Blue Jays face high hopes, pressure as they take on Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series

‘That is a beatable baseball team,’ Blue Jays manager says of DodgersToronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider was asked ahead of the World Series about some people framing the matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers as a David vs. Goliath situation — a categorization he rejects, saying his team is ready to face off against, ‘what is, on paper, the best team in baseball.’ The LatestRookie Trey Yesavage will be the starting pitcher for the Blue Jays. Blake Snell will start for the Dodgers. Bo Bichette, out with a knee sprain since September, will be playing for the Jays tonight. Game 1 starts tonight at 8 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. Davis Schneider and Myles Straw are also in the starting lineup for the Jays, along with stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer.The Los Angeles Dodgers are the current champs. They’ve won twice in recent years — in 2020 and 2024.UpdatesOctober 2416 minutes agoThe Blue Jays in picturesEvan MitsuiCBC staff photographer Evan Mitsui is covering Game 1 of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)Hi, I’m CBC News staff photographer Evan Mitsui, covering Game 1 of the World Series, in Toronto. This is my first time covering a World Series. Doors to the Rogers Centre opened for media at 2 p.m. ET. I arrived early and there were already a dozen Japanese journalists lined up. Los Angeles Dodgers Rōki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and, of course, Shohei Ohtani, are big news in Japan, and their every move is closely documented by travelling journalists. Inside, photographers descend to “the pit,” located off a field level tunnel near the visiting team’s dugout. This is where we set up our laptops and dump gear. Five hours to first pitch and it’s already packed shoulder to shoulder with long lenses lined up by the dozen.Positions to photograph the action are assigned by Major League Baseball. Coveted field-level spots located below the broadcast cameras along the first and third baselines, go to the big wire services. The rest of us are spread out along the 100 and 300 level concourses. Filing pictures is done straight from our cameras using an ethernet cable taped to each spot, which is sent to a photo editor at work (Hi Showwei) who captions and distributes them. Fans are gathering outside and batting practice starts in an hour, so it’s time for me to get to work. Enjoy the game and the pictures! 16 minutes agoL.A.’s starting lineup for Game 1Geoff NixonLos Angeles is sending two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to the mound to start Game 1.Here’s the list of the rest of the Dodgers who’ll be playing at Rogers Centre tonight:1. Shohei Ohtani – DH2. Mookie Betts – SS3. Freddie Freeman – 1B4. Will Smith – C5. Teoscar Hernández – RF6. Max Muncy – 3B7. Enrique Hernández – LF8. Tommy Edman – 2B9. Andy Pages – CF26 minutes agoToronto’s starting lineup for Game 1Blue Jays rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage is getting the start for Toronto tonight. And here’s your starting lineup of position players for Game 1:1. George Springer – designated hitter (DH)2. Davis Schneider – left field (LF)3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – first base (1B)4. Bo Bichette – second base (2B) 5. Alejandro Kirk – catcher (C) 6. Daulton Varsho – centre field (CF)7. Ernie Clement – third base (3B)8. Myles Straw – right field (RF) 9. Andrés Giménez – shortstop (SS) 36 minutes agoJust one Canadian-born JayGeoff NixonVladimir Guerrero Jr. sits in the Montreal Expos dugout on Sept. 29, 2002. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)There’s just one Canadian-born player on the Blue Jays’ roster: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.The 26-year-old Toronto superstar was born in Montreal in 1999, when his father was playing for the Expos.The younger Guerrero grew up in the Dominican Republic, but his professional career has brought him back to Canada.In 2015, he signed with Toronto as an international free agent. He made his professional debut with the Blue Jays in 2019 — and has since become the face of the franchise.37 minutes agoThe canuck in the Dodgers’ lineupGeoff NixonFreeman celebrates the Dodgers’s win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Oct. 17. (Brynn Anderso/The Associated Press)Canadian baseball fans know Freddie Freeman.He’s played for Canada in two World Baseball Classics, as he’s a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.His parents were both born in Canada but moved to the U.S. for work. Freeman was raised in Southern California.Freeman is a two-time World Series champ, winning with Los Angeles last year and the Atlanta Braves in 2019.38 minutes agoAn end to Toronto’s playoff drought in 2015Geoff NixonAfter Toronto’s 1993 World Series win, the Blue Jays didn’t make the post-season for another two decades.It was the José Bautista-led Blue Jays squad of 2015 that ended the playoff drought for Toronto baseball fans.That team went on a tear late in the season, surging to a 93-69 finish that put Toronto on top of its division.The Jays beat Texas 3-2 in the best-of-five American League Division Series, but lost in six games to the Kansas City Royals in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.The Royals went on to win the World Series that year.39 minutes agoTeams today face a longer post-season roadGeoff NixonHi. I’m Geoff Nixon, a reporter with the national digital desk at CBC News. I’ll be keeping you up to date with in-game action tonight.When the Blue Jays won it all in 1992 and 1993, the road to the World Series was shorter than it is today.Back then, there were only two playoff rounds — the American League Championship Series (ALCS), and then the World Series.Back then, teams just had to win their divisions to secure a playoff berth, and there were no wildcard games.In 1992, Toronto won 96 games, taking the American League East division. They then beat the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS. That set up the World Series match up with the Atlanta Braves, which Toronto won in six games.A year later, Toronto won its division again, this time with 95 wins. The Jays defeated the Chicago White Sox in the 1993 ALCS. After that came the showdown with the Philadelphia Phillies, which Toronto also won in six games.59 minutes agoJays welcome back 2 icons for ceremonial 1st pitches Sarah PetzToronto Blue Jays greats Cito Gaston (r) and Joe Carter (l) are all smiles before being inducted to the “Level of Excellance” at the Skydome at the pre-game festivities inToronto on Friday July 30th 1999. (CP PHOTO/Rene Johnston) (Rene Johnston/Canadian Press)Hi everyone, this is Sarah Petz, I’m a writer based in Toronto. The Jays are welcoming back two franchise icons who helped Toronto capture back-to-back World Series wins in the ’90s for the ceremonial first pitches of Game 1 and 2 of the World Series. Cito Gaston, who was the manager of the 1992 and 1993 World Series-winning Toronto Blue Jays teams, will throw the first pitch for Game 1 on Friday. On Saturday, the first pitch will be delivered by former Jays right fielder Joe Carter, whose decisive home run won the team its second World Series title in 1993 against the Philadelphia Phillies. 60 minutes agoMany of today’s Jays weren’t even born the last time the Jays wonRhianna SchmunkOnly six people on this year’s team were alive during the back-to-back runs in 1992 and 1993:Max Scherzer – between 8 and 9 years old.Chris Bassitt – between 3 and 4 years old.George Springer – between 3 and 4 years old.Kevin Gausman – between 1 and 2 years old.Tyler Heineman – between 1 and 2 years old.Jeff Hoffman – 10 months old during the 1993 run.1 hour agoSo, can Toronto win?Ashley FraserCan the Jays beat the Dodgers? A World Series primerThe Toronto Blue Jays are going to the World Series and even more Canadians are jumping on the baseball bandwagon. For The National, CBC’s Ashley Fraser asks Sportsnet Blue Jays Central host Jamie Campbell to get new fans up to speed on the team’s stunning season.Hello! I’m Ashley Fraser, a senior reporter with The National. We recently asked Sportsnet Blue Jays Central host Jamie Campbell what he thinks of this match up, and he says the Jays will keep the Dodgers on their toes.“I like to think the Blue Jays are Los Angeles’ worst nightmare because of the way they play baseball. They’re relentless. They never give up,” Campbell said.“You just never know who’s going to be the star of each particular game. Who’s going to be the one to carry this club in the World Series? Will it be Vladdy? Will it be Springer? Will it be a young Trey Yesavage? … That’s the unpredictability of this Blue Jays team.”