Dodgers' dominance adding to Blue Jays' woes

Los Angeles will try for a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon, and a win would complete an undefeated road trip for the Dodgers.

They defeated the Blue Jays 4-1 Tuesday night to clinch the series against the team they defeated in a classic 2025 World Series that took seven games.

Los Angeles is 5-0 on its six-game trip, while the Blue Jays have dropped six straight games overall.

The Blue Jays have 11 runs over the losing streak. Indicative of their troubles was the seventh inning Tuesday when they loaded the bases with no outs and did not score. Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia replaced Yoshinobu Yamamoto with two on and worked out of the jam with two shallow flyouts and a strikeout after walking his first batter.

"Well, you've got to walk the first guy, 3-2, and then make it really hard for yourself," Vesia quipped. "It's just one pitch at a time. Will (catcher Smith) and I, we've got a really, really good relationship. And just trusting him. I know where to go and my strengths. It doesn't happen overnight. This is a long process that started back in 2021 when I first got here."

Toronto manager John Schneider said his team must capitalize on such chances. The Blue Jays had six hits and walked three times on Tuesday, stranding eight runners.

"The way we will work out of it is someone getting a big hit," Schneider said. "The opportunities are out there. And we can't be shooting ourselves in the foot by giving up extra outs."

Toronto also has been sloppy in the field during its streak. Start with the pitchers, who have 11 errors in 11 games.

Schneider provided Toronto's highlight of the game with a demonstrative ejection in the fifth inning after starter Kevin Gausman was called for a balk.

Toronto's scheduled starter Wednesday is right-hander Dylan Cease (0-0, 2.79 ERA), who was signed as a free agent in the offseason and has two no-decisions to start the season.

Cease is 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA in seven career starts against the Dodgers. In 2025, he was 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA in three starts against them while a member of the San Diego Padres.

Right-hander Shohei Ohtani (1-0, 0.00) is slated to start for the Dodgers. In three regular-season starts against the Blue Jays, he is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA. He started twice last fall in the World Series. In Game 4, he allowed four runs in six innings, and in Game 7 he allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings. He didn't get a decision in either game.

Ohtani the hitter had two walks (one intentional) and an RBI single on Tuesday and has reached base in 42 consecutive games dating to Aug. 24. He is one away from tying Ichiro Suzuki's 43-game on-base streak (2009), the longest in the majors by a Japanese-born player.

The franchise record is 58 set by Duke Snider in 1954, when the team was in Brooklyn.

Toronto's problems have been compounded by injuries. Right fielder Addison Barger was put on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a sprained left ankle. Tyler Fitzgerald was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo.

"Hopefully this is a minimal stint for Addy," Schneider said.

Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk had surgery Tuesday on his left thumb to insert a screw and is expected to be out for about six weeks. Pitcher Cody Ponce is scheduled to have knee surgery for a torn ACL that will keep him out for about six months.

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas was a late scratch Tuesday to deal with a family matter. Hyeseong Kim started at shortstop and had a double and a walk.

--Field Level Media