The rise of the splitter over the past half a decade -- fueled by the emergence of elite pitching from Japan, where the the offering is a standard part of nearly every pitcher's arsenal, and the softening on its use by MLB teams that at one point had forbid the pitch,

George Springer didn't play vs. the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, even though Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated he could be available off the bench.