Why the Blue Jays' unique approach still is no match for Dodgers in World Series

In the ALCS, the Mariners mostly lived or died by the home run from the top four or five hitters in their lineup, but the Blue Jays ultimately pulled ahead because they were just better at putting the ball in play and keeping the line moving. Both teams hit the same amount of homers coming out of that series, but Seattle only scored 49 runs and Toronto scored 71 — and with 21 fewer at-bats.

That was the Jays' MO in the regular season, too. They were outside the top 10 in homers, tied with the Orioles and Twins for 11th with 191 home runs on the season, but they led baseball in team batting average and OBP.

They have power threats in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, but they also have guys like Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes, and Addison Barger, who are simply tough outs. The Blue Jays also struck out less often than the Mariners by over 50%, and had the second-fewest strikeouts of any team in baseball during the regular season.

That poses a real threat to the Dodgers in the World Series — or does it? LA's division rival Padres and Diamondbacks didn't strike out much either and landed in the top 10 for team OBP, but the Diamondbacks didn't make the postseason and the Padres were banished in the Wild Card. The Brewers finished the season with a collective OBP just a single point behind the Blue Jays and struck out the fifth-least of any team in baseball, and the Dodgers still swept them in the NLCS.

Dodgers' postseason opponents have been no match for LA's pitching, despite high contact numbers

It's a testament to the Dodgers' rotation who, apart from Yoshinobu Yamamoto's one shaky start against the Phillies in the NLCS, have completely confounded opposing batters. The Dodgers' pitching staff racked up 41 strikeouts in four games against the Brewers; Milwaukee's vaunted offense only struck out 34 times in five games against the Cubs in the NLDS.

In Yamamoto's complete game against Milwaukee, he only struck out seven hitters and the Brewers made a little contact — but almost always straight into the glove of an awaiting infielder.

If the starters can keep that up, and keep getting as far into games as they've gotten so far, the Blue Jays don't stand a chance. It's not a total 1:1 comparison, as Toronto has far more power threats in the lineup than the Brewers did, but it's certainly a good sign for LA.