Blue Jays Push Dodgers to the Brink After Dominant Game 5 Victory

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ quest to repeat as World Series champions hit a serious roadblock Wednesday night, as they fell 6–1 to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 5. In front of a restless home crowd at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers were unable to recover from a disastrous opening inning that immediately tilted momentum toward Toronto. With the loss, Los Angeles now trails the series 3–2 and faces elimination as the championship shifts back to Rogers Centre.

The tone was set from the very first pitch of the game. Toronto’s Davis Schneider launched a 97 mph fastball from Blake Snell into the left-field stands, and just two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with another home run. It marked the first time in World Series history that back-to-back homers opened a game — a jarring start for the defending champions.

For the Dodgers, the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Snell, despite settling in after the rocky first inning, struggled with command throughout the night. By the time he exited in the seventh, Toronto’s lineup had already built a commanding lead. Relief help came too late, and the Blue Jays’ relentless offense never allowed Los Angeles to regain footing.

Now, the Dodgers’ margin for error is gone. They will head to Toronto needing back-to-back wins to retain their crown — a tall order against a surging Blue Jays squad firing on all cylinders.

1. Snell’s Struggles Define a Frustrating Night

Blake Snell’s outing began with history — but not the kind any pitcher wants. Two home runs in the first three pitches immediately put Los Angeles in a hole, and though the veteran left-hander regrouped to complete 6.2 innings, his stat line reflected the uphill battle. Snell allowed five runs on six hits, walking four and striking out seven while throwing two wild pitches. Snell’s frustration was evident, though he avoided self-criticism afterward. “I’m not one to make excuses or anything close to that,” he told reporters. “But yeah, it’s just pretty unlucky. Only so much you can do… and that’s baseball.” In three World Series starts this postseason, Snell has surrendered 10 earned runs in 11.2 innings, including losses in both Game 1 and Game 5. His inability to establish the fastball early has been a recurring issue, forcing him to rely heavily on secondary pitches against a Toronto lineup that thrives on early-count aggression. Despite the struggles, Snell confirmed through The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya that he would be available for a potential Game 7 if the series reaches that point. For the Dodgers, that’s a small consolation — but one that may prove crucial if they can extend the series on Friday.

2. Yesavage Delivers a Historic Performance

On the other side, the Blue Jays got a historic effort from rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage, who silenced one of baseball’s most potent lineups. The 22-year-old right-hander dominated through seven innings, striking out 12 Dodgers without issuing a single walk. His mix of sliders and splitters kept Los Angeles hitters guessing all night, limiting them to just three hits. Yesavage’s performance wasn’t just impressive — it was record-breaking. He became the first pitcher in World Series history to record 11 or more strikeouts with zero walks in a game, and the youngest to ever tally double-digit strikeouts in a Fall Classic outing. His composure and pitch execution belied his inexperience; remarkably, Yesavage began the season in Single-A before being called up in September. The lone blemish on his stat sheet came in the third inning, when Kiké Hernández connected for a solo home run to left field. Otherwise, Yesavage was unhittable, retiring 14 of his final 15 batters faced. “He was fearless,” said Toronto manager John Schneider postgame. “For a rookie to pitch like that, in this environment — it’s special.” Yesavage’s poise gave Toronto’s offense the freedom to play aggressively, and his performance may ultimately go down as the defining moment of this World Series if the Blue Jays complete the job in Game 6.

3. Dodgers’ Offense Goes Quiet at the Worst Time

The Dodgers’ offense — typically among the most explosive in baseball — has sputtered when it matters most. Over the past 29 innings, Los Angeles has managed only four total runs. Shohei Ohtani, the team’s biggest star, went 0-for-4 on Wednesday and is now hitless in his last seven at-bats following his record-setting Game 3 performance. Manager Dave Roberts pointed to poor situational hitting and an inability to adjust to Toronto’s pitchers as key factors in the offensive drought. “We’re chasing a little too much, expanding the zone,” Roberts said. “When you get behind early, it puts pressure on everyone to do too much.” Since the start of the postseason, the Dodgers have averaged just 3.54 runs per game — far below their regular-season pace. While Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have continued to find ways on base, the lack of timely hits has kept the lineup from producing sustained rallies. Looking ahead to Game 6, Los Angeles will send Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound, hoping his consistency can extend the series. Toronto will counter with veteran Kevin Gausman, who has quietly been one of the postseason’s most dependable arms. The stakes are simple: a Dodgers win forces a Game 7, while a Blue Jays victory ends a 32-year championship drought.