World Series Game 1 starting pitchers: Dodgers ace Blake Snell faces Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage

When the Toronto Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 1 of the World Series, they will send out one of the most inexperienced starting pitchers perhaps in World Series history.

The Blue Jays have been dealing with rotation issues throughout the playoffs, as only three of their starting pitchers played in each of the first two series. Since both Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber pitched in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners, Toronto will send out a rookie to take the mound vs. the powerhouse Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have used a strong pitching staff to breeze through the National League, as they enter the World Series with a 9-1 record in the playoff so far. Therefore, they have no reason to change their pitching order, so Dave Roberts will send out his Game 1 starter in two of the previous three series.

Here's a breakdown of who will be taking the mound in Toronto on Friday night.

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Dodgers-Blue Jays Game 1 starting pitchers

Game 1 of the 2025 World Series will feature a pitching matchup between Blake Snell for the Dodgers and Trey Yesavage for the Blue Jays.

Snell is in his first year with the Dodgers after signing a five-year deal with the team during the offseason. While Snell made just 11 starts in the regular season due to injury, the lefty has been stellar in the playoffs, allowing just two runs in 21.0 innings during his three starts.

Meanwhile, Toronto tabs the rookie Yesavage, who made just three starts in the regular season to begin his career before making his first postseason start earlier this month. Yesavage has made three playoff starts leading up to the World Series, allowing seven runs in 15 innings. 

Blake Snell stats

• Starts: 11
• Record: 5-4
• Innings pitched: 61.1
• ERA: 2.35
• Strikeouts: 72
• Walks: 26
• Hits: 51
• Earned runs: 16

Snell spent much of this season injured, as he was placed on the injured list with a left shoulder injury in early April and didn't return until August. However, when he was on the field, Snell was one of the Dodgers' better pitchers, allowing three earned runs or less in 10 of his 11 starts.

In the playoffs, Snell has been tremendous, as he's produced an ERA under 1.00 in three starts. Snell did face the Blue Jays in August, throwing five shutout innings and striking out 10 batters while allowing three hits and three walks.

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Blake Snell vs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stats

Games	PA	H	HR	RBI	SO	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
5	12	2	0	1	0	3	.222	.417	.333	.750

Snell and Guerrero briefly overlapped in the AL East in 2019 and 2020, when Snell was with the Tampa Bay Rays and Guerrero was beginning his career. Since then, Snell has spent the rest of his career bouncing around the NL West, so he has faced the Blue Jays just twice in a four-year span.

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Trey Yesavage stats

• Starts: 3
• Record: 1-0
• Innings pitched: 14.0
• ERA: 3.21
• Strikeouts: 16
• Walks: 7
• Hits: 13
• Earned runs: 5 

Yesavage began the season in Low-A Dunedin and made his way up to the majors by September, making stops at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A along the way. He made his major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 15, allowing just one run in five innings.

When Yesavage takes the mound in Game 1, it will mean he will have made more playoff appearances than regular season appearances in his career. He will also become the second-youngest pitcher to ever start a Game 1 in World Series history, only behind Ralph Branca of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers.

— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) October 23, 2025

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