LOS ANGELES – Bring on the best-of-three.
You’d have a hard time convincing the people who just played 27 innings in 27 hours, but the World Series basically starts anew with Game 5 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.
After the Blue Jays shook off 18 innings of frustration with a 6-2 victory in Game 4, the Toronto team seeking its franchise’s first title since 1993 and the Dodgers team looking to repeat are all evened up at two wins apiece.
The Blue Jays didn’t just win Game 4; they reclaimed their home-field advantage, with Game 6 in Rogers Centre on Friday now assured and a potential Game 7 on Saturday also taking place on Canadian turf.
When a best-of-seven postseason series with the current 2-3-2 format has been tied after four games, the team playing Game 5 on the road – before returning home for Games 6-7 – has gone on to win that series 35 of 61 times (57.4%).
Meanwhile, in any best-of-seven series tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner also has won the series 46 of 68 times (67.6%).
Just like when this Series really was new – way back last Friday – it’ll be Dodgers lefty Blake Snell opposing Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage in Game 5. Neither pitcher had his best stuff in that one, but both have stepped up previously on this postseason stage.
“I’m thankful for the first start and what I was able to learn and how much better I got from that,” said Snell, who gave up five runs in five-plus innings in Game 1. “Beyond excited that I have another opportunity to really display the kind of pitcher that I am and that I’m striving to be.”
Yesavage, who will be making just his eighth MLB start, said he’s proud the Jays have such confidence in him.
“It’s massive,” he said. “Being a rookie that’s 22 years old and having that weight put on your shoulders, it’s a big deal. But everyone in this clubhouse has my back.”
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 5 is Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/5 PT on FOX.
All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Blue Jays: RHP Trey Yesavage (1-0, 3.21 ERA)
The rookie sensation just keeps getting thrown into the biggest games of the season, so how about the biggest Blue Jays game since 1993? Yesavage, who started the season in Single-A, now has an opportunity to pitch the Blue Jays to within one win of a World Series title, and he’ll get the challenge of not only the Dodgers, but the Dodger Stadium crowd in his first road start of this postseason. Last time out, Yesavage allowed two runs over four innings with five strikeouts. He walked three batters, though, which he needs to limit against a lineup that can break a game open at any time.
Dodgers: LHP Blake Snell (5-4, 2.35 ERA)
Snell will get another crack at the Blue Jays after they handed him his worst start of this postseason, tagging him for five runs in five-plus innings in Game 1 at Rogers Centre. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was dominant in three prior starts, holding opponents to two runs in 21 innings (0.86 ERA) with 28 strikeouts against five walks and six hits. After joining the Dodgers on a five-year, $182 million deal this past offseason, Snell missed four months with a shoulder injury but rounded into his best form at the right time upon his return.
What might the starting lineups look like?
Blue Jays: This all depends on George Springer, who left Game 3 with right side discomfort and was held out of Game 4. It’s notable that the Blue Jays didn’t make a roster move, so they’re still hoping Springer could be an option for them at some point, but that still feels likelier in Game 6 after the off-day. Facing a lefty in Snell, here’s how it could look:
Dodgers: When they first faced Yesavage at Rogers Centre, the Dodgers put together some decent at-bats early in the game, so they could use a similar starting nine for Game 1. But manager Dave Roberts indicated that it could look “a little bit different,” which could mean that he finds a way to get Alex Call or Miguel Rojas into the lineup in place of the struggling Andy Pages.
How will the bullpens line up after the starters?
Blue Jays: Thanks to Shane Bieber, this bullpen feels like it’s back to “normal” again — or as close to normal as it could be after Monday’s 18-inning game. By opening up their lead in the seventh inning, the Blue Jays were able to avoid using key arms like Seranthony Domínguez and Jeff Hoffman. Louis Varland pitched again, but given that he’s pitched in nearly every game this postseason, he’s the one reliever the Blue Jays would be open to pitching three days in a row if Game 5 calls for it. There will still be some gassed relievers like Mason Fluharty and Chris Bassitt, who have pitched back-to-back games, but the Blue Jays have to be extremely pleased with Tuesday night allowing them to hit the “reset” button.
Dodgers: Anthony Banda, Blake Treinen and Jack Dreyer all pitched on back-to-back days, so they could be unavailable for Game 5. The Dodgers were able to stay away from their highest-leverage arm in Roki Sasaki, who has emerged as the closer after dominating since his shift to the ‘pen. The Dodgers expect to be without Alex Vesia for the World Series as he and his wife handle what the team described as a “deeply personal family matter.”
Any injuries of note?
Blue Jays: Springer left Game 3 with “right side tightness” and was left out of the Game 4 lineup, but the Blue Jays are keeping him on the World Series roster in case he’s able to return. Toronto manager John Schneider is hopeful that could be in Game 5, but if not, Springer will get the off-day before Game 6 to take another run at this.
Bichette’s left knee sprain had been looming over this team, but he was activated for the World Series and has played in each game. Game 3 saw him exit after a seventh-inning single, which seems to be the strategy. If the Blue Jays are leading, he’s removed late for defense. When they’ve been winning, he’s been lifted after reaching base late in the game.
Dodgers: Smith, who is dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand, returned to the starting lineup during the NLDS and hasn’t missed a start since.
Edman continues to manage his right ankle, which landed him on the injured list twice this year. Reliever Tanner Scott was not included on the World Series roster as he continues to recover from a lower body abscess procedure.
Who is hot and who is not?
Blue Jays: Guerrero launched his seventh home run of this postseason, off Ohtani in Game 4, giving him the Blue Jays record for the most career home runs in the postseason (Joe Carter and José Bautista each had six). Another encouraging sign from Game 3 was Bichette, who turned on a pitch and drove it over the left fielder’s head for an RBI single. Clement is fresh off another two-hit game and batting .393, while Kirk is enjoying a great postseason run, too. The Blue Jays have players capable of covering for the absence of Springer. It won’t be easy, but the Blue Jays will need these performances up and down their lineup and could benefit from playing some platoon matchups against Snell, including lefty masher Davis Schneider.
Dodgers: Although Ohtani was unstoppable in Game 3, he went hitless with a walk in Game 4. Freeman has also gained some momentum with back-to-back two-hit games. Pages went hitless again and is hitting .080 overall, which could lead to Roberts leaving him out of the starting lineup for the first time this postseason.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• This is the Blue Jays’ first trip to the World Series since 1993.
• Springer won the 2017 World Series MVP Award at Dodger Stadium. He launched five home runs in that Series and had some of the biggest moments of his young career on this field, including a three-run homer in Game 7.
• Ohtani tied Corey Seager’s franchise record set in 2020 for the most homers in a single postseason with his eighth in Game 3.
