A champion could be crowned Friday night while your kids are out trick or treating, with the Blue Jays at home holding a 3-2 series lead. The Dodgers (-140) enter as the favorites, however, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound, opposed by Kevin Gausman. We've got a pretty standard 7.5 run total.
Yamamoto has been nothing short of brilliant, and is off two consecutive complete games, allowing one run in each, fanning 15 while inducing 27 ground balls and allowing just seven hits. If there's any concern, it's possibly the 216 pitches he's thrown. Toronto counters with Kevin Gausman, who's been serviceable but not elite. He allowed two homers in Game 2 and is up to four across 24.2 postseason frames. He's a fly-ball guy (47 in the postseason) which is a risky proposition against this lineup.
Because of how the schedule has fallen, this is my fourth column for the World Series. If you've read the previous ones, you know I omit Shohei Ohtani ($21,900/$14,500) from the meat of this column. The price is massive, and that's simply a decision you have to make for yourself.
MVP
Will Smith, LAD at TOR ($14,400/$9,600)
We know who the obvious choices are for your multiplier, and with the Dodgers facing elimination, I think this slate sets up for an unsung hero type scenario to boost them if they're to win. Smith is a fair 4-for-13 (.308) off Gausman with a homer in Game 2, a double and four RBI overall. He's only got five hits in this series, however, but continues to maintain the valuable cleanup spot in the order, so if Mookie Betts and/or Freddie Freeman can do anything, he'll have chances to spark the offense.
Utility
Vladimir Guerrero, TOR vs. LAD ($18,900/$12,600)
This is the chalk I think you must eat, but not putting Guerrero in the MVP slot saves some money and could allow you to be a touch different in your builds. He's homered in consecutive games, has hit safely in 10 straight postseason outings and should win MVP if the Jays are triumphant. He had one of the Jays four hits off Yamamoto in Game 2.
Mookie Betts, LAD at TOR ($13,500/$9,000)
Yes, Betts has been borderline brutal in this series, all postseason and arguably for most of the regular season. We haven't seen a lot of price movement throughout this series, but Betts is an exception, as the form has the price in a decline. It's a similar thought to that of using Smith as your MVP in that I don't anticipate many trusting Betts, and I don't hate the thought of using him as your multiplier. He's 16-for-54 (.296) with three homers off Gausman.
Max Muncy, LAD at TOR ($11,100/$7,400)
Muncy just seems to see Gausman well. He's 7-for-21 (.333) with four homers, including a long ball in Game 2. He's only got three hits in the series and one RBI, but he has walked three times so he's possibly not a complete zero if he doesn't homer.
Ernie Clement, TOR vs. LAD ($7,800/$5,200)
When the World Series began, Clement and Tommy Edman ($8,400/$5,600) were heavily featureed in my columns as glue guys to your lineup; safe floors with minimal ceilings. Edman has faded, but Clement hasn't, so I'm a little surprised he's still priced so favorably. He's hit safely in 11 straight, collecting 16 total knocks. The matchup with Yamamoto and Clement's spot lower in the order aren't going to offer much potential, but he's priced so favorably, you can use him and stack the Dodgers throughout the rest of your build pretty easily.
Alex Call, LAD at TOR ($5,700/$3,800)
Call gets a mention simply because of potential opportunity. Andy Pages has been completely lost at the plate all postseason, and Call drew a Game 5 start as a result. Assuming that repeats, he's the cheapest option available to get potentially three or more plate appearances. Hitting ninth, if he gets on base, there's always the chance he comes around to score on an Ohtani homer, and if you're rostering Call, it's likely because you're MVP'ing Ohtani, making for an interesting mini-stack.
