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Trey Yesavage didn’t have enough time to develop a reputation in the regular season. After all, he only pitched three games in the final two weeks of the season. Not many really knew of Yesavage until the postseason, when he burst onto the scene and, with one glitch, hasn’t stopped. Now, the rookie has the Toronto Blue Jays on the verge of their first title in 32 years.
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World Series Wrapup
Yes, Savage: Rookie’s 12 K’s Put Jays 1 Win From Title
Just how incredible has Trey Yesavage’s improbable run this season been? Consider that Wednesday was his 46th day in the majors. Game 5 of the World Series was his fifth postseason start and second of the Fall Classic. But he looked like an experienced record instead of a rookie in his ninth MLB game. Yesavage set a World Series rookie record with 12 strikeouts, while Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened the game with back-to-back homers as the Jays pulled away from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 6-1 triumph at Dodger Stadium that gave them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Just two days ago, many seemed to think were on the verge of death after losing in 18 innings. But the Jays have looked fresh en route to two decisive road wins and now stand one victory away from their third World Series championship in as many appearances, having gone back-to-back in 1992 and ’93. The Dodgers are trying to become the first repeat champion since the New York Yankees won three in a row (1998-2000), but now face having to win two straight in Toronto if they want to make that happen.
By now, everyone knows Yesavage’s story. He played for Low Class A Dunedin, High Class A Vancouver, Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo before the 22-year-old, who was the 20th overall pick in last year’s draft, made his MLB debut Sept. 15. All but one of his five postseason starts has been outstanding, with the first and last ones standing out. In the first one, he struck out a Jays rookie-record 11 in 5⅓ no-hit innings to beat the Yankees in Game 2 of the AL Division Series. In the last, Game 5 of the World Series, not only did he strike out 12, he became the first rookie in World Series history to strike out five in a row. Yesavage allowed just one run on three hits and no walks in one of the better pitching performances by a rookie in the World Series. He is the first pitcher in World Series history with no walks and 12 strikeouts.
“Hollywood couldn’t have made it this good,” Yesavage said.
And Hollywood probably couldn’t have come up with a much better start for the Jays. Schneider, only starting because of a left-handed starting pitcher and only leading off because of George Springer’s injury, hit the very first pitch of the game from Dodgers starter Blake Snell for a 373-foot homer to left. It was the first time in the World Series the Jays had scored first. Two pitches later, Guerrero homered for the second day in a row, blasting a Snell four-seamer 394 feet also to left. Three pitches in and the Jays were up 2-0. That lasted until the bottom of the third inning, when Yesavage made his lone mistake and Enrique Hernández turned around a 2-1 four-seamer up in the zone for a solo homer to slice the Dodgers’ deficit in half.
The Jays got that run back in the top of the fourth when Daulton Varsho tripled and scored on an Ernie Clement sacrifice fly. With Yesavage still dealing, the Jays added two runs in the top of the seventh. Addison Barger hit a leadoff single, Andrés Giménez drew a one-out walk and Barger took third on Snell’s second wild pitch of the inning. Snell struck out Schneider, but wasn’t allowed to face Guerrero again, getting pulled after 116 pitches in favor of Edgardo Henriquez. Guerrero walked on a 3-2 pitch, but Barger scored as ball four was a wild pitch to make it 4-1. Bo Bichette’s opposite-field single scored Gimenez and the Jays were up 5-1. In the eighth, Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s RBI single made it 6-1.
Right-handers Seranthony Domínguez and Jeff Hoffman closed out the eighth and ninth innings to put the Jays in the driver’s seat for a championship. To do so, they will have to go through the hottest pitcher in the postseason — yes, hotter than Yesavage — in Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who will hope to keep L.A.’s season alive. All Yamamoto has done was pitch back-to-back complete games in his last two starts, including the 5-1 win in Game 2. Yamamoto has allowed five runs in 28⅔ innings in five postseason starts this year. He will be opposed by Kevin Gausman, who will look to give the Jays their third title and first in 32 years.
Daulton Varsho leads off the fourth inning with a triple that gets by a sliding Teoscar Hernandez!
— Talkin’ Baseball (Bot) (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T01:08:43.000Z
KEEP IT BO-ING! #WANTITALL
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T02:23:53.000Z
IsiahKindaF…puts the ball in play
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T02:44:18.000Z
NO ROOKIE IN #WORLDSERIES HISTORY HAS MORE STRIKEOUTS IN A SINGLE GAME THAN TREY YESAVAGE!
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T02:33:59.000Z
Each of Trey Yesavage's World Series rookie record 12 strikeouts
— Talkin’ Baseball (Bot) (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T02:39:01.000Z
By The Numbers
⚾ Trey Yesavage became the third pitcher in World Series history to strike out all nine players in the starting lineup. He joins Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 in 1968 and Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 6 of 2001.
⚾ At 22 years, 93 days, Yesavage became the youngest player in World Series history with 10 or more strikeouts.
⚾ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement became the first teammates in MLB postseason history to each get 25 hits in a single postseason.
Bash Brothers 💥 #WANTITALL
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T02:48:06.000Z
⚾ There have been no saves thus far in the World Series, the first time since 1977 that none have been recorded in the first five games.
Around The World Series
Ohtani In Relief?
Shohei Ohtani has done a lot of incredible things for the Dodgers this season. With the team’s back against the wall, the two-way superstar has offered to come out of the bullpen in Game 6 or, if necessary, Game 7. It would be Ohtani’s first MLB relief appearance if it does happen. While Ohtani, who pitched six-plus innings in Game 4, told Japanese media he would be ready, manager Dave Roberts only said before Game 5, “We’ll see.” Roberts had yet to broach the topic with Ohtani.
Springer Still Out
Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer went through several drills, running and hitting, in hopes of returning in some fashion in Game 6 or 7. Springer left Game 3 after fouling a pitch off with what is being called right oblique discomfort. He was not in the lineup for Games 4 or 5, although manager John Schneider opened the door to a potential pinch-hitting or pinch-running appearance for Game 5. His services were not required.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Glovely Jays
The Jays turned in a few standout defensive plays.
We GLOVE outfield defence
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T02:03:02.000Z
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T02:57:40.000Z
Goodbye, Dodger Stadium
Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who is retiring after this season, said his goodbye to fans and took a moment on the mound after the game, the final one at Dodger Stadium this year.
Hang It In The Louvre
No words needed.
Yesavage has to frame this one
— Talkin’ Baseball (Bot) (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T03:03:04.000Z
Noteworthy News
Ex-Pirate Shelton Set To Manager Twins
Derek Shelton is returning to the Minnesota Twins to manage a team in the midst of a rebuild. Several reports said Shelton, fired by the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 8, will come back to the Twins, the team he left to manage the Pirates before the 2020 season. Shelton was the bench coach his final two seasons in Minnesota. The Twins fired Rocco Baldelli the day after completing a 70-92 season, which left them in fourth place in the AL Central. Shelton was fired by the Pirates after a 12-26 start and 306-440 in five-plus seasons.
Articles You Should Read
What’s happening on this baseball card? 3rd time a charm for Varsho — Dave Brown, Pitcher List
Don’t blame the Dodgers for ruining baseball — Abbey Mastrocco, New York Daily News
Bichette’s second chapter has been a hit so far — Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs
For some Latinos, ICE raids test their Dodgers faith. Can World Series bring them back? — Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times
New Orioles manager Albernaz built career on “passion” on foundation laid in Massachusetts — Tim Healey, Boston Globe
Why Brewers RHP DeBerry is a potential 2026 sleeper — Geoff Pontes, Baseball America
Twins’ biggest offseason needs: 3 glaring roster weaknesses that need outside help — Aaron Gleeman, The Athletic
Pitcher List Fantasy Baseball Coverage
10 dynasty takeaways from 2025: Second base — Matt Heckman
