Dodgers Name Snell and Yamamoto as Starters for World Series Games 1‑2
When Blake Snell, a two‑time Cy Young winner, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were named the opening starters, the 2025 World SeriesRogers Centre instantly felt the weight of history. The announcement came on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at a press conference held inside Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, laid out the rotation that will face the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25. The stakes? A chance to become the first club in a quarter‑century to repeat as champions.
Pitching Decisions and the Stakes
Roberts' choice to go with Snell in Game 1 and Yamamoto in Game 2 wasn't a surprise, but it did raise a few eyebrows. Snell, 32, logged three playoff starts — each six innings or longer with at least nine strikeouts — and posted a minuscule 0.00 ERA in his two most recent outings against the Phillies and Brewers. Yamamoto, only 26, had already fired a complete‑game victory in the NLCS, the first postseason complete game since Justin Verlander’s 2017 effort. Both pitchers embody the Dodgers’ mantra: dominate early, lean on the bullpen later.
How Snell and Yamamoto Earned Their Starts
Snell’s postseason résumé is a study in consistency. In the Division Series he tossed seven innings, struck out 10, and surrendered one run. The NLCS saw him shut the door on Milwaukee, allowing just two hits across eight innings while fanning 10. Pat Murphy, manager of the Brewers, summed it up: “That was the most dominant performance we saw against us in my ten years here.”
Yamamoto’s numbers look even more eye‑catching. Across 19 2/3 innings he accumulated 18 strikeouts and only four walks, a WHIP of 0.95. His complete-game win — a 5‑2 triumph over Milwaukee — snapped an eight‑year drought for playoff complete games. Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, noted after the NLCS: “We knew going into October that the strength of this club was going to be our starters. But for them to do what they did eclipsed even our expectations.”
Reactions from the Bench and the Media
The Blue Jays weren’t silent. Charlie Montoyo, Toronto’s skipper, praised his own lineup’s early aggression: “Just really good at‑bats. Then we carried it over into their bullpen.” He added a cautious note about the Dodgers’ depth: “You’ve got to be ready for tomorrow, against another really tough pitcher.”
Inside the Dodgers’ clubhouse, the narrative spins around legacy. Veteran left‑hander Clayton Kershaw is rumored to be eyeing retirement after the series, and Yamamoto’s teammate Shohei Ohtani joked in a YouTube interview that the ace “wants to send Clayton into retirement with a third ring.” The mood is a mix of confidence and nervous energy; the Dodgers know that a sticky relief corps could be their Achilles heel after Snell’s shaky Game 1 outing.
Implications for the Dodgers’ Title Defense
Game 1 didn’t go as scripted. Snell was hit for five runs, and the bullpen — featuring Emmet Sheehan and Anthony Banda — struggled to contain the rally. Sheehan allowed three base‑runners right off the bat, and all of Snell’s inherited runners crossed home. Banda, after the game, shrugged: “We try to execute. It’s something that we just didn’t do today.” The Dodgers still posted a combined 1.40 ERA over ten postseason games, but the early stumble underscores the thin margin between a repeat and a heartbreak.
Adding to the bullpen drama, left‑hander Alex Vesia was left off the World Series roster due to a “deeply personal family matter.” His absence forces Roberts to lean heavier on relievers who have already seen more work than ideal. That’s why the four‑man rotation — Snell, Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Ohtani — will be the backbone, each getting four days of rest between starts.
Looking Ahead: Games 3‑4 in Los Angeles
Should the series shift to Dodger Stadium for Games 3 and 4, the Dodgers will try to overturn the early deficit. Glasnow’s high‑velocity fastball and Ohtani’s dual‑threat arsenal are expected to be the next weapons. If Snell recovers, his next start could be a Game 5 showdown — a do‑or‑die scenario that would test his mental grit after the Friday loss.
- Game 1: Snell (LAD) vs. Blue Jays — 5 runs allowed
- Game 2: Yamamoto (LAD) vs. Blue Jays — starts Saturday
- Rotation order mirrors NLCS: Snell → Yamamoto → Glasnow → Ohtani
- Dodgers’ bullpen hits a snag: Vesia out, Sheehan & Banda shaky
- Goal: First repeat champion since 2000
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Snell’s Game 1 performance affect the Dodgers’ chances?
Snell’s five‑run outing puts the Dodgers in a hole early, but their rotation’s depth gives them a chance to rebound. The bullpen’s mishaps magnify the issue, so the team will need strong outings from Yamamoto and Glasnow to stay alive.
What makes Yamamoto a unique starter for the Blue Jays?
Yamamoto combines pinpoint control with a late‑inning strikeout ability that the Blue Jays, who had the league’s lowest strikeout rate in 2025, struggle against. His recent complete game shows he can go deep, limiting the need for the Dodgers’ relievers.
Why is the Dodgers’ repeat championship so significant?
No National League team has defended the World Series title in 25 years. A back‑to‑back win would cement the Dodgers’ recent dynasty and validate the massive payroll and scouting investments made since 2021.
What challenges do the Blue Jays face in Games 2‑4?
Toronto’s offense relies on contact hitting, which can be neutralized by elite starters like Yamamoto and Glasnow. Their bullpen, while solid, must hold the line after a strong start from their own rotation.
When could we see a potential Game 5?
If the series is tied after four games, a decisive Game 5 would return to Los Angeles on Oct. 28, giving Snell his second start and the Dodgers a chance to force a winner‑takes‑all finale.
