Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman isn’t worried about facing the high-priced Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
“We’ve got a lot of guys making a lot of money, too,” a beer-soaked Gausman said after Toronto won its first pennant in 32 years by beating the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Monday night in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
“It’s two really good teams. It’s going to be some really good baseball,” Gausman said. “A lot of big names, obviously.”
That’s for sure. But then again, Gausman is right that it’s not only the defending champion Dodgers who boast some sizeable salaries. The veteran right-hander is paid $23 million US a year, making him one of four Blue Jays players earning more than $20 million a season. Also in that group are Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($28 million), George Springer ($25 million) and Chris Bassitt ($22 million).
Another six Toronto players earn more than $10 million a year, led by Jose Berrios’ $19 million annual salary.
Toronto’s opening-day payroll of $239,242,531 ranked fifth in baseball. The Dodgers ($319,537,290) were second to the New York Mets.
Of course, while the Blue Jays may have big earners, they haven’t won any postseason hardware since claiming back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and ’93. They know Los Angeles is a star-studded team with an October track record lately that speaks for itself.
“To get to where you want to go, you’ve got to beat the best,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said of facing the Dodgers, who took two of three against Toronto during the regular season. “Whether it’s talent, payroll, whatever you want to call it, man, they’re a damn good team.”
WATCH | Toronto’s long-awaited return to the World Series:
Blue Jays head to World Series
The Toronto Blue Jays are returning to the World Series for the first time since 1993 after defeating the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in the American League Championship Series.
Schneider and the AL East champion Blue Jays will have home-field advantage and open the World Series at home Friday night because they finished the regular season with 94 wins, one more than the NL West champion Dodgers.
“They’re a powerhouse,” Toronto outfielder Nathan Lukes said. “They’ve been known to do it over and over again, but we’re not scared of them.”
The Blue Jays have made it this far in the playoffs without shortstop Bo Bichette. The two-time AL hits leader and two-time All-Star hasn’t played since he sprained his left knee in a Sept. 6 collision with New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells.
Bichette, who has been testing his knee by hitting and running for several days, said after Monday night’s ALCS win that he expects to play when the World Series gets underway.
“I’ll be ready,” Bichette vowed.
Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won ALCS MVP honours after batting .385 with three doubles and three home runs against Seattle. He has six homers and 12 RBIs this postseason and has struck out just three times.
Guerrero was tearful after the Blue Jays wrapped up their one-run win over the Mariners, but said he’s eager for the matchup with the Dodgers.
“I know they have great players,” Guerrero said through a translator. “So do we. But it’s on the field where everything matters.”
Bo Bichette says he’ll be ready to go for the World Series, but finding a spot for him in the lineup is going to be tough.
“As much as I think Bo’s an awesome player, right now, I think you just say, look, man, I’m sorry, we’re rolling with what we got,” says @AJPierzynski12. pic.twitter.com/eEfrLkOJVX
Jays have prime minister ‘super pumped’
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he’s “super pumped” about the Toronto Blue Jays’ dramatic comeback win over the Seattle Mariners that sent them back to the World Series.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning in Ottawa, Carney praised George Springer’s go-ahead three-run homer that capped a 4-3 win and gave Toronto its first American League pennant since 1993.
“It’s fantastic. I mean, Springer coming through on one knee — it was an absolutely amazing game,” Carney said. “I’m super pumped for the World Series.”
Springer had taken a pitch off his right kneecap earlier in the series but still delivered one of the biggest home runs in franchise history to seal the Game 7 victory.
Carney noted he’d told U.S. President Donald Trump during their Oval Office meeting earlier this month that the Jays would reach the World Series — a prediction that proved right.
The prime minister said Monday’s moment reminded him of Joe Carter’s World Series-winning home run in 1993.
“Oh God…just the elation of a similar home run,” he said with a smile.
