Yoshinobu Yamamoto has pitched consecutive complete games, beating the Brewers in the NLCS and the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the World Series. In those starts, he surrendered a combined 7 hits, 2 earned runs, walked 1, and struck out 15. He threw 111 pitches in the first game and 105 in the second.

After the 18-inning slog ended in disappointment on Freddie Freeman's walk-off homer for the Dodgers, the Blue Jays fought back in Game 5, touching up Shohei Ohtani for 4 runs.

In Game 3's seesaw battle, the fundamental difference between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers came to the forefront.

Injuries limited the 41-year-old Scherzer to 17 starts during the 2025 regular season. A thumb injury led to a lat injury. He posted a 5-5 record, allowed 87 hits in 85 innings, walked 23, and struck out 82.

In the 2025 playoffs, Dodgers' Game 2 starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has posted a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings, surrendering 13 hits and 4 earned runs, walking 4 and striking out 18. Against the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS, he pitched a complete game 3-hitter, allowing 1 run — a leadoff homer to Jackson Chourio — and nothing else. He walked 1 and struck out 7.

The LA Dodgers had an up-and-down season as they set about defending their 2024 World Series title. They did win 93 games and their fourth consecutive NL West title, but it was not easy.

LA had an unusually difficult 2025 regular season. Despite its star power and status as the defending World Series champs, they suffered through an injury-plagued and streaky campaign. They still won 93 games and their fourth straight NL West title, but it was a slog.

The Mariners have been a team of phases.

Every year, the Padres win the hot stove title. Then they win the MLB trade deadline title.

A collapse is forgotten as long as the team that collapsed makes the playoffs one way or the other. There is no doubt the Tigers' fall from the top of the AL Central was a collapse, but they still managed to squeak into the postseason as a Wild Card at the expense of the Astros, who had a collapse of their own.

The BoSox have two things the Yankees do not have: A hot starting pitcher at the top of the rotation and a dominating closer.

Any team that hires Terry Francona as manager is expecting to be competitive. The Reds, however, did not walk into the 2025 season thinking they were a playoff team unless everything broke their way.