World Series: An overview of the Blue Jays’ pitching plan for Game 7

Photo credit: © Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Nov 1, 2025, 14:00 EDTUpdated: Nov 1, 2025, 13:43 EDT

After an interesting compilation of events in Game 6 of the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays hold off another day to bring a championship back to “the six”. Game 7 of the World Series is shortly upon us, and the pitching staff is all hands on deck.

The Dodgers had their backs against the wall last night, down 3-2 in the series in a must-win, force the next game situation. The Blue Jays had their drinks on ice in case it went their way.

Therefore, the Dodgers played an all-hands-on-deck strategy to stay alive, using three pitchers after Yoshinobu Yamamoto, including starter Tyler Glasnow. The Blue Jays will also need to strategize their pitching layout for today’s game seven, as it’s the final game of the postseason, a do-or-die, winner-takes-all matchup.

World Series Game 7 starter – Max Scherzer

The baseball lands in the veteran hands of Max Scherzer for the winner-takes-all event. In the last eight World Series, there have been just two Game 7 matchups, and Scherzer will have started in both of them when he takes the mound tonight.

“Mad Max” needs to lock in and continue his postseason strut, as his October performance so far has been better than expected. So far in two starts, he’s gone 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings of work, allowing eight hits, five earned runs, walking five, and striking out eight.

Blake Murphy

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How many times can we ask Max Scherzer if he's got one more in him? One more time.

3:27 PM · Nov 1, 2025

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He’s gone deeper into games than expected, and his overall effectiveness comes from his off-speed usage and pitch command, keeping the Dodgers off-balanced. Scherzer can succeed by continuing to stick to the sequencing plan and having a clean first inning.

What do the Blue Jays do after Scherzer?

Ideally, every arm should be available for the Blue Jays tonight, except Kevin Gausman. Due to Gausman going six filthy innings and the Jays not being in an elimination spot, John Schneider only needed to use four relievers, each of whom worked no more than 1 1/3 innings, meaning they should be good to go tonight as well.

The usual relievers can work another one to two innings tonight, such as Mason Fluharty, Louis Varland, and Seranthony Dominguez. If need be, Braydon Fisher is available, as well as Brandon Little; these two guys may only be situational.

On a longer relief stint, Eric Lauer can take the ball for north of three to four innings. His output has been outstanding so far this season and postseason. In addition, Chris Bassitt is available to absorb a few innings, as he only pitched one inning last night. Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman is also available and ready to do his job.

Shane Bieber can come out of rest tonight in aid of the bullpen. Bieber could be third in if Scherzer goes a clean distance of up to four innings, pitching a one-inning reliever after him. Bieber will be ready to take the ball right after Scherzer if the situation is volatile. Bieber would be an extremely needed arm in this matchup, due to his success and elite repertoire; his rest should now be sufficient for entry to Game 7, albeit in a relief role. The Blue Jays may also consider Trey Yesavage. This is a tricky situation to pitch him on short rest and given that he is still a rookie.

There is a championship on the line; however, the delicacy of the young rookie and arm care considerations will play a factor. If we do see Yesavage tonight, it may only be for two innings max.

The Blue Jays’ pitching staff tonight will be poured out to the last drop, hoping to secure a World Series Championship, bringing it back to Canada.