LOS ANGELES — When it comes to the World Series, you expect intense, tightly contested games. You expect big hits or big pitches in key moments. And, along the way, you expect a big save or two.
The 2025 Fall Classic has had most of those elements. But somehow, some way, the Blue Jays are now one win away from their first championship since 1993 after their 6-1 victory in Game 5 over the Dodgers, and neither side has recorded a save through these five games. According to Elias, this is the first time neither team has recorded a save through the first four games — let alone five — of a World Series since 1977, when the Yankees knocked off the Dodgers in six save-less matchups.
Make no mistake about it: The bullpens have played key roles in this series. The Dodgers’ Game 3 win in 18 innings was largely the result of a heroic effort by reliever Will Klein over four scoreless innings, and that one also featured 4 2/3 shutout innings by Blue Jays left-hander Eric Lauer. But to this point, no reliever has notched an ‘S’ in the box score.
For Toronto, one might figure it’s best to go the rest of the way without a save situation. Who needs the stress of a close game in the ninth (or later) while possibly facing the Ohtanis, Bettses and Freemans of the world, right?
So far, however, the Blue Jays might be the team better suited to come through in such a spot. Their relievers have gotten the job done in crunch time more often, whether it was Mason Fluharty stranding two runners on base in relief of Shane Bieber in Game 4 or Chris Bassitt‘s straight-up dominance through October, having allowed just one hit with eight strikeouts and one walk across 6 2/3 innings in his five relief appearances.
There’s also Everyday Louis Varland, who has pitched in 13 of Toronto’s 15 playoff games — one game shy of the single postseason record shared by Paul Assenmacher (Cleveland, 1997) and Brandon Morrow (Dodgers, 2017) — and is as reliable as they come.
“We’re in a great spot. Everybody’s ready to go,” said Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman. “Bassitt’s been huge stepping into that role and absolutely destroying everybody. We’re in a great spot. We feel like we’re a big part of the team, and we’re excited to get in there.”
“We believe in everybody down there,” right-hander Max Scherzer said. “It can be anybody. Everybody that’s down there can get some batters. When they come in the game, everybody on the bench is believing that they’re going to get the job done.”
Hoffman, the leader of this bullpen, was maligned at times throughout the regular season for his shakiness in the closer role after blowing seven of his 40 save opportunities. But the 32-year-old right-hander has been mostly nails throughout this playoff run. On Wednesday, he put a bow on Trey Yesavage’s brilliant seven-inning, 12-strikeout gem with relative ease by following a scoreless eighth by Seranthony Domínguez with a scoreless ninth, and has allowed just one run in his nine postseason appearances.
Based on how the playoffs have gone, Hoffman may soon get his chance. The Blue Jays closed out the ALDS with a save by Hoffman in Game 4 against the Yankees. The ALCS against the Mariners? Hoffman finished the job in Game 7 with a scoreless ninth.
If Hoffman gets a save opportunity in the World Series, it’s now going to represent a chance to clinch and end a 32-year drought for Toronto, the stuff he dreamed about as a kid growing up in upstate New York.
“For most of the regular season, you’re hoping you just get the chance to [record the last out] to get yourself to the playoffs,” Hoffman said. “Then, you kind of take it round by round after that. You want to be the guy out there for the ALDS. You want to be the guy out there for the ALCS. … I hope I get the opportunity to do that [in the World Series]. We feel good about where we’re at.”
