The Toronto Blue Jays are putting their hopes on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to carry the weight of the team offensively as they face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The 26-year-old star first baseman has delivered exceptional performances throughout the postseason, maintaining a .442 batting average, hitting six home runs, and recording 12 RBI in 51 plate appearances across 11 games. His stellar showing earned him the ALCS MVP award after a dominant performance against the Seattle Mariners. With the Blue Jays aiming to win the World Series and bring a championship to Canada, Game 1 is set for Friday at 8 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, broadcasting on FOX.
Guerrero, who has signed a 14-year, $500 million contract, has already surpassed previous franchise records with his six postseason home runs, tying him with Joe Carter and José Bautista. Blue Jays manager John Schneider has praised Guerrero, calling him the face of the franchise and emphasizing the responsibility he carries as the team’s standard-bearer. The challenge now is to sustain this level of performance against the Dodgers’ formidable pitching staff, which includes legends like Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, who have played a crucial role in the Dodgers’ postseason dominance.
The Blue Jays are counting on Guerrero to be at his peak in the face of the Dodgers’ elite rotation, which has been a key factor in the Dodgers’ success in the playoffs. With the series set to start on Friday, fans will be watching closely to see whether Guerrero can continue his hot streak and lead the Blue Jays to a triumphant World Series victory.