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Trey Yesavage has become a hero in Toronto.
The Blue Jays rookie sensation made World Series history by striking out 12 Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5, the most ever by a rookie in the Fall Classic.
With the help of his devastating splitter, the Blue Jays are now one win away from their first title since 1993 after winning 6-1 before returning home for the potential final game of the season.
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Starting pitcher Trey Yesavage of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after leading Tommy Edman (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers into throwing an inning-ending double play during the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
The Blue Jays released a graphic highlighting Yesavage’s historic numbers, and his girlfriend, Taylor Frick, liked it, according to the New York Post.
Sharing him in her story, she wrote, “crying.”
In another post, she added: “Best day ever!!!”
Going into the postseason, Yesavage only had 13 MLB innings under his belt. But he struck out 11 New York Yankees in 5.1 hitless innings in the American League Division Series. After a failure where he allowed five earned runs in 4.0 frames against the Seattle Mariners, he has since allowed the same number of runs in his last three starts, in which he has accumulated 16.2 innings.
Davis Schneider threw the first pitch he saw over the fence to immediately set the tone for Toronto. Then, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s postseason dream continued as he hit his eighth postseason home run to make it 2-0 in favor of the road team in this crucial Game 5.
Trey Yesavage of the Toronto Blue Jays faces the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of Game 5 of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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At the end of the third, Yesavage’s only blemish of the game came on a 2-0 count against Enrique Hernandez, who did not flinch against a splitter in the zone. He turned around and parked it, as the baseball flew over the left-field fence and energized the Dodger Stadium crowd that had been lifeless since Guerrero’s homer.
But it didn’t last long, as the Blue Jays responded in the next frame. Teoscar Hernandez overplayed a Daulton Varsho hit to right field, and it cost him as Varsho sprinted to third base. Ernie Clement hit a sacrifice fly to score it and regain the two-run lead.
As Yesavage continued to cruise, the Blue Jays built the gap needed to earn the victory in the top of the seventh when Addison Barger scored on a single and three wild pitches, while Bo Bichette hit Andres Gimenez on a single to make it a 5-1 game. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s single in the top of the eighth was added insurance as Clement came in to score.
After Yesavage’s night was over, Blue Jays manager John Schneider went to Seranthony Dominguez and hooked up with Jeff Hoffman to close the door in Game 5.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers, last year’s World Series winners, have their backs against the wall. They’ll need to win the next two games to retain their title, and they’ll have the perfect man on the mound to do so.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is aiming for his third consecutive complete game, as he was a much-needed leader in the Game 2 victory for Los Angeles. He will face Kevin Gausman, who had an excellent performance until giving up a few solo homers in the second game in Toronto.
Trey Yesavage of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after a double play to end the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
First pitch of Game 6 will take place on Halloween night in Toronto at 8:08 p.m. ET.
