Game 1 Set for 8 p.m. in Toronto

Game 1 of the World Series is set for 8 p.m. in Toronto, with the Blue Jays having picked rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage to start. The Dodgers will counter with ace Blake Snell.

Varsho on Dad’s Reaction to Advancing to World Series

Daulton Varsho said he’ll be thinking of his father, former MLB player Gary Varsho, during the World Series. Gary was part of the 1991 and 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates, who lost to the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series twice.

“It’s going to be an awesome experience. Obviously, you don’t get this very many times in your life. Honestly, I kind of feel for my dad because obviously he got to this point where he got to Game 7 of the championship series and lost, and so obviously for him, I think I’m going to enjoy it for him as well.”

Bichette on World Series Role

While the Blue Jays have not announced that Bichette will be in their World Series roster, the shortstop, who has not played in the postseason due to an injury but has said he’s ready to help his team this time, said he’ll play wherever his manager tells him to.

“I believe that I can contribute in any way that I’m asked to. I’ll be ready for any situation, any level,” he said. “I want to be a part of it.”

Guerrero Jr. on His Preparations and Bo Bichette

The All-Star first baseman says he feels good ahead of Game 1 of the World Series.

“We’ve been doing this for six months, and to me it’s like I’m so proud to be here today with my teammates, and I feel so good, so happy to be here today,” Guerrero Jr. said.

When asked about his relationship with Bo Bichette, the ALCS MVP called him his brother.

“We’ve got 10 years playing together. We’ve got a lot of ups and downs, a lot of crying, a lot of happiness, but to me, I feel so good to be here today with him. I know he wants the same as we want. It’s to win the game and have fun,” he said.

Guerrero Jr. Sends Message to Montreal Fans

“I’m going to say thank you and keep cheering for us because we’re going to try to give it all and we’re going to try to win it all,” the ALCS MVP said.

Davis Schneider on Playing in the World Series

Davis Schneider says it feels surreal that he’ll be playing in the World Series.

“I don’t really have the words to kind of describe it. It is really cool to be here, but the job’s not finished,” he said. “It is really great to be in the World Series, but our goal is to win it, so no matter what happens here, like I said, our goal is to win it.”

Addison Barger on Blue Jays Being Called Underdogs

“I don’t know if we feel like the underdog necessarily a lot. We’re a super popular team,” he said, noting that his team won a lot of games in the regular season.

“We are the number one seed in the American League during the playoffs. That’s not really underdogs. We’ve done it all year. We’ve won a lot of baseball games. We have the ability to come from behind,” he added.

Nathan Lukes on How to Beat Dodgers

“Scoring more runs than they do,” he said when asked what the World Series strategy is.

“We just keep going the way that we’re going, putting up tougher bats, making them grind, making them sweat, and just pushing more runs across the plate. At the end of the day, the Dodgers are just another team that we have to beat. In order to beat them, we have to be at the top of our game. So it’s not worrying about them, and we’re going to worry about ourselves.”

Yesavage Says Ohtani is a ‘Special Player’

He’s a special player. He can do damage on both sides of the baseball. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that we are in this situation too, for a reason. So just going out there and being ourselves and if there’s adjustments that we need to make to try and neutralize him, we’ll make those adjustments,” he said.

Yesavage Aware of the Pressure of Game 1 Start

“I try to treat it as if it’s not as high pressure, as it is mentally, but I know it’s there. So I think I’ve just developed it over time,” he said in response to being asked how he handles big moments in the post-season.

Gausman Says Canadian Baseball Fans are ‘Crazy’

Pitcher Kevin Gausman was asked how he would describe Canadian baseball fans, now that he’s pitched for and against the Blue Jays throughout his career.

“Awesome, passionate, crazy,” he said, recalling his 2013 debut in Toronto with the Baltimore Orioles.

Scherzer’s Advice to Yesavage: ‘Enjoy It’

Veteran pitcher Max Scherzer, who had a standout performance in Toronto’s 8-2 ALCS Game 4 win, was asked what advice he had for Yesavage in Game 1, specifically throwing to superstar Shohei Ohtani.

“Enjoy it. If you want to be the best, you got to be the best. You know, he’s obviously one of the best, best in the world. You got to believe you’re better. So, you know, go out there and compete,” he said.

Asked what kind of pitches Yesavage should aim to throw the two-way player, Scherzer said bluntly: “Strikes. Can’t throw balls, otherwise you walk them. So you got to throw strikes.”

‘I’ll Be Good’: Springer on His Knee

George Springer was asked about his knee following Game 5, when he was hit with a pitch and forced to leave the match.

“I’ll be good. I’ll be good. Yeah,” he said assuredly on Thursday.

Springer: ‘The Stuff That Ohtani Does is Just Not Human’

Springer spoke about his mindset heading into Game 1 and playing against Ohtani.

“The stuff that Ohtani can do is, it’s just not human. It’s so hard to do what he does. And, you know, he does both, and he does both at above the elite level, which is unheard of as a player when you kind of watch it…I don’t understand how he can do it,” he said of the two-way player.

Louis Varland Ready for World Series, Schneider Says

“I think he’s been in the float tank with cucumbers in his eyes, getting a foot rub,” Schneider said with a laugh. “These were good off days for him. I think that Louis is a unique guy to where he is not going to back down from a challenge. He knows how we’re going to be asking him to be used again. What he did, you know, so far, 10 out of 11 games being in, is remarkable. So these off days have been good for him. He hasn’t gotten off the mound, I can tell you that. So he’ll be ready.”

Schneider on Ohtani: ‘Give Us Our Stuff Back Already’

The Blue Jays manager was asked about how close the Blue Jays were in getting Shohei Ohtani in 2023 and recounted that the organization “felt good” when they met with him, especially the feedback he gave.

“But you never really know what a player’s feeling in free agency, and there’s a lot of things that have to line up for them personally, too,” Schneider said.

He noted that he cannot dwell with the what if. Schnieder quipped that Ohtani has not returned the merch the team gave him

“I’ll say it again, I hope he brought his hat, the Blue Jays hat that he took from us in our meeting, I hope he brought it back finally — and the jacket for Decoy, you know, it’s like, give us our stuff back already,” the Jays manager said.

John Schneider jokes that he wants Shohei Ohtani to give back his Blue Jays hat and the Blue Jays jacket for Decoy that they gave him in their free agency meeting 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZxuKB5ZRLD

Schneider said while Ohtani is a great player, the Blue Jays have a great group of players in the World Series.

“I think that we have a great team and just an unbelievable cast of characters and players. I think things worked out the way they’re meant to work out,” he said.

Yesavage to Pitch in Game 1, Schneider Says

“I can share that Trey Yesavage will pitch Game 1, and we will announce Game 2, probably a little bit later today, and I’m sure I’ll talk to you guys again at some point today or tomorrow. We’ll go from there,” he said.

‘I’m Really Excited About This’: Schneider

“I’m really excited about this but I’m just as excited for guys that I’ve known for a long time, for Bo (Bichette) for Vlad (Guerrero Jr.) for guys that have been here for numerous years. It’s just really cool for the organization, and I’m just thankful and humbled that I’m the one doing it, leading them into the into the World Series,” Schneider said.

Bichette ‘Feeling Good’

“He’s feeling good, which is nice. So a few more boxes to check…We’ll see…Just kind of have to talk to him after the workout today, see how comfortable he felt doing everything and make the best decision,” Schneider said about Bo Bichette.

Bichette missed the last three weeks of the regular season with a knee sprain and was left off the ALDS and ALCS lineups. He has said he’ll be “ready” for the World Series.

FAQ Section

• Q: Who is starting for the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1?

  A: Trey Yesavage is starting for the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1.

• Q: What does manager John Schneider say about Bo Bichette’s readiness?

  A: Schneider says Bichette is feeling good and they will make the best decision after his workout on Thursday.

• Q: What did Shohei Ohtani take from the Blue Jays during their free agency meeting?

  A: Schneider jokes that Ohtani took their hat and jacket for Decoy, and he hopes Ohtani brought them back.