2025 World Series Game 5: Analysis as Blue Jays drop Dodgers

One. Win. Far.

As the 2025 World Series returns to Canada for Game 6 on Friday, the Toronto Blue Jays need just one more win to clinch the Fall Classic.

Behind back-to-back homers from Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to start the game – the first time that has happened in World Series history – and a masterful pitching performance from record-setting rookie Trey Yesavage, they beat the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead.

Here’s how the Blue Jays’ victory unfolded, with our in-game analysis and post-game takeaways.

Key links: World Series schedule, results

Takeaways

Blue Jays lead series 3-2

It was over when…: At one point early in the innings, any notion that the Dodgers’ roster adjustments or the fact that they had already taken a look at Trey Yesavage would lead to a breakout in Los Angeles was quashed. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when this became quite obvious, so let’s go with the bottom of the fifth, when Yesavage sniffed out Alex Call for his 10th strikeout of the game, making him the first to throw 10 whiffs in five frames in a World Series start since Sandy Koufax in 1963. Koufax, watching from the stands, probably wasn’t thrilled to see his feat matched.

5 star game: Yes, it’s Yesavage, and with each transcendent release he puts aside any criticism that his runaway success is due to an odd release point or big league hitters’ lack of familiarity with him. He relied on his sweeper/splitter combo more in Game 5 than at any time since joining the majors and commanded them both. When he does that, he can dominate anyone.

The stat that defined the game: Yesavage became the first rookie in World Series history to have a game with 12 strikeouts. He became the first pitcher with a 12-strikeout game in the World Series since Orlando Hernández of the New York Yankees in 2000. And he became the first pitcher with 12 strikeouts and no walks in a World Series game, according to ESPN Research.

What this means for the Dodgers: Forget losing the chance to win on their home field, the Dodgers are about to extend MLB’s repeat champion drought. Now down 3-2, they will travel across North America, where, in the rain and cold of Toronto, they will find a revived fan base that will make the Rogers Center shake. On the plus side, they won’t have to see Yesavage again, at least not in a starting role.

What this means for the Blue Jays: One more victory and 32 years of waiting will be over. The Jays have their ace, Kevin Gausman, lined up and an offense that continues to roll behind him. But Game 6 is shaping up to be even bigger because the Dodgers might be able to line up Shohei Ohtani behind Tyler Glasnow in a possible Game 7. Toronto is almost there, but there’s a lot of work to do. -Bradford Doolittle

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