Toronto Blue Jays: Former players have eyes set on World Series glory

The winner of Game 7 between the Dodgers and Astros will determine which former Toronto Blue Jays win their first World Series ring.

As Game 7 of the World Series looms between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, the Toronto Blue Jays will be well represented by former players and a former front office executive.

Followijng a season plagued with injuries, the disappointment of missing the playoffs after back-to-back ALCS appearances and rumblings of a full team rebuild, it’s been a year to forget for Blue Jays fans.

But for those still wanting to see how the 2017 MLB season ends or still looking for a team to root for, there are a handful of former Toronto Blue Jays chasing their first World Series ring on both teams.

On the mound for the Dodgers the Blue Jays are represented by former pitcher Brandon Morrow, who has settled in as Los Angeles’ setup man for closer Kenley Jansen.

Morrow spent five seasons with the Blue Jays as a starting pitcher from 2010-2014, where he constantly battled injuries to his arm and hand. During his time in Toronto Morrow, had a 34-31 record with a 4.40 earned run average, four complete games and four shutouts.

After being released by the Toronto Blue Jays Morrow spent two years with the San Diego Padres, before signing a minor league contract with the Dodgers in January.

During the regular season the 11-year veteran shined with his new team, sporting a perfect 6-0 record with a 2.06 earned run average and two saves.

Morrow has appeared in 12 of the Dodgers’ 14 playoff games, striking out 10 batters with a 4.38 earned run average.

In the Dodgers; front office, their vice-president of baseball operations is none other than former beloved Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos.

After spending thirteen years in Toronto where he put together a team that came so close to reaching the World Series the last two seasons, Anthopoulos decided not to be a part of a front office led by Mark Shapiro and rejected a contract extension from the team.

Anthopoulos signed with the Dodgers in January and became part of an organization that won 104 games this season, the most wins since the team moved from Brooklyn in 1958.

For Houston, Francisco Liriano and Joe Musgrove represent the Toronto Blue Jays as members of the Astros’ bullpen.

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Liriano was traded to the Blue Jays from the Pittsburgh Pirates during last year’s trade deadline as part of their playoff push, appearing in two playoff games. As a member of the Blue Jays, Liriano had an 8-7 record with a 4.77 earned run average.

The Blue Jays then traded the 13-year veteran to Houston in July for outfielders Nori Aoki and Teoscar Hernández. As a relief pitcher for the Astros, he had a 4.40 earned run average with 11 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched in the regular season.

During the playoffs, Liriano recorded the loss for Game 3 of the ALDS and has a 4.50 earned run average in four games.

Musgrove was drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2011 draft and was traded to the Astros in 2012, as part of the trade that brought J.A. Happ to Toronto.

In 38 regular season games Musgrove went 7-8 with a 4.77 earned run average and two saves.

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During the playoffs Musgrove has appeared in three games, earning the win in Game 6 of the World Series. He has an earned run average of 7.94.

Game 7 of the World Series starts at 8:00 p.m. ET Wednesday night, in Los Angeles.