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Making Yoshinobu Yamamoto work in Game 6 of World Series is paramount for Blue Jays
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Oct 30, 2025, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 30, 2025, 08:10 EDT
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The key for the Toronto Blue Jays to win the World Series is to find a way to do some damage against Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Over the 27-year-old’s past two starts, he’s pitched 18 innings, giving up two earned runs, allowing four hits, issuing one walk, and striking out 15. That said, as good as he is, he can be beaten. Take Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series, where the Philadelphia Phillies put up three runs on him in the top of the fourth en route to an 8-2 win.
One of those nine-inning complete games came in Game 2 of the World Series against the Blue Jays. In the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-1 win, Yamamoto finished with a line of 9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, retiring the final 19 batters he faced. Past the third inning, no Blue Jay even reached base.
It was a dominant pitching performance, but the Blue Jays found some early success against him, even if it didn’t translate to runs. Entering the bottom of the first down 1-0, George Springer led off the inning with a 0-2 double, followed by a first-pitch to Nathan Lukes to put runners on second and third with no outs. Unfortunately, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out, Alejandro Kirk lined out, and Daulton Varsho struck out to strand the two runners.
The following inning, Ernie Clement led off the inning with a single, but was stranded after an Addison Barger strikeout, Isiah Kiner-Falefa fly out, and an Andrés Giménez ground out. Their lone run came in the bottom of the third, as Springer was hit with a pitch, Guerrero Jr. singled to put runners on the corners with one out, and Kirk hit a sacrifice fly to score Springer. Varsho grounded out, the first of 19 consecutive batters sat down by Yamamoto.
In the first inning, Yamamoto threw 23 pitches, then 33 through three innings, and 46 through three innings. That made up nearly half of the 105 pitches he threw in the game, getting stronger as he faced the Jays’ order the third time.
When the Jays are successful, they’re working the counts, fouling off pitches, and getting to the starter early, something they were doing before the fourth inning and beyond. Of course, that’s easier said than done, given the quality of Yamamoto’s pitches, but it’s something they’ll need to do in Game 6.
Getting to the Dodgers’ bullpen, which has struggled so far in the World Series, is key to winning the World Series in six games. Going to seven games with the Dodgers spells danger, even if they’ve found success against their other three starters and bullpen. Because after all, anything can happen in a baseball game.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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