The last time Dave Roberts’ team visited Canada, the Jays were at rock bottom. The Jays were fighting for their existence in the AL East in 2024. Canadian fans were frustrated with a disappointing offseason and the Jays fans were booing Shohei Ohtani to spur their home team after the Jays were a finalist in Ohtani’s free market process to get with the Dodgers instead.

Now, the Dodgers are going to enter Toronto for Game 1 of the World Series, boasting a dominant rotation in current memory and guided by two-way star Shohei Ohtani. However, the Jays are also not prepared to lose their foot, striking out 17.8 percent, which is this season’s lowest rate and consistently putting the ball in play, the Jays are prepared with a lineup built to face any pitcher relying on strikeouts. And this was a set for the most iconic showdown of power by contact.

Dave Roberts’ starters have also missed bats this season at a historic clip and posted a 24.8 percent rate, which is the best in the NL and second-highest in MLB. The Dodgers have effectively maintained their power in the postseason and have become a nightmare for most of the other teams.

Yet the Jays’ hitters containing Vladimir Guerrero Jr., thrive in punishing mistakes and making contact, establishing a powerful battle that could expose all the gaps in the most powerful team. Guerrero is first in home runs, hits, extra base hits, RBI, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS for this postseason.

So something has to give. Dave Roberts‘ team has delivered above-expectation defense in October; however, the Jays’ contact-oriented approach could put extra force on the fielders. In Game 1, every in-play ball will have the power to swing momentum, and this is making the game more intense, not just a fight of strikeouts, a fight of reaction, execution, and split-second choices. 

Now, for Ohtani and the team, the issue is not just surviving the power of Guerrero Jr with all the other supporting stars; however, maintaining the Jays’ high-octane pitching by keeping their lineup under control. Then, the Jays’ depth adds another layer of intrigue. They are now without Bo Bichette. Still, they have their ways to win with strategic lineup adjustments, relentless contact, and smart base-running.

The Jays have an elite offense too this season, ranking first in batting average, third in OPS, and fourth in scoring. Against non-fastball, no team in the majors had a higher average, which is .258, a lower whiff rate, which is 25.8 percent, and a better slugging with .423 than John Schneider’s team.

After all, the most powerful team can also be tested by disrupted breaks. Now, the point is, Will the Dodgers be able to handle the force specifically, after a week-long layoff and Dave Roberts has an answer for this.

Dodgers week-long layoff sparks debate

The Dodgers won the four-game series against the Brewers and then clinched the NLCS. However, that win came with an unintended consequence: a seven-day gap before World Series Game 1 against the Jays. On the contrary, the Jays rested for just four days after the team’s grueling ALCS Game 7.

However, Dave Roberts is confident and thinks that the layoff will benefit the team. “We’re flying out on Wednesday, which breaks up the monotony,” the manager said. Roberts also highlighted that his team is active, with practice sessions and some simulated games keeping the stars in shape while helping them to recover from basic injuries. The team is leaning on routine, controlled activity, and strategy to ensure the Dodgers hit the field with intense power.

For the fans, it is a delicate balance between caution and excitement. The week-long layoff provides a scope for veterans to recharge; however, the past tends to point out a hidden danger of rust. How the Dodgers manager fills this gap could shape their first vital game of the World Series.