Overview
- Toronto activated Bo Bichette for the Series and slotted him to hit cleanup at second base for Game 1, his first major-league start at the position.
- Los Angeles starters have produced a 1.40 ERA through 10 playoff games, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto set for Game 2 as the bullpen remains the more vulnerable unit.
- The Blue Jays enter with 20 home runs in 11 postseason games and MLB-best slash-line production, led by ALCS MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.442 average, six homers).
- Shohei Ohtani arrives as NLCS MVP after a Game 4 featuring six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and three home runs for the defending champions.
- Rookie Trey Yesavage gets the Game 1 nod for Toronto after an 11-strikeout, 5.1 no-hit ALDS outing, opposing Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (3-0, 0.86 ERA this postseason) at Rogers Centre.