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The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers entered Friday night just one loss from elimination.
But a gutsy move to bring Sunday’s expected starter, Tyler Glasnow, into the final frame of the ninth inning helped the Dodgers survive.
Glasnow entered Friday’s win-or-go home game with a Toronto Blue Jays runner on second and another on third base. It took Glasnow just three pitches to get three outs to close the game and force a Game 7.
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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) and center fielder Justin Dean (75) celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays during game six of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Center on October 31, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images)
Two of those outs came after the Dodgers turned what appeared to be a potential game-tying hit into a dramatic game-ending double play.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to move up the lineup again for Game 6.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) reacts with catcher Will Smith (16) after the ninth inning for game six of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Center on October 31, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)
After moving from second to third in the order in Wednesday’s Game 5 loss, shortstop Mookie Betts dropped to the cleanup spot Friday against Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman.
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Betts had not hit as low as fourth since the final game of the 2017 American League Division Series against Houston. Game 5 marked the first time since 2021 that Betts started but was not in one of the top two spots in Los Angeles’ lineup.
Mookie Betts (50) of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run single against Kevin Gausman (34) of the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of Game Six of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on October 31, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Betts entered Game 6 going just 3-for-23 with no RBIs or extra-base hits in the World Series, but he made the most of his new spot in the batting order, delivering a two-run single in the third inning.
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto wasn’t quite as sharp as in his Game 2 four-hitter, the first World Series complete game in a decade. He lasted six innings and allowed just a third-inning RBI single by George Springer, who returned after missing two games with a right side injury.
After the game, Roberts explained his decision to use Glasnow in relief.
“This is do or die. You’ve got to leave it all out there and pick up all the pieces,” Roberts told FOX Sports. “Roki (Sasaki) wasn’t that sharp. I felt right there, Glasnow had swing and miss stuff, and I just wanted to bet on him.”
Max Scherzer will start Game 7 Saturday night for the Blue Jays. He also started the final World Series Game 7, getting a no-decision as Washington won the 2019 title over Houston.
The Dodgers are looking to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays hope to end their championship drought by securing their first World Series title since 1993.
Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday at 20 ET on FOX.
