at it for a couple games was cool,” and he didn’t mince words about the matchup ahead: “Blue Jays are a good team. It’s going to be a fight.” The plan, he added, is straightforward. They’ve been “preparing, looking at their pitchers, looking at their hitters,” and figuring out “what we need to do.”
Asked what’s changed since the clubs met in August, Smith pointed to their late push and the way that series finished. He said “they were good in August,” and he still remembers how “they came back that last game instead of us sweeping them.” The takeaway from October: “They’re hot right now,” he said, and “they’re swinging the bat well.” He repeated the respect for their balance: “They’ve got good pitching, good hitters,” which means the Dodgers’ job is “just keeping them at bay.”
From the catcher’s view, Toronto’s rotation is no mystery. Smith ticked through the names, noting “obviously Kevin Gausman,” and added “Max Scherzer” and “Chris Bassitt.” He admitted he might be “missing some guys,” but the point held: quality arms across the board. Matching that group requires detail work from Los Angeles. As Smith framed it, they’ve spent their time on “what we need to do” against each look, pitch mix, and situation.
The layoff helped as much as the scouting. Smith called the breather “huge” and said the Dodgers are “going in full strength now.” There’s no hangover from a long series, and he repeated how the group feels: “We feel good. We’re ready to go.” He ran through the roster lines and kept coming back to health and rhythm. “The starters are ready to go, the lineup’s feeling good, the bullpen’s feeling good,” he said. The summary was simple enough for any fan to grab onto: “We’re liking where we’re at.”
A year ago, this club played deep into October with a different mix. Smith didn’t put one version above the other. He said “last year’s team was special,” then added, “this is a special team as well.” The distinction is about personnel and edge. “There are a lot of new faces,” he said, and those players have made a difference. He described the mindset as “the repeat mentality,” then clarified that several Dodgers “weren’t there last year” but are driving things now. “They’re hungry. We’re hungry for more,” he said, and he kept the mood where he likes it: “We’re excited.”
For a catcher, the World Series doubles the responsibility. It’s not only the at-bats. It’s the game plan, the sequencing, the tempo with the starter, the quick reads when the Blue Jays try to run or ambush early-count fastballs. Smith’s words kept circling back to readiness. He said the staff had time to reset and that the days off “allowed us to get guys in a good spot.” He returned to that theme one more time, saying the club feels “full strength” and ready to take on a lineup that’s “hot right now.”
As a catcher on this stage, Smith kept the focus practical: studying the opponent, trusting the prep, and keeping his pitcher in rhythm. He called the matchup “a fight” and said the club feels “full strength” after the reset. The rest speaks for itself: Los Angeles arrives organized, rested, and prepared to see how the plan plays against a Toronto lineup that’s swinging well.
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