In the previous article, we looked at the Blue Jays’ performance in three major areas: starting pitching, relief pitching, and offensive production.
In this Part 2/2, we’ll go further by examining:

• how the Blue Jays have performed defensively (regular season through postseason),
• a projected 26-man World Series roster,
• potential tactics and in-game adjustments for the World Series,
• and finally, an overall assessment of their chances.

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(4) Defensive Ability and Overall Fielding Performance (Regular Season to Postseason)

During the regular season, the Blue Jays committed 86 errors, averaging about 0.53 per game, which ranked 19th in MLB — not especially impressive on the surface. But advanced defensive metrics tell a very different story.

The team posted:

• DRS (Defensive Runs Saved): +51, 4th in MLB
• Def (Defensive Value): +38.7, 1st in MLB

This means that although traditional stats like errors don’t make them stand out, advanced defense shows elite performance. The Jays excel in range, defensive positioning, and execution. Their run prevention on balls in play has been one of their biggest hidden strengths.

Catcher Defense

Catcher defense is a major asset. The Blue Jays’ catching group posted a team DRS of 19, leading MLB (the Giants were 2nd at 17).

Even though they weren’t necessarily #1 in framing and game-calling by every metric, their overall defensive impact behind the plate — controlling the game, preventing runs — was so strong that it pushed them to #1 in catcher DRS.

• Alejandro Kirk (primary catcher) had a personal DRS of 9.
  • That’s his lowest in three years (17 in 2023, 13 in 2024),
  • but his FRM (framing runs) actually improved to 11.8, up from 9.6 and 9.2 in the two previous years.
  • Translation: he’s gotten even better at stealing borderline strikes and receiving cleanly.
• Tyler Heineman (No. 2 catcher) had a DRS of 10.
  • Defense has always been his calling card,
  • but this year his offense also took a leap (wRC+ 120), earning him more reps and allowing the Jays to maintain high defensive quality at catcher without a big drop-off in the lineup.

First Base

At first base, the Blue Jays had a team DRS of 11 — 2nd in MLB behind the Braves.

A huge factor: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

• He posted a personal DRS of 8 at first base, a career best.
• Long seen as bat-first, he’s clearly sharpened his reactions, footwork, and picks.
• Better defense at second base also indirectly helped first base: cleaner feeds and better double play turns made life easier on the right side of the infield.

Also notable: Ty France, acquired midseason, showed visible improvement defensively at first after joining the Jays, further stabilizing the position.

Second Base

Second base was arguably the Jays’ biggest leap on defense.

• Team DRS at 2B: 22, best in MLB.
  • The Cubs were 2nd at 18.
  • Last year the Jays were at just 1 (12th), so this is a massive upgrade.

Two reasons:

1. Andrés Giménez, acquired from Cleveland and already known as an elite defender, posted a personal DRS of 9 at second base. He instantly gave them a plus glove up the middle.
2. Ernie Clement, who had mostly played short and third in the past, logged 423⅓ innings at second this year (only 21 innings there last year) and brought dependable range and reactions.

The result: the Jays’ middle infield defense tightened up dramatically.

Shortstop

Shortstop is where things dip.

• Team DRS at SS: -13, 29th in MLB, only ahead of the Twins (-29).
• A big factor is Bo Bichette, who recorded a personal DRS of -12 this season (down from -3 last year).

His range appeared more limited this year. Part of that may be physical (he’s been dealing with knee issues), and part may be ripple effects from aggressive second base positioning, which can shift responsibilities.

Heading into the World Series, manager John Schneider has said that if Bichette’s knee is healthy enough to return, they are considering moving him to second base instead of short.

• He has never played 2B in MLB, but second base asks less lateral range than short, which would reduce stress on his knee.
• That would also allow Andrés Giménez to slide over and handle shortstop.

That plan keeps Bichette’s bat in the lineup while protecting the infield defense structurally.

Third Base

At third base, the Jays posted a team DRS of 4, 7th in MLB.
That’s a decline from last year’s DRS of 16 (2nd in MLB, behind only the Giants).

Why the drop? Personnel.

• Last year, third base was mostly Ernie Clement + Isiah Kiner-Falefa (IKF) — both strong, mobile defenders.
• This year, it’s largely Clement + Addison Barger.
  • Barger posted a DRS of 1 at third: not a liability, but not the same defensive ceiling as IKF.
  • That said, Barger offers more offensive upside.

In short: third base defense slipped a bit, but the Jays chose to accept slight defensive regression in exchange for more bat.

Outfield

The Blue Jays’ outfield defense remains elite overall.

• Team OF DRS: 27, 3rd in MLB.
  • That’s down from 48 (2nd) last year, but still excellent.

Left Field

• LF DRS: 13, 2nd in MLB (behind Cleveland’s 22).
• Last year LF was mainly Daulton Varsho (DRS 12 in 2024).
• This year, LF was more of a platoon/mix:
  • Myles Straw (DRS 4)
  • Nathan Lukes (4)
  • Alan Roden (3)
  • Anthony Santander (2)

Even without a single everyday left fielder, the group collectively held the line as a strong defensive unit.

Center Field

• CF DRS: 24, best in MLB.
  • Red Sox were 2nd at 18.
  • Last year the Jays were also elite in center (24, 2nd behind Boston’s 29).

This year, Daulton Varsho and Myles Straw shared CF:

• Straw: DRS 15
• Varsho: DRS 10
  Insane range, clean routes, plus closing speed. Center field is a genuine weapon for them.

Right Field
Right field is the weak spot.

• RF DRS: -10, 26th in MLB
  • Last year: +7 (5th)

Last season, aside from George Springer (-2), most RF reps were at least neutral to positive.
This season:

• Nathan Lukes was good there (DRS 7),
• but others struggled:
  • George Springer (-6)
  • Addison Barger (-4)
  • Joey Loperfido (-3)

So while LF and CF remain strengths, RF defense has slipped and could be a target for the Dodgers’ offense in the World Series.

Summary of Defense

Overall, the Blue Jays combine:

• elite catcher defense,
• outstanding up-the-middle coverage,
• elite CF defense,
• and flexible multi-position defenders.

Their roster is full of players who can move around the diamond without tanking defensive quality. That versatility gives the coaching staff a ton of late-game options, and it’s one of the main reasons Toronto is in the World Series at all. Their run prevention isn’t just about pitching — their gloves matter.

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(5) Projected 26-Man World Series Roster

Most MLB postseason rosters follow the 13 pitchers / 13 position players pattern:

• 4 starters
• 9 relievers
• 13 hitters

The Blue Jays are expected to stick pretty closely to that balance. Below is a position-by-position projection.

Starting Pitchers (4)

Game 1 starter:

• Trey Yesavage (RHP)
  He’ll face the Dodgers’ ace lefty Blake Snell. He’s locked for the roster and will be relied on to set the tone.

Game 2 starter (expected):

• Kevin Gausman (RHP)
  He’s been steady throughout the ALDS and ALCS — command, poise, split.

Game 3 starter:

• Shane Bieber (RHP)
  Veteran, calm, executed well in the ALCS.

Game 4 starter:

• Max Scherzer (RHP)
  Brings big-stage experience and still knows how to attack lineups with sequencing and mentality even when pure stuff isn’t at peak.

These four essentially form the Jays’ playoff rotation core and are near-locks for the World Series roster.

Relievers (9)

Because Toronto’s rotation is entirely right-handed, the bullpen’s left-handed options become extra important — especially against a Dodgers lineup that features dangerous left-handed bats (and switch bats) in big spots.

Likely bullpen arms:

• Eric Lauer (LHP)
  • 28 appearances this year (15 starts), ERA 3.18 in the regular season.
  • Rough postseason ERA (9.00 in just 3 IP), but 5 K / 1 BB shows usable stuff.
  • Crucial value: can work long relief or spot start.
  • As a lefty who can cover multiple innings, he’s very likely in.
• Brendon Little (LHP)
  • 79 appearances in the regular season (the most of any Jays pitcher), ERA 3.03.
  • Postseason has been shaky (12.00 ERA), but you don’t just ignore 79 games of work.
  • He’s trusted to face both lefties and righties; both hit under .200 against him in the regular season.
  • He’s basically one of their main “bullpen lefties.”
• Mason Fluharty (LHP)
  • Used at times as a “lefty specialist,” but actually gets righties out too.
  • vs LHB: .182 AVG / .607 OPS
  • vs RHB: .202 AVG / .364 OPS
  • Regular season: 55 games, ERA 4.44
  • Postseason: ERA 6.23 in 4⅓ IP, but K% 35.0% — huge bat-missing ability.
  • He’s important against the Dodgers’ big left-handed threats like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy. Expect targeted usage.
• Jeff Hoffman (RHP)
  • The closer.
  • Postseason: 6 games, 7⅓ IP, ERA 1.23, 12 K (42.9% K%), only 2 BB (7.1%).
  • Nasty fastball/slider mix, handles high leverage.
  • He’s locked in for the 9th (and sometimes 8th in emergencies).
• Seranthony Domínguez (RHP)
  • Regular season across Orioles + Jays: 67 games, ERA 3.16, K% 30.3%.
  • Walk rate is high (BB% 13.8%), and in October it’s still an issue (BB% 17.9%).
  • But he has proven playoff composure.
  • Projects as the primary setup man in the 8th inning ahead of Hoffman.
• Louis Varland (RHP)
  • One of the Jays’ most used relievers this postseason: appeared in 10 of 11 playoff games so far.
  • 11 IP, ERA 3.27, 13 K (30.2% K%), WHIP 0.82.
  • Has allowed 4 HR, so location matters.
  • Likely trusted as a high-leverage bridge guy in the 7th or whenever there’s a fire.
• Chris Bassitt (RHP)
  • 32 appearances in the regular season, 31 as a starter.
  • Shifted to long relief in October: 2 outings, 2⅔ scoreless, 0.00 ERA, FIP 0.89.
  • Veteran who can calm a game if a starter exits early.
  • He’s the “break glass in case of chaos” arm.
• Braydon Fisher (RHP)
  • Regular season: 52 games, ERA 2.70, K% 30.7%, opp BA .178
  • Postseason: up-and-down (7.36 ERA, opponents hitting .438), but strikeout rate still 35.3%.
  • High-ceiling stuff. Even if volatile, he’s the kind of arm you carry because he can miss bats in huge moments.
• Yariel Rodríguez (RHP)
  • Regular season: 66 games, ERA 3.08, strong strand rate (LOB% 81.2%).
  • Postseason control issues: BB% 28.6%, K% only 7.1%.
  • During the season he was often the “7th inning guy,” but lately the command drifted.
  • In the World Series he may get shifted to lower-leverage middle relief while Varland takes the higher-stress pockets.

That’s your 9-man relief corps: 3 lefties with defined matchup value, plus versatile right-handers and a clear back-end structure (Domínguez → Hoffman).

Catchers (2)

Catcher workload in October is brutal, so you virtually always carry two.

In 97 defensive innings this postseason for the Blue Jays:

• Alejandro Kirk caught 96 of them.
• Tyler Heineman caught 1 inning.

At the plate:

• Kirk has 49 postseason plate appearances.
• Heineman has none.

Even so, carrying both is mandatory:

• Kirk remains the everyday starter and backbone of the battery.
• Heineman is the defensive insurance and can spell Kirk if needed, plus he actually hit well in the regular season (wRC+ 120).

So expect Kirk + Heineman.

Infielders (6)

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R/R) – Starting 1B
  • Steady regular season, huge postseason production, clutch in run-scoring spots.
  • He anchors the middle of the order.
• Bo Bichette (R/R) – Projected starting 2B
  • Coming off a right knee injury from early September, but reportedly progressing well and expected on the WS roster.
  • Because of that knee, manager John Schneider has hinted at moving him from SS to 2B to reduce range demands.
  • This also keeps his bat in the lineup.
• Andrés Giménez (R/L) – Projected starting SS
  • Elite glove, stabilizes the middle infield.
  • His postseason bat has actually shown up: 2 HR and 8 RBI so far, coming through in key spots.
  • Between the defense and the timely offense, he’s locked in as the playoff shortstop.
• Ernie Clement (R/R) – Projected starting 3B
  • One of the hottest bats on the team this postseason:
    • .429 AVG
    • wRC+ 195
  • His offense is so valuable right now that the Jays are reorganizing the entire infield (moving Bichette off short) just to keep him in the everyday lineup.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R/R) – Utility
  • Can play 2B, 3B, SS, and even has outfield and emergency pitching experience.
  • (Fun note: unlike a typical utility man, IKF has literally caught in the big leagues back in 2018–2019 with Texas.)
  • In October, his job is late-inning defense, situational cover, and tactical flexibility, not middle-of-the-order offense.
• Davis Schneider (R/R) – Multi-positional depth (2B / 3B / LF)
  • wRC+ 127 in the regular season.
  • In limited postseason chances (13 PA / 10 AB), he’s hitting .300.
  • He gives the bench both offensive punch and defensive flexibility across infield and corner outfield.

Outfielders (5)

• Nathan Lukes (R/L) – Starting LF
  • Logged 40 postseason innings in left field, most on the team.
  • Regular season LF DRS of 4, so he’s steady defensively.
  • Postseason: hitting .333, wRC+ 125, often hitting in the 2-hole.
  • Contact, table-setting, decent speed. He balances both sides of the ball in left.
• Daulton Varsho (R/L) – Starting CF
  • Regular season: wRC+ 123
  • Postseason overall: wRC+ 121
  • ALCS dip: .179 AVG, wRC+ 15
  • Still, Varsho is a proven high-adjustment hitter and an elite defender in center. If he heats back up, he’s a huge two-way weapon.
• Addison Barger (R/L) – Starting RF
  • Originally more of a third baseman, but because Ernie Clement is raking, the Jays pushed Barger to right field to keep both bats.
  • His RF defense (DRS -4) isn’t ideal, but his offensive upside is why he’s there.
  • This is an intentional “offense first” tradeoff.
• Myles Straw (R/R) – Defensive replacement OF
  • Offense is not his calling card:
    • Regular season wRC+ 91
    • Postseason wRC+ 54
  • But defensively he’s elite: 18 DRS in the outfield this year.
  • In close games late, he comes in to lock down the outfield, especially center.
• George Springer (R/R) – Primary DH / Leadoff hitter
  • Regular season wRC+ 166
  • Postseason wRC+ 150
  • Veteran tone-setter with power, discipline, and huge October experience.
  • Mostly DH now, but can still play corner outfield in a pinch if needed.

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Summary of Projected Roster

Starting Pitchers (4)

1. Trey Yesavage (RHP) – Game 1
2. Kevin Gausman (RHP) – Game 2
3. Shane Bieber (RHP) – Game 3
4. Max Scherzer (RHP) – Game 4

Relievers (9)

• Eric Lauer (LHP) – Long relief / swingman
• Chris Bassitt (RHP) – Long relief / stabilizer
• Brendon Little (LHP) – Primary bullpen lefty
• Mason Fluharty (LHP) – Matchup lefty (also viable vs RHB)
• Braydon Fisher (RHP) – High-K setup option
• Yariel Rodríguez (RHP) – Middle relief, lower leverage if command is off
• Louis Varland (RHP) – High-leverage bridge, possible 7th inning stopper
• Seranthony Domínguez (RHP) – 8th inning setup
• Jeff Hoffman (RHP) – Closer

Catchers (2)

• Alejandro Kirk (R/R)
• Tyler Heineman (R/S)

Infielders (6)

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R/R) – 1B
• Bo Bichette (R/R) – 2B
• Andrés Giménez (R/L) – SS
• Ernie Clement (R/R) – 3B
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R/R) – Utility defender
• Davis Schneider (R/R) – 2B / 3B / LF hybrid

Outfielders (5)

• Nathan Lukes (R/L) – LF
• Daulton Varsho (R/L) – CF
• Addison Barger (R/L) – RF
• Myles Straw (R/R) – Late-inning defense
• George Springer (R/R) – DH / leadoff, emergency OF

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(6) Tactical and Managerial Strategy for the World Series

Starting Pitcher Usage

The Jays’ postseason rotation is now clearly defined:
Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer.

All four have shown:

• the ability to handle pressure innings,
• to navigate lineups multiple times,
• and to make in-game adjustments.

Because Toronto’s bullpen has been inconsistent, the plan is likely to stick with this four-man rotation and avoid chaos, rather than get cute with openers or scripted piggybacks. Everyone knows their lane.

One strategic wrinkle:
All four starters are right-handed.

They’ll be facing a Dodgers lineup that features dangerous left-handed / left-leaning threats — Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, etc.

Games 1 and 2 will likely come down to how Yesavage and Gausman execute their signature pitch: the splitter/split-change profile.

• Both rely heavily on a diving splitter as an out pitch.
• That pitch, if located well, can neutralize lefties by getting them to chase below the zone or roll over weak contact.
• But if the Dodgers’ lefties start seeing it and stop chasing, or if the pitch leaks up… it can get hammered.

So, the splitter vs. the Dodgers’ elite left-handed bats is one of the defining battles of the early series.

Bullpen Usage

Toronto’s bullpen is built around defined roles:

• Bassitt / Lauer for length if the starter exits early.
• Little / Fluharty for key left-handed matchups.
• Varland, Domínguez, Hoffman closing down the final 9–6 outs (Varland as the fireman, Domínguez in the 8th, Hoffman in the 9th).
• Fisher and Rodríguez as situational righties, with Rodríguez possibly shifted to lower-leverage innings given recent command issues.

The challenge: consistency.
Unlike the Dodgers, whose pitching depth (both rotation and bullpen) has been suffocating, the Jays’ relief corps has been volatile. For Toronto to win the World Series, the relievers have to execute each specific assignment — not just “throw hard,” but hit the plan.

Offense and Defense Game Flow

Toronto’s postseason lineup has been very stable:

• George Springer leads off as DH — high OBP, power, veteran presence.
• Nathan Lukes often hits 2nd — contact, table-setting, can bunt/advance.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. anchors the heart of the order in the 3-spot — elite run production.
• Spots 4–9 generally hold together with minimal shuffling, adjusted mainly based on opposing pitcher handedness and pitch profile.

The Jays’ offense this October has been deep. There’s no obvious “automatic out” at the bottom. They string rallies together, they pressure pitchers, and they’ve shown situational hitting. That depth is how they can trade blows with the Dodgers’ star-heavy lineup.

But here’s the flip side:
The Dodgers have a complete, layered pitching staff. They can throw power arms, command artists, velo from the left side, strikeout relievers, and matchup specialists. Against that kind of staff, the Blue Jays’ hitters will need to stay disciplined, take walks, and cash in with runners in scoring position. Wasting chances will be fatal.

Late-Game Defense

The Dodgers’ offense doesn’t really cool off in the late innings, so for Toronto, run prevention after the 6th becomes a chess match.

Expect:

• Myles Straw to come in as a defensive replacement in the outfield during close games, expanding range and reducing risk of misplays.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (IKF) to sub in around the infield for tighter defense.
• Potentially shifting Bichette off the most demanding spot if his knee mobility is still limited, to keep the infield sure-handed.

The Jays know they can’t afford late defensive mistakes against the Dodgers. Tightening the defense early — even at the cost of a little offense — will likely be part of the plan when protecting a lead.

Tactical Summary

Compared to the Dodgers:

• The Jays’ offense and defense are legit strengths.
• The bullpen is the question mark.

So for Toronto:

1. Starters need to go deep and keep the game under control through 5–6 innings.
2. The offense has to keep scoring rather than hoping 2–3 early runs will hold.
3. Late-inning defense must be airtight.

If they do those things, they can absolutely go toe-to-toe with the defending champs.

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(7) Overall Outlook

Structurally, the 2025 Blue Jays are built as a position-player-driven contender.

Their advantages:

• A deep, relentless lineup that doesn’t fall off in the lower third.
• Elite defensive coverage across most of the field, especially up the middle and in center field.
• Enough versatility to mix-and-match personnel mid-game without collapsing defensively.

These traits are their path to beating the Dodgers.

Their vulnerability:

• The bullpen can wobble.
• Command lapses and home-run susceptibility from relievers create real late-inning danger.
• And all four main starters are righties, which could be stress-tested by the Dodgers’ left-handed thunder.

For Toronto to finally bring home a long-awaited championship, they’ll need:

• length and poise from the rotation,
• disciplined, opportunistic offense,
• clean late-game defense,
• and just enough stability from the bullpen to hold leads.

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Coming Up Next

That’s it for this Blue Jays World Series preview.

Next up: a Game 1 postgame breakdown. We’ll walk through how Toronto and Los Angeles actually matched up on the field in the opener — sequencing, adjustments, where each side attacked, and where the cracks showed.

And one more teaser:
there’s also going to be a special little “bonus mini-episode” in this series.
What’s in it? I’ll keep that secret for now 😉
Stay tuned.

Sources /
Fangraphs