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Trey Yesavage’s latest start to a wild 2025 season, which began in Single-A until pitching his second World Series game for the Toronto Blue Jays, ends with a pivotal masterpiece.
Yesavage, the 22-year-old who worked his way through the Blue Jays’ minor league system to eventually establish himself as a key member of this postseason, provided 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 the efforts of Yesavage and some more timely hits from this Blue Jays lineup, Toronto heads back north with just one more win needed to win the World Series.
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Trey Yesavage of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of Game 5 of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Ronald Martínez/Getty Images)
Yesavage struck out 12 Dodgers batters and allowed just three hits and one earned run in a 104-pitch performance in which 10 of those strikeouts came in the first five innings of the contest.
The only other person to do that in MLB history? Dodger legend Sandy Koufax, who was right behind home plate watching Game 5 at Dodger Stadium.
In Game 1, Yesavage didn’t have his usual pitch, a sharp-drop splitter, forcing him to use his slider more often than he was used to. As a result, the Dodgers tweaked it, although the Blue Jays’ offensive attack resulted in a Game 1 victory at home.
This time, Yesavage had the perfect bunt with the pitch and the Dodgers couldn’t figure it out like the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners before them this postseason. Additionally, the slider was quite complementary to his mid-90s fastball, keeping hitters honest at the plate.
THE BLUE JAYS REPEAT AGAINST THE DODGERS TO BALANCE THE WORLD SERIES AFTER THE EXTRA INNINGS MARATHON
And it also helped that Yesavage had quick insurance on the scoreboard as his opponent, Blake Snell, allowed two solo home runs on the first three pitches of the game.
First, it was Davis Schneider who hit the first pitch he saw over the fence to immediately set the tone for Toronto. Then, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s dream postseason continued when he hit his eighth home run this October to make the score 2-0 in favor of the visiting team in this crucial Game 5.
In the bottom of the third, the only blemish on Yesavage’s game came in a 2-0 count for Enrique Hernández, who was unfazed by a splitter in the zone. He turned and parked it, as the ball sailed over the left-field fence and revitalized the Dodger Stadium crowd that had been lifeless since Guerrero’s home run.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of game five 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 Hernández beat a Daulton Varsho hit to right field, and it cost him, as Varsho ran to third base. Ernie Clement would hit a sacrifice fly to score it and regain the two-run lead.
As Yesavage continued to advance, the Blue Jays widened the gap needed to take the win in the top of the seventh when Addison Barger scored on a single and three wild pitches, while Bo Bichette singled off Andrés Giménez to make the game 5-1. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s single in the top of the eighth was additional insurance, as Clement stepped up to score.
With Yesavage’s night complete, Blue Jays manager John Schneider turned to Seranthony Dominguez and closer Jeff Hoffman to close the door on Game 5, and that’s exactly what they did to give themselves two chances to clinch the franchise’s first World Series since 1993.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers, winners of last year’s World Series, have their backs against the wall. They will need to win the next two games to retain their title and they will have the right man on the mound to do it.
Trey Yesavage of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after a double play to end the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is looking for his third straight complete game, as he was a much-needed leader in the Game 2 victory for Los Angeles. He will face Kevin Gausman, who had a great performance until allowing some solo home runs in Game 2 in Toronto.
First pitch for Game 6 will take place on Halloween night in Toronto at 8:08 pm ET.
