As the first pitch is set to fly just after 8 pm EST Friday night in Game 1 of the World Series, fans of the Fall Classic learned two things Thursday.
One, 22-year old rookie Trey Yesavage gets the call for the Toronto Blue Jays, while Bo Bichette took ground balls at a position he’s never played in the majors – second base.
Imagine starting the season with Single-A Dunedin, jumping four levels, pitching Game 1 of the World Series, and the first player you face in that game is Shohei Ohtani.
That’s what Yesavage is facing Friday night.
“I was fired up,” Yesavage said when told he would be making the start. “Got up, hugged him (Manager John Schneider), hugged Pete (Walker – pitching coach). I was very excited.
“It’s something I never even would have dreamed of, but I’m here now and I’m embracing it fully and I’m so happy to be here,” Yesavage went on to say.
As for Bichette, he offered this to reporters:
““I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help this team win in whatever role it is it doesn’t matter,”
Bichette could play second base, shortstop or serve as the Jays designated hitter.
The Dodgers will counter with Blake Snell in Game 1. Overall this postseason, he is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA (two earned runs in 21 innings) and 28 strikeouts against five walks.
In fact, the story of this best of seven series will likely be can the Blue Jays batters solve the Dodgers starting pitchers.
The collective ERA recorded by Dodgers starters (consisting of Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani) over 64 1/3 innings in the 2025 postseason is 1.40. That’s the third-lowest ERA by a team’s starting pitchers through the first 10 games of a single postseason, behind the 1981 Dodgers (1.26) and the 1973 Mets (1.38).
Los Angeles is the defending champion and feature more than Ohtani and stellar starting pitching.
Dual citizen Freddie Freeman has performed on the big stage before and is excited to be back in Canada. Mookie Betts is a crafty, savvy, veteran, while former Jay Teoscar Hernandez will patrol the outfield and likely receive a warm reception upon his return to Rogers Centre.
Here’s how Los Angeles lined up in their last game (Game 4 sweep) against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Shohei Ohtani (L) (pitcher but will DH in Toronto)
Mookie Betts (R) SS
Will Smith (R) C
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Tommy Edman (S) 2B
Teoscar Hernández (R) RF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Kike Hernández (R) LF
Andy Pages (R) CF
Toronto’s last starting lineup (without Bichette – Game 7 against the Seattle Mariners) looked like this:
George Springer (R) DH
Nathan Lukes (L) LF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
Alejandro Kirk (R) C
Dalton Varsho (L) CF
Ernie Clement (R) 3B
Addison Barger (L) RF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 2B
Andres Giménez (L) SS
Goal one for the Blue Jays is to at least earn a spilt of the first two games In Toronto before heading to Los Angeles Game’s 3, 4 and hopefully five.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
