‘Holy Grail’ HRs and a ‘Goliath’ Mentality: The Blue Jays’ Bats Have Stepped Up

Major League Baseball ‘Holy Grail’ HRs and a ‘Goliath’ Mentality: Blue Jays’ Bats Step Up

Updated Oct. 25, 2025 12:45 p.m. ET

TORONTO – The Blue Jays turned the World Series opener into an entertaining affair, just as many predicted they would against the reigning champion Dodgers. last tama “Everyone’s comparing us to David vs. Goliath,” said Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes. “I think it’s more like Goliath vs. Goliath. We’re the last teams standing.”

This “Goliath vs. Goliath” comparison feels accurate, as even MLB on FOX analyst Alex Rodriguez described this World Series matchup in similar terms. The Blue Jays, known for their contact-oriented hitting, become even more formidable when that contact translates into home runs. Another key to Toronto’s season-long success is their impressive low strikeout rate in Major League Baseball. When they can hit home runs while striking out less than their opponents, that’s the secret ingredient for victory.

The Jays won Game 1 of the World Series, belting three home runs against the Dodgers’ single homer. Toronto’s bats struck out just four times, while Los Angeles batters whiffed a staggering thirteen times.

“At the end of the day, not striking out and hitting home runs is the holy grail,” shortstop Bo Bichette told me at the Rogers Centre after Friday’s win. “It definitely starts with being good hitters first. 3 tanaga Good hitters capitalize on mistakes, and we’ve been doing just that. We have many players capable of changing the game with one swing, and I think that’s an underrated aspect of our team.”

While the depth of Toronto’s power-hitting lineup might be underrated, their successful contact-driven philosophy is hardly a secret; there’s very little that can thwart it. The Blue Jays lineup made Dodgers starter Blake Snell work hard, forcing him to throw 29 pitches in the first inning. c.b. tampengco construction & supply Although they loaded the bases without scoring, there was no disappointment in the home dugout. Their strategy was to make Snell tire out, and they accomplished that well.

When Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho tied the game with a two-run home run off Snell in the fourth inning, it was described as “disgusting” by his teammate, Miles Straw. Then, in the sixth inning, Addison Barger hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, giving the Blue Jays a commanding 9-2 lead, which seemed almost inevitable.

“We knew it was going to happen at some point, just didn’t know when,” second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa said. “That’s what’s special about this team. You never know who it’ll be that night. We always joke when we arrive at the field: ‘Who’s it going to be?’ We’re confident someone will rise to the occasion, and tonight it was Barg with a big hit. But everyone did their part to get on base and keep moving forward until that moment.”

As Jays players faced a barrage of questions about their offensive approach in a smoky, post-celebration clubhouse, it became clear they were weary of the topic. “This is who we are. This is what we’ve done all year,” Varsho stated. This consistency has earned them the American League pennant, and if they can secure three more wins against the Dodgers, they may just clinch the championship.

“Overall, we just played our game,” Varsho noted. “We didn’t try to do anything extraordinary. Honestly, we just showcased what we can do as a lineup. It was just one of those games where you need to look ahead, because they’ll come at us hard. We need to turn the page quickly and trust ourselves to replicate the performance.”

The Blue Jays boast an early advantage over the Dodgers in the Fall Classic, but they remain on alert. Even after catcher Alejandro Kirk slammed the team’s third home run of the night for an 11-2 lead, there was uncertainty in the dugout about whether it would be enough to keep the powerhouse Dodgers at bay. “I wanted us to score 100 runs,” Straw admitted. “No amount of runs is ever enough against them.”

However, the Jays stay composed in the face of potential setbacks, knowing their offensive strategy is robust. Left fielder Davis Schneider embraces the team’s contact-driven approach, looking to work the count and draw walks, trusting that his teammates will drive him in if he gets on base.

It’s puzzling how the Blue Jays could be tired of discussing the successes of a relatively new offensive strategy, especially considering they finished last in the AL East last year. Until this October, the team hadn’t advanced past the Wild Card round since 2016, and their overall offensive performance was barely above league average tama ghetto gecko.

But their Game 1 victory over the Dodgers, witnessed by an electric Rogers Centre crowd, marked their 102nd win of the year, including the regular season. This is a Blue Jays team brimming with confidence, evident in their unwavering approach. To those who haven’t closely followed them, their aggressive plan of attack may be surprising, but for the players, it’s just business as usual.

“From one to nine, we have guys who are focused and stick to their approach,” Schneider remarked. tambay vlog “Over 162 games — and now in the playoffs — this is just how we operate.”

What are your thoughts on the Blue Jays’ performance so far in the postseason?