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Trey Yesavage’s final start of a wild 2025 season, which began with a single-A ball to start his second World Series game for the Toronto Blue Jays, ends with a crucial masterpiece.
Yesavage, the 22-year-old who worked his way through the Blue Jays’ minor league system to finally cement himself as a key member of this postseason run, delivered a seven-inning masterclass on the mound at Dodger Stadium to help Toronto defeat Los Angeles, 6-1, in Game 5 of the World Series.
Thanks to Yesavage’s efforts and some more timely hitting from this Blue Jays lineup, Toronto heads back north with just one more win needed to clinch the World Series.
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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)
Yesavage struck out 12 Dodgers batters and allowed just three hits and one earned run over a 104-pitch performance that saw 10 of those strikeouts over the first five innings of the contest.
The only other person to do this in MLB history? Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax, who was right behind home plate watching Game 5 at Dodger Stadium.
In Game 1, Yesavage didn’t have his go-to pitch, a high-drop splitter, which forced him to use his slider more often than he was used to. As a result, he was drafted by the Dodgers, although the Blue Jays’ own offensive attack resulted in a victory in the home opener.
This time, Yesavage had perfect contact with the pitch and the Dodgers couldn’t figure him out like the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners before them in the postseason. Additionally, the slider was quite complementary with his mid-90s fastball keeping hitters honest at the plate.
THE BLUE JAYS REBOUND AGAINST THE DODGERS FOR ALSO THE WORLD SERIES AFTER AN EXTRA-ROUND MARATHON
And it also helped Yesavage get some early insurance on the scoreboard as his opponent, Blake Snell, allowed two solo homers on the first three pitches of the game.
First, it was Davis Schneider who 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 home run in October to make it 2-0 in favor of the road team in this crucial Game 5.
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.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of Game 5 of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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 dearly, as Varsho sprinted to third base. Ernie Clement hit a sacrifice fly to score 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 ball game. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s single in the top of the eighth was added insurance, as Clément came to score.
Once 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, and that’s exactly what they did to give themselves two chances to win the franchise’s first World Series since 1993.
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.
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)
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.
First pitch of Game 6 will take place on Halloween night in Toronto at 8:08 p.m. ET.
