On a crisp October night in Los Angeles, the Toronto Blue Jays delivered a statement performance, overpowering the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 in Game 5 of the 2025 World Series. With the win, the Blue Jays surged ahead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, putting themselves just one victory away from their first championship since 1993. The energy is palpable—not just in the clubhouse, but all the way back in Toronto, where anticipation for a potential title-clinching Game 6 is reaching fever pitch.
The story of the night, and perhaps the entire postseason, belongs to rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage. At just 22 years old, Yesavage etched his name into the World Series record books by striking out 12 Dodgers over seven dazzling innings. Not only did he break the rookie strikeout record previously held by Don Newcombe since 1949, but he also became the first pitcher ever to fan that many hitters in a World Series game without issuing a single walk. Yesavage allowed only three hits—two of them infield singles—and never looked rattled, even as the stakes reached historic proportions.
"He was pretty good," Blue Jays manager John Schneider joked after the game, before getting serious. "What he did out there was historic stuff. Kind of blown away at what he did." That sentiment was echoed throughout the Toronto clubhouse, with teammates marveling at Yesavage’s poise. Chris Bassitt, a veteran arm in the Jays’ rotation, said, "He's just complete, composed, and the moment's not too big for him, which is crazy for how young he is... Some guys are just built different and he's built different." Even Bo Bichette, who is playing through injury, praised the rookie’s maturity: "The maturity he's shown to handle these moments is really impressive."
Yesavage himself was all smiles in his postgame interview with Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae. "It was a lot of fun," he said, his joy unmistakable. The fun began early for Toronto, as the Blue Jays stunned a sellout Dodger Stadium crowd of over 50,000 with back-to-back solo home runs on the first and third pitches of the game. Davis Schneider, thrust into the leadoff spot due to George Springer’s injury, launched the first pitch from two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell into the seats. "I didn't think I got it. I knew I hit it well," Schneider admitted, still in disbelief over his sudden heroics. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a blast of his own, marking the first time in World Series history that a team opened a game with consecutive home runs. For Snell, it was a double dose of history—he had never before surrendered two first-inning homers in his career.
The Jays’ offense didn’t let up. After the Dodgers cut the lead to 2-1, Daulton Varsho roped a triple down the right field line, capitalizing on a misplay by Teoscar Hernández, and scored on a sacrifice fly. Toronto’s relentless approach at the plate has been a theme throughout the postseason. They’ve now hit 27 home runs over 16 playoff games, leading the majors in both power and average. Even with injuries decimating their lineup—Springer and Anthony Santander are both out, and Bichette is playing hurt—the Jays keep finding ways to score.
It’s been a season of adversity for Toronto. After a sluggish start left them 26-28 in late May, the team caught fire, going 68-40 the rest of the way to clinch their first AL East title in a decade. Their resilience has been tested time and again: they dropped the first two games of the ALCS at home, only to storm back and win the series; they lost a marathon, 18-inning Game 3 of the World Series, then bounced back to win Games 4 and 5. As Max Scherzer, another veteran presence, put it: "Once we got going in mid-May, June, when this clubhouse clicked, everybody in here knew what was up. Then we started playing a different brand of ball. We leveled up."
Manager John Schneider can hardly wait to bring the series back to Toronto. "I can't wait to see what the Rogers Centre is going to look, feel, and sound like," he said after Game 5. The numbers back up his excitement: the Jays were 54-27 at home during the regular season, and their record including playoffs climbs to an MLB-best 59-30. The Rogers Centre faithful are ready—after watching the Game 5 win on the stadium’s big screen, fans lingered long after the final out, soaking in the moment and chanting for victory. Lifelong fan Colby Chansamone-Lam, who drove over three hours from Exeter, Ontario, to be part of the festivities, summed up the mood: "Jays in six!"
For the Dodgers, Game 5 was a night of missed opportunities. Despite a solid outing from Snell, who "pitched a heck of a ballgame" according to manager Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ bats fell silent. "Things certainly get magnified in games like this, and especially when you're not swinging the bats," Roberts conceded in his post-game news conference. The usually potent offense managed just one run and looked flat for much of the night, a stark contrast to the energy emanating from the Blue Jays’ dugout.
The final outs belonged to Toronto’s bullpen, with closer Jeff Hoffman shutting the door in the ninth by striking out Hernández with a man on first. The victory puts the Dodgers on the brink of elimination, needing to win two straight games in Toronto to defend their crown. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, return home with all the momentum and a city behind them, eager to witness history.
Looking ahead, Game 6 is set for Friday, October 31, at Rogers Centre. If necessary, a decisive Game 7 will follow on Saturday, November 1. The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Blue Jays have proven time and again that they’re built for the big moment, overcoming injuries, adversity, and long odds. As Bichette noted, "That's an amazing team and they're defending champs. They're gonna come out and fight, so we need to be ready." The Dodgers, for their part, aren’t out yet—baseball has a way of delivering surprises when you least expect them.
With just one win separating Toronto from a long-awaited World Series title, and the Dodgers desperate to keep their season alive, all eyes now turn north of the border. The stage is set for a dramatic finish—will the Blue Jays seize the moment, or can the Dodgers mount a comeback for the ages? For now, Toronto stands on the doorstep of glory, ready to write the next chapter in their storied history.
