On November 1, 2025, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Shohei Ohtani, the 30-year-old two-way phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers, will take the mound in a winner-take-all Game 7 against Max Scherzer, the 40-year-old veteran of the Toronto Blue Jays. The stage is set for one of the most dramatic finales in baseball history — not just because of the stakes, but because of who’s on the mound. Ohtani, who already rewrote the rulebook this season, will pitch on just four days’ rest after starting Game 4. Scherzer, making his sixth career winner-take-all World Series start, breaks a record no one thought possible. And the crowd? Nearly 50,000 fans in Toronto, buzzing with the hope of ending a 32-year drought.
Game 6’s Heartbreak Set the Stage
It wasn’t supposed to come to this. On October 31, 2025, the Blue Jays led the series 3-2 and had a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. All they needed was three outs. Instead, Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers’ reliever, threw just three pitches — a fastball, a slider, and another fastball — before the inning ended on a double play that stunned the home crowd. The final score: 3-1. The series tied. The pressure shifted. And suddenly, the weight of 32 years fell on one game.
"We knew Ohtani could do this," said Dave Roberts, the 52-year-old Dodgers manager, after the game. "He’s not just a pitcher. He’s the heartbeat. And when it’s Game 7, you don’t overthink — you trust the guy who’s done the impossible before."
Two Legends, One Night
Scherzer’s resume is the stuff of legend: three Cy Young Awards, two World Series rings, and now, a record six winner-take-all appearances. He’s pitched in elimination games for the Nationals, Yankees, and now the Blue Jays. But this? This is different. He’s not chasing another title — he’s chasing legacy. The Blue Jays haven’t won since 1993. Scherzer, once a hero in Washington, now wears Toronto’s blue and red. He knows what’s at stake.
Ohtani, meanwhile, has been rewriting the rules of baseball since 2021. In 2025, he hit .312 with 48 home runs and pitched 168 innings with a 2.78 ERA. He’s the only player in MLB history to qualify as both a top-5 hitter and top-5 pitcher in the same season. And now, he’s doing it again — pitching on short rest, then batting leadoff as the designated hitter. The 2025 two-way player rule, which allows him to remain in the lineup after pitching, makes this possible. Without it, the Dodgers would’ve had to choose: pitcher or hitter. With it? They get both.
Why This Game Changes Everything
The Dodgers are chasing history. No team has repeated as World Series champions since the 2000 Yankees. Eight titles in franchise history? That’s impressive. But back-to-back? That’s dynasty territory. For the Blue Jays? It’s been 32 years since Joe Carter’s home run. A generation has grown up without a parade down Yonge Street. Their last World Series win was before smartphones, before streaming, before Twitter. Now, they’re one game away.
The financial stakes are staggering. According to the Major League Baseball Players Association’s 2025 revenue distribution, the winner walks away with $37,947,000 in postseason shares. The loser? Still gets $26,563,000. That’s more than most MLB teams spend on their entire 40-man roster in a year. But money isn’t what drives this game. It’s history.
What Happens If Ohtani Gets Hurt?
There’s a quiet tension beneath the hype. Ohtani has never pitched on fewer than five days’ rest in his career. This is the first time he’s done it in a postseason game — let alone Game 7. The Dodgers’ medical staff has monitored his workload obsessively. He threw 102 pitches in Game 4. He’s been on the mound just four days later. If he gets into trouble, can he finish? And if he doesn’t, can he still hit? The rules say he can stay in as DH — but only if he starts. If he’s pulled early, he can’t bat. That’s why Roberts didn’t hesitate: Ohtani starts, and he bats. No backup plan.
"It’s not about safety," said one anonymous Dodgers coach, speaking off the record. "It’s about legacy. If he pitches five innings and we win? He’s a god. If he gets shelled? People will say we pushed too hard. But we didn’t push. We believed."
What’s Next After the Final Out?
If the Dodgers win, the conversation shifts immediately: dynasty talk, MVP for Ohtani, Roberts as coach of the decade. If the Blue Jays win? A city erupts. A generation celebrates. Scherzer, likely playing his final game, becomes a Toronto icon overnight. And Ohtani? He’ll still be the face of baseball — but now, he’ll carry the weight of a near-miss.
Either way, November 1, 2025, won’t be forgotten. Not by the players. Not by the fans. Not by history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Shohei Ohtani pitching on only four days’ rest in Game 7?
The Dodgers prioritized Ohtani’s availability over traditional rest norms because of his unique two-way role. He pitched 102 pitches in Game 4 on October 28, and with the series tied 3-3, manager Dave Roberts chose to use him on short rest rather than risk a less effective starter. The 2025 two-way player rule allows him to remain in the game as DH after pitching, making this strategy viable. This is the first time in MLB history a player has started Game 7 on less than five days’ rest since the modern era began.
Has Max Scherzer ever won a Game 7 before?
No. Scherzer has started six winner-take-all games in his career — including the 2019 NLCS, 2019 World Series Game 7, and 2022 NLDS — but has never won one. His record in elimination games is 2-6. This Game 7 is his final chance to flip that narrative. If he wins, he’ll be the first pitcher in MLB history to win a Game 7 after six previous losses in similar situations.
How does the two-way player rule benefit the Dodgers in Game 7?
The 2025 MLB two-way rule allows a player designated as a two-way player — like Ohtani — to remain in the lineup as the designated hitter after pitching, even if he’s removed from the mound. Without this rule, Ohtani would’ve had to be replaced as DH after pitching, forcing the Dodgers to use a weaker hitter. Instead, they get their best hitter (Ohtani) in the leadoff spot after he pitches, maximizing both offense and pitching in one decision.
What’s the significance of the $37.9 million prize for the winner?
The $37,947,000 in postseason shares for the winner is the largest payout in MLB history, reflecting the league’s record 2025 revenue. That’s more than the entire payroll for 10 MLB teams. The money is split among players, coaches, and staff — with starters receiving over $1 million each. For the Blue Jays, it’s not just about a trophy — it’s about financial security for a roster that’s been underpaid for years. For the Dodgers, it’s a reward for sustained excellence.
Why is this Game 7 different from other recent World Series finales?
Unlike recent Game 7s — which often featured dominant pitching duels or late-inning homers — this one pits baseball’s two most unique players against each other: a 30-year-old phenom doing the impossible, and a 40-year-old veteran chasing redemption. It’s not just about who wins — it’s about what this says about the evolution of the game. Ohtani represents the future. Scherzer represents the past. And on November 1, 2025, they collide.
What’s the historical context of the Blue Jays’ championship drought?
The Blue Jays last won the World Series in 1993, when Joe Carter hit a walk-off homer in Game 6. Since then, they’ve made the playoffs only six times, never advanced past the ALCS, and have had four different ownership groups. Their 32-year drought is the longest active streak among teams that have won a title. For fans, this isn’t just a game — it’s generational. A win would be the first World Series title for anyone under age 35 in Toronto.
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