Blue Jays Defeat Dodgers in Game 5, Lead World Series 3-2

The Toronto Blue Jays just grabbed a 3-2 lead in the 2025 World Series, thanks to a convincing 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5. That puts them a single victory away from their first World Series title since 1993.

Rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage took the mound and turned in a performance that left the Dodgers’ lineup looking lost. With Game 6 heading back to Toronto, something big feels like it’s coming. Let’s look at what really stood out in this pivotal game.

The Rise of Trey Yesavage

Trey Yesavage’s journey from college ball to the World Series has been wild. In Game 5, the 22-year-old rookie absolutely dominated—he pitched seven innings, struck out 12, and gave up only three hits.

His slider and splitter just baffled Dodgers hitters. They kept swinging and missing, unable to figure him out.

Historic Achievements

Yesavage did more than just help the Blue Jays win—he made history. He became the first rookie since Don Newcombe to rack up double-digit strikeouts in a World Series game.

He also joined Sandy Koufax by striking out at least 10 batters in the first five innings of a World Series game. And he broke Smoky Joe Wood’s record for most World Series strikeouts by a pitcher age 22 or younger.

• 12 strikeouts in seven innings
• 23 swings-and-misses, with 14 on the slider and eight called strikes on the splitter
• First rookie since Don Newcombe to achieve double-digit strikeouts in a World Series game

Blue Jays’ Offensive Firepower

The Blue Jays’ bats got going immediately, setting a tone that felt historic. Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ starter and two-time Cy Young winner, looked rattled from the start.

Back-to-Back Homers

For the first time in World Series history, a team opened a game with back-to-back home runs. Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each homered on Snell’s first three pitches, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead before some fans had even settled in.

That aggressive start forced Snell to scramble, but the damage was done.

• First time in World Series history that a team started a game with back-to-back homers
• Snell’s first pitch: 373-foot home run by Davis Schneider
• Snell’s third pitch: 394-foot home run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Capitalizing on Mistakes

The Blue Jays didn’t let up. In the fourth, Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández misplayed a fly ball into a leadoff triple, and that mistake led to another run for Toronto.

They tacked on two more runs off the Dodgers’ bullpen in the seventh, stretching the lead even further.

Dodgers’ Struggles

The Dodgers’ lineup has struggled all postseason, and Game 5 was more of the same. The top four hitters combined to go 1-for-15 with eight strikeouts.

Mookie Betts, especially, can’t seem to get going—he went 0-for-4 in Game 5 and is now 3-for-23 in the series.

Lineup Adjustments

Manager Dave Roberts tried to shake things up by moving Will Smith ahead of Betts in the order. Honestly, it didn’t help.

The Dodgers just haven’t been able to string together anything on offense. Their power bats haven’t bailed them out, and the runs just aren’t coming.

• Mookie Betts: 0-for-4 in Game 5, 3-for-23 in the World Series
• Freddie Freeman: Three strikeouts in Game 5
• Top four hitters: Combined 1-for-15 with eight strikeouts

Looking Ahead to Game 6

Next up is Game 6 in Toronto. The Blue Jays are just one win away from the title.

The pitching matchup will be a rematch: Yoshinobu Yamamoto versus Kevin Gausman. In Game 2, Yamamoto threw the first World Series complete game in a decade—pretty wild stuff.

Pitching Matchup

Yamamoto’s been nearly untouchable this postseason, with a 1.57 ERA over four starts. Gausman has a 2.55 ERA in October and pitched into the seventh in Game 2, even though he took the loss.

The Blue Jays will try to crack Yamamoto this time, while the Dodgers need their bats to finally wake up if they want a Game 7.