The Blue Jays have this surprising advantage over the Dodgers in their World Series meeting

The Toronto Blue Jays are back in the World Series for the first time since 1993. They now face a strong Los Angeles Dodgers team seeking to repeat as champions. Despite being a No. 3 seed, the Dodgers swept most of their prior NL opponents, losing only one game, and have only once allowed opponents more than three runs per game.

The Dodgers' starting pitchers have been nearly unhittable in the postseason. The four starters, Blake Snell (0.86 ERA), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1.83 ERA), Shohei Ohtani (2.25 ERA), and Tyler Glasnow (0.68 ERA), have a 33.5 strikeout percentage in the postseason and are relied on to pitch deeper into games due to the bullpen’s recent struggles.

The Blue Jays' bullpen has also posted a high postseason ERA (5.52), but compared to the Dodgers' relievers, they have pitched more innings and held leads in critical situations. Despite the surface-level ERA, the Blue Jays' ability to handle higher workloads and pressure gives them a key bullpen advantage over the Dodgers, whose relievers have struggled when called upon.

The Blue Jays have this surprising advantage over the Dodgers in their World Series meeting

The Blue Jays enjoy surprising strengths in both hitting and bullpen performance. With the Dodgers' reliance on starters, their bullpen remains less tested—26 innings in 10 games against 46 innings in 11 games for Toronto. Toronto must push past Dodgers’ starters to fully exploit this bullpen edge.

However, looking at the Dodgers' lineup, the Blue Jays' bullpen's home run-to-fly-ball rate is alarming. During the regular season, the Dodgers finished second in home runs (244). These results are concerning for the Blue Jays' pen, which has been allowing home runs to their American League counterparts. Jeff Hoffman, Eric Lauer, and Chris Bassitt are the only relievers with at least two innings of work in the postseason who have not given up a home run.

Although, Yariel Rodríguez (not on World Series roster) and Louis Varland are the only ones to give up multiple home runs. Varland has been the bullpen workhorse thus far, throwing 11 innings with a 13:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. However, his four earned runs have all come off solo home runs.

On the other side, limiting home runs has been a strength of the entire Dodgers’ pitching staff, as only Yamamoto and Clayton Kershaw have allowed a home run, two each.

While the Blue Jays have a bullpen edge, reaching it remains tough—the Dodgers' starters have delivered eight quality starts in 10 games and possess lower SIERA values, indicating elite performance. If Toronto can force them to turn to their bullpen early, their offense can capitalize on this advantage.