When Blake Snell rejoined the Dodgers following the birth of his second child in August, his return to action had all the ordinary hallmarks.In truth, his time away from the team was anything but joyous.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-time Cy Young Award winner detailed a brutal illness that forced a hospital stay.

As Blake Snell got hot in September, so did the rest of the Dodgers' resurgent rotation. The momentum has carried the team to the brink of a second consecutive World Series title.

MILWAUKEE — About 18 months ago, as a first-time free agent, Blake Snell could not find a job. More accurately, he could not find an MLB team willing to give him a job on terms he felt his résumé and abilities warranted — which is different, of course.

On Tuesday before the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider called Springer "hour to hour" before he was eventually left out of the lineup. With Springer sitting, Bo Bichette slid into the DH spot while Isiah Kiner-Falefa played second base. The new leadoff hitter was Nathan Lukes.

Two pitches later, it was Vladimir Guerrero Jr's turn. Guerrero watched a first-pitch fastball from Snell go over the plate for strike. He took a swing at the second, and deposited the ball not far from where Schneider's landed over the left-field wall.