THIS IS EPISODE 170 OF THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
Will Startup was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft. He played his college ball at the University of Georgia, for whom he pitched in the 2004 College World Series.
He was a minor league pitcher for 10 seasons from 2005-2014 with the Braves, Padres, Orioles and Tigers organizations. In 2006, Startup quickly moved through the minor league system and made it all the way to Triple-A Richmond. He did pitch in a major league spring training, but never made it to the big leagues and finished his pro career in 2014, pitching in one game for Triple-A Toledo (Detroit Tigers organization).
In Part 2 of this two-part episode of the podcast, Startup continues to share the emotional and powerful story of his son, Copeland. He also takes us to the moment in 2018, when he was finally able to make his Major League Baseball debut, but not in the way you think.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw holds the World Series trophy as Mookie Betts (right) and teammates celebrate, Nov. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
After cruising to the World Series championship a year ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers were favored all season long to repeat. But through eight innings in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series on Saturday night, their repeat bid looked to have come up short against the Toronto Blue Jays.
They trailed all night, and entered the final frame down 4-3. With one out in the top of the ninth, however, the ninth batter in L.A.’s lineup, Miguel Rojas, clubbed a game-tying home run to left field. The second baseman hadn’t collected a hit since Oct. 1, going hitless in his five previous games.
Overall, it’s the ninth world title for the Dodgers, moving them into third all time (behind the Yankees’ 27 championships, and the St. Louis Cardinals’ 11). They’ve won three of the last six World Series.
“The love that we have for each other in this clubhouse, in this organization, is something I’ve never been a part of,” Betts said after the game. “I love being a Dodger, I love each and every person in here, and it was on display today.”
Through the first five games against Toronto, the eight-time All-Star was hitting just 3-for-23. After Game 5, he told the media, “I’ve just been terrible.” But in the third inning of Game 6, Betts’ single to left drove in two runs, which proved to be the difference in the game and keep the Dodgers’ season alive. He didn’t get a hit Saturday in Game 7, but his lead-off walk in the sixth led to him scoring and cutting Toronto’s lead to one.
Then came the title-clinching double play. Betts made it look routine, but considering he’s spent most of his 12-year MLB career as an outfielder (six career Gold Gloves in right field), it was an impressive play.
“I was so nervous right there,” Betts told Fox Sports after the game. “I’ve never been in that situation. I was so nervous and as he was pitching the ball, I was talking to myself, saying, ‘Be nasty. Mook, just make a play. Be nasty. Be nasty.’ And the ball found me and I just kind of played. All the work in the back fields, it all came to fruition.”
Prior to the World Series, Betts was asked by CBN Sports about how God’s grace has been seen through the ups and downs in his life. He specifically mentioned his move to shortstop.
“Oh, it’s huge,” Betts said. “Just for me moving to short and then praying — a lot of prayers on wanting to be a successful shortstop, especially in His image. But He really just answered all the prayers. I mean, He answers everyone’s prayers as long as you have a relationship with Him, you talk to Him, you come to Him with everything, and I did and He’s definitely led me this far.”
The World Series win is the fourth for Betts, who was traded from the Boston Red Sox (where he won the title in 2018) to the Dodgers in February 2020. Later that year, he helped his new team win a championship for the first time in 32 years.
That title was the first for Dodgers pitching legend Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and 11-time All-Star who announced in September that he would retire after this season. He made only two postseason appearances — one being an eight-pitch relief effort in the 18-inning marathon that was Game 3 of the World Series — but earned his third championship ring nonetheless.
What a moment for Clayton Kershaw as he's reunited with his family following the final game of his career pic.twitter.com/n3vHhxhgYB
“My last thing is my favorite Bible verse. It’s: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as you’re working for the Lord, not for men.’ It’s Colossians. And that’s what I’ve tried to do. Just work at it. Just work at it and love it,” he said.
"Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as you're working for the Lord, not for men."
With Game 7 going into extra innings, Kershaw was called on to begin warming up in the bullpen. Had the game been extended any further, he could’ve added on to the 3,052 innings (including playoffs) he’d already pitched in his career. But he was more than happy to watch the Dodgers’ young stars close out the win.
“I don’t have words, I really don’t,” Kershaw told MLB Network after the game. “It’s the most unbelievable feeling ever to win another one with this group. … This is the perfect way. I couldn’t script this any better. I am so happy that this was my last game I will ever play.”
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING KENT JOHNSON & OWEN POWER
Owen Power is a defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres. He was selected first overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, and made his NHL debut on April 12, 2022, against Toronto.
Kent Johnson is a center for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was selected fifth overall in the same 2021 NHL Draft, and made his NHL debut April 13, 2022, against Montreal.
Power and Johnson were teammates in college at the University of Michigan.
Today on the podcast, Owen Power and Kent Johnson talk about their time together in college, being top-five picks in the same draft, growing in their faith in Jesus, and how they want to live out their faith through the platform of hockey.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING GOLDEN TATE
Golden Tate played 11 years in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He was selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by Seattle and was a member of the 2013-14 Seahawks Super Bowl-winning team. In 2014, he signed with the Lions and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Today on the podcast, Tate joins Matt Forte to discuss choosing the NFL over MLB, his experience at Notre Dame, growing in his relationship with Jesus, appearing on Fox’s “World’s Toughest Test,” and his favorite jersey swap story.
Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. celebrates during Game 3 of the ALCS, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The Toronto Blue Jays are headed back to the World Series for the first time since 1993, and star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a major reason why. The 26-year-old slugger was named MVP of the American League Championship Series after batting .385 with three home runs and three RBIs across seven games.
George Springer’s go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning of Game 7 propelled the Blue Jays to a come-from-behind, 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners, and Guerrero was noticeably emotional during the postgame celebration. He said he knew what it meant to him personally but also the Blue Jays fanbase and the entire country of Canada.
“We worked for this. We worked so hard,” Guerrero told Fox Sports after the game. “We did everything we could to win, and when you believe in God and pray for this, something like that happens. You’ve got to give the glory to God.”
After two batters reached base in the seventh, Springer came up to bat to keep the rally going. He told Fox after the game that he was just trying to get the runner from third home, but he connected for his 23rd career postseason home run to give the Blue Jays the lead and eventually the win.
With their season on the brink, Guerrero went into the clubhouse that inning and prayed.
“I went to my knees and I said to God, ‘If it’s something for us, I’m going to give You the glory. If not, I’m going to give You the glory no matter what,'” he told Fox. “And thank God, He listened to me, and in that inning George came in and hit a home run.”
It’s been a long road back to the top for the Blue Jays. Though they’ve been flushed with young talent for years, they had yet to break through in the tough AL East. Just a year ago, they finished in last place. But from the first day of spring training this season, Guerrero sensed something different.
“Everybody was doing early work. Everybody was grinding. Nobody complained,” he told Fox. “When you’ve got a team like that and nobody complains and they come and play with their hearts for the fanbase and the city, you’ve got to believe in this team.”
In April, Guerrero signed a 14-year, $500-million contract extension to stay with the Blue Jays. It was a massive commitment from the organization to one of the game’s brightest young stars. He said it feels good to immediately reward the organization for their belief in him.
“But like I said, the job’s not finished,” he told Fox. “We’ve got to go get four more.”
Former MLB star David Ortiz, who is a part of Fox’s commentary crew, noted that Guerrero’s family and faith in God have always been central to who he is as a player and a person, and he asked Guerrero about that during the postgame interview.
“For us, God is great. God is important in my life,” Guerrero said. “We prayed for this moment. I don’t have words to explain how I feel right now. Thank God we did it, and we’re going to go for four more.”
Prior to the 2024 All-Star Game, Guerrero told CBN Sports, “For me, Jesus Christ is everything. I read the Bible before every game, when I wake up. I pray and read the Bible before bed.”
“Dreams come true,” he said then. “Since I was a kid I’ve always been thinking about this moment. I’ve worked all my life, very hard, and thank God it’s happening now.”
Faith is more than words for Guerrero — it’s also a visible part of his game. According to a 2021 ESPN.com story, every time he steps to the plate, he writes “DIOS” — the Spanish word for “God” — in the dirt. His social media bios on X and Instagram list Psalm 121, which begins, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Now, he’s ready to make his dream of winning a World Series come true.
“We’re trying to go to the World Series and win it all,” he told Fox. “We prayed for this. The country is behind us, and we’re trying to bring the World Series back to Toronto.”
Game 1 of the World Series between the Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers begins Friday in Toronto at 8 p.m. ET.
