TORONTO — One of the highlights of Toronto captain John Schneider's first day in the World Series — besides the 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers — was the opportunity to chat with former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston.
“He’s always been good to me,” Schneider said before Game 2 on Saturday. “He just said, 'I love what you do, I love the way your team plays, and you should be very proud of what you did.'
“And I said, 'This means a lot to you.'
Gaston, who threw the ceremonial first pitch to Schneider before Game 1, led the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.
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After the throw, 81-year-old Gaston asked Schneider to autograph the ball as he planned to have it on his robe.
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“I did and I made a promise to him that I needed to get one from him,” Schneider said with a smile.
RELIABLE APPROACH
Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman said his team is well aware that the defending champion Dodgers entered the World Series as favorites.
Los Angeles missed just one playoff game in the Fall Classic and boasts a lineup that includes sluggers Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and others.
Entering the series, the Dodgers were listed as -220 favorites to win the series at BetMGM, while the Blue Jays were +180.
“We know we're serious underdogs, but that doesn't matter to us,” Heineman said. “We were huge underdogs at the start of this season. We weren't even supposed to make the playoffs, just the World Series.
“For the group inside (the clubhouse), it doesn't make any difference to us. We know what a special group we have.”
Before Game 2, the bookmaker had Los Angeles as the favorite to win the series at -120, while the Jays were at +100.
BACK TO BACK
The Dodgers are aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back World Series crowns since the New York Yankees won three titles between 1998 and 2000.
Major League Baseball's current 24-year streak without a repeat champion is the longest in the history of the so-called Big Four sports (MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL).
The Dodgers are the first defending champions to return to the Fall Classic since the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
