Blue Jays one win away from first World Series title since 1993 after 6-1 win over Dodgers. Recap here.

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The Toronto Blue Jays are one win away from their first World Series title in more than three decades.

The Blue Jays’ victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Wednesday night gave them a 3-2 series lead, pushing them to the brink of the championship.

Kevin Gausman will look to close out the World Series on Friday at Rogers Centre. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start for the Dodgers, looking to force a Game 7 on Saturday.

The Blue Jays last won the Fall Classic in 1993, when they went back-to-back as champions.

As for the Dodgers, they hope to become the first team to repeat as champions since the New York Yankees did so in 2000.

KEY DETAILS

• Trey Yesavage set a new World Series record for a rookie pitcher, striking out 12.
• Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning.
• The back-to-back leadoff home runs are the first in World Series history.
• George Springer is not in the starting lineup again, but Jays manager John Schneider says he is available to pinch hit.
• The Dodgers made some lineup tweaks with catcher Will Smith batting second.

Here are highlights from Game 5 (All times Eastern):

12:08 p.m. - Drake reacts to Game 5 win

After the game, Drake posted on his Instagram story a photo of the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani with a caption “One More!!!!!!!”

12:02 a.m. - Schneider on Game 6

John Schneider says he feels good about giving Gausman the ball for Game 6 with a chance to win it all.

“To give the ball to Kev, you love it. You love it every time, whether it’s in spring training or whether it’s in the World Series. We know that it’s going to be another tough arm in Yamamoto; it’s going to be another tough game. So we’ll enjoy the flight, we’ll enjoy it right now, and Kev will be ready to go,” the Jays manager said.

“I can’t wait to see what the Rogers Centre is going to look, feel, and sound like. But I can’t wait to have Kev take the mound for us.”

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

11:59 p.m. - Yesavage looking forward to playoff pay cheque

11:51 p.m. - ‘Job’s not finished’

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., speaking with MLB Network after the game, said while it’s good that Toronto is a win away, the “job’s not finished.”

“We won today. We are back home and trying to win it all at home,” he said.

When asked what he hopes the world has learned about him during this World Series, Guerrero Jr. said, “I just play with my heart. I just play for this city. I try to win it all for that city.”

He added that he just wants to give something back to the city that loves the Blue Jays by winning the World Series.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

11:44 p.m. - ‘Historic stuff’: Schneider on Yesavage

During his post-game news conference, Blue Jays manager John Schneider described Yesavage’s performance tonight as “historic stuff.”

“It’s one thing to be in the zone, and it’s another thing to be in the zone and get some swing and miss,” Schneider said, calling his slider and splitter “electric.”

“He’s a different pitcher when he has his stuff.”

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

11:41 p.m. - Can the 2025 Blue Jays win in 6 in the 6ix?

11:34 p.m. - ‘Let’s bring it home’

Fans at the Rogers Centre watch party are celebrating after the Blue Jays won Game 6 on Wednesday night.

“Let’s bring it home,” one Blue Jays fan told CP24 following the conclusion of the game.

Another pumped fan said, “One more win to go. We can do it on Friday. Forget about Halloween. It’s our World Series.”

“We love this team. Heart of a champion. Never underestimate the heart of a champion. They are the best. They are resilient,” a third fan said.

All three watch parties at the Rogers Centre were well-attended, with 30,000 fans showing up to watch the Blue Jays on the jumbotron.

Meanwhile, Blue Jays fans at Dodger Stadium were singing “Hey Baby,” a song played at the Rogers Centre to rally the crowd.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

FINAL: Blue Jays 6, Dodgers 1

The Blue Jays are flying home to Toronto with a 3-2 World Series lead over the Dodgers.

Toronto could hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy in front of the Blue Jays faithful with a win on Friday night at the Rogers Centre.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

10:57 p.m. - Clement and Guerrero Jr. continue their impressive postseason

10:55 p.m. - Domínguez gets out of the eighth

Seranthony Domínguez entered the game for the Jays in the bottom of the eighth and got out of the inning without adding any runs.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

10:45 p.m. - More records for Yesavage

With his 12 strikeouts, Trey Yesavage has set a record for the most strikeouts by a pitcher in a World Series game with no walks, according to MLB writer Sarah Langs.

At 22 years and 93 days, he also becomes the youngest pitcher with 10-plus strikeouts in a World Series game and the 3rd-youngest in any postseason game.

Another record set by Yesavage? He is now the first pitcher in MLB history to record his first two career 10-strikeout games in the postseason.

Yesavage’s final pitching line: 7 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 12 strikeouts, zero walks

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

10:41 p.m. - IKF drives in a run

Isiah Kiner-Falefa singles to score Ernie Clement from third, and the Blue Jays lead the Dodgers 6-1 in the top of the eighth inning.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

10:28 p.m. - Yesavage sets new rookie record

Trey Yesavage has set a new World Series strikeout record for a rookie pitcher, surpassing Don Newcombe.

He has recorded 12 strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight. Newcombe recorded 11Ks in Game 1 of the 1949 World Series.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

10:23 p.m. - Scenes from inside Dodger Stadium

Fans are starting to boo the home team after the Blue Jays go up 5-1 in the seventh inning. A few are also heading for the exits.

- Rahim Ladhani, CTV News Toronto Video Journalist

10:21 p.m. - Rogers Centre reacts to Bo Bichette’s single

10:17 p.m. - Bichette’s two-out single

Bo Bichette hits a single, scoring Andres Gimenez from second base. Before that, Addison Barger scored from third base due to a wild pitch.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

10:11 p.m. - Snell done after 116 pitches

Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell is out of the game after throwing 116 pitches. He leaves the top of the seventh inning with two outs and two runners on base.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

10:06 p.m. - Empty seats at Dodger Stadium

There are easily hundreds of empty seats inside Dodger Stadium. Anecdotally, I’m told ticket prices are too high for people to afford.

This is the last baseball game at the ballpark this year, as the World Series will return to Rogers Centre this weekend.

- Rahim Ladhani, CTV News Toronto Video Journalist

9:58 p.m. - Yesavage making history

MLB writer Sarah Langs is sharing more historic stats from Trey Yesavage’s Game 5 start.

With 11 strikeouts, he now ties the record for most strikeouts ever by a rookie in a World Series game.

He also becomes the first pitcher in postseason history with multiple 10-plus strikeout games before turning 23, and the first rookie in postseason history with multiple 10-plus strikeout games.

Yesavage recording 10-plus strikeouts in the first 5 innings of this game makes him just the second to do so in a World Series ever, since Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax did it in Game 1 in 1963.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

9:44 p.m. - 10Ks through 5

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage has 10 strikeouts after five innings. He has struck out all nine Dodgers batters.

It is the second-most by a rookie in a World Series game. Don Newcombe recorded 11 strikeouts in Game 1 of the 1949 World Series.

Yesavage has only given up two hits and one run, which is a home run by Kiké Hernandez.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

9:10 p.m. - Sac fly extends Jays lead

After Daulton Varsho tripled to open the top of the fourth inning, Ernie Clement hit a sacrifice fly to give the Blue Jays a two-run lead again.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

9:00 p.m. - Hernandez HR cuts lead

With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Kiké Hernandez goes deep to cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 2-1.

It’s his first home run this postseason.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

8:35 p.m. - Toronto reacts to home runs

8:31 p.m. - Historic first inning HRs

The Blue Jays are the first team to hit back-to-back leadoff home runs in World Series history.

Schneider and Guerrero Jr.’s home runs also make them just the second team in postseason history to go back-to-back to lead off a game, according to MLB writer Sarah Langs.

The A’s are the only other team to achieve such a feat, having done so in Game 3 of the 2002 American League Division Series.

Schneider’s homer also became the 7th such leadoff of this postseason, which is two more than in any other single year.

Langs also said there have been three first-pitch leadoff home runs this postseason, which breaks a tie with 2023 and 2007 for the most in a single postseason since pitch counts began being tracked in 1988.

Vladdy’s home run also increases his franchise postseason home run record to eight. He surpassed Joe Carter and Jose Bautista on Tuesday with a home run against Shohei Ohtani.

Read more here.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

8:11 p.m. - Solo homers

Davis Schneider hit Blake Snell’s first pitch out of the park to give the Blue Jays an early lead. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also homered after him.

Toronto is up 2-0.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

8:09 p.m. - ‘That only us command’

Rufus Wainwright incorrectly sang a portion of the anthem, singing “that only us command” instead of “in all of us command,” though it’s not immediately clear whether the lyric change was intentional or not.

He also appeared to sing several words in the French-language portion incorrectly. It’s also not known whether that was intentional.

Read more here.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

7:58 p.m. - National anthems performed

Rufus Wainwright sings the bilingual version of ‘O Canada’ while Keith Williams Jr. performs ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

7:50 p.m. - Game about to get underway

We are minutes away from the start of Game 5. Blake Snell will take the mound for the Dodgers, hoping for a better start than Game 1 when he gave up five runs to the Blue Jays.

The first three batters he will face are Davis Schneider, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

7:10 p.m. - Vladdy’s daughter leaves him an adorable voicemail

The Player’s Tribune shared touching audio of a voicemail Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s daughter, Vlaimel, left him after one of the postseason games, though it’s not entirely clear which one.

“Hi Daddy, I’m on my way to the suite,” Vlaimel’s voice can be heard saying at the start of the message.

“I knew it, Daddy,” she continued. “You were gonna win. I knew it. I told you. You’re gonna be the best one there. You’re gonna win. We’re gonna win this whole season.”

“I’ve got an eye on you. I love you, Dad,” the voicemail concludes.

Vlaimel has been seen next to her dad in several big moments this season, including when he won the American League Championship Series MVP.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

6:32 p.m. - ‘It’s exciting’: Gausman on getting to pitch again at Rogers Centre

Game 6 starting pitcher Kevin Gausman is really looking forward to taking the World Series back to Toronto on Friday.

“It’s exciting,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “Rogers Centre is going to be fun. It’s going to be electric. It’s going to be everything that it has been for the last month and probably more. We’re excited to get back there.”

Gausman said the team feels confident playing at home and commended the home crowd for being “awesome” and bringing the “energy.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

6:29 p.m. - Will Barger sleep in Schneider’s pull-out couch for 3rd time?

With the World Series concluding in Toronto this weekend, the question on everyone’s mind is: Will Addison Barger sleep on Davis Schneider’s pull-out couch?

Well, Schneider told MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi today that Barger will not be rooming with him when they get back to Toronto.

Schneider said he asked Barger this morning.

“I think a place reached out and kind of sent him a mattress, but I don’t think he’s gonna stay with me this time,” he said.

“I don’t know. Well, we have two days to kind of figure it out. But as of now, no.”

After Game 1, when Barger hit the first pitch-hit grand slam in World Series history, Schneider revealed that his teammate slept on his pull-out couch the night before because he had family in town. Barger slept on Schneider’s couch again before Game 2.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

6:20 p.m. - ‘I want to win one with Max’

Both Max Scherzer and John Schneider have said Chris Bassitt was an instrumental part of bringing Scherzer to the Jays, after becoming close during their brief time on the New York Mets together in 2022.

Speaking ahead of Game 5, Bassitt said he was glad to get “one more crack at it” with Scherzer after failing to advance in the Wild Card that season.

“Luckily for me he’s one of my best friends,” Bassitt told reporters. “I’ll be best friends with him for a long time. So when I realized that they (the Blue Jays) were going after one of my best friends, I was like, ‘Man, I need one more crack at this with you.’”

“If there’s anybody that I want to win a World Series with, I want to win one with Max.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

6:16 p.m. - Toronto Blue Jays announce starting lineup for Game 5

George Springer has been kept off the lineup for the second game in a row, as he continues to recover from an undisclosed injury.

Batting in the leadoff spot tonight will be Davis Schneider, who will also start the game in left field. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will remain in the number two spot, with Bo Bichette following up as the designated hitter again.

Catcher Alejandro Kirk moves back into the cleanup spot, with Addison Barger shifting to the number seven spot.

In his pregame podium appearance, manager John Schneider said Springer was prepared to pinch run in last night’s game and could be available to do the same tonight.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

6:15 p.m. - Bassitt enjoying his time in the bullpen

Blue Jays pitcher Chriss Bassitt said while he misses certain elements of being a starter, he “loves” being with and understanding the bullpen guys.

“I can’t mess around with the starters and have a rally beer and things like that anymore, so that stinks. But I love it,” Bassitt told reporters. “I love being around the guys. It’s very, very different, obviously, (I’m) really understanding the bullpen guys and what makes them go and having conversations with them and seeing them do their preparation and their work. It’s just we don’t ever overlap, so now getting to see what they go through and what they do and how many times the phone rings and things like that, it’s cool to see both sides.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

6:13 p.m. - Blue Jays’ hitting coach on team’s approach at the plate

David Popkins has been credited with helping transform the Blue Jays into one of the best contact hitters in the league.

Asked about it, the Jays’ hitting coach told MLB Network that it starts with the organization bringing in players who can put the ball in play.

“You just try to leverage your strengths and let them be themselves, and empower them to do that. And you know, good thingscan happen,” Popkins said.

When pressed whether he’s doing any specific exercises, he said each player has a different approach that is customized for their body and swing.

“There’s some technical aspects to it as well. But yeah, those are all things that we do,” Popkins said.

He also noted the Blue Jays have a team-first mentality.

“When you have leaders like Vladdy like Bo like George, and they kind of set that precedent early that it’s about the team, it’s about having good at-bats, about competing or even each other,” Popkins said.

“And kind of the companionship and the friendship that we have on a team, I think, is unmatched, and the selflessness is different than any other team I’ve ever been on, and it’s a pleasure to be able to watch those guys every day.”

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

5:52 p.m. - Yesavage’s pregame ritual is ‘pretty boring’ according to Schneider

When asked how Yesavage’s pregame routine differs from the serious, head down vibes of Max Scherzer or the chatty, approachable energy from Shane Bieber, the Jays’ manager described the rookie as “boring.”

“He’s pretty boring,” Schneider told reporters. “He’s usually playing cards with the guys... He’s very calm. I mean, you guys probably see him in between innings, kind of takes a deep breath, kind of tries to stay present with where he’s at. He’s pretty boring, I guess, is the best way to say it. Kind of just goes about his routine.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

5:48 p.m. - ‘Pretty remarkable’: Schneider on Rogers Centre watch parties

Speaking to reporters before Game 5, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he’s seen video from the away game watch parties being hosted at Rogers Centre, and that the team feels the energy from Toronto out in L.A.

“It’s pretty remarkable,” he commented. “I’ve seen the videos and it’s nice that we have a dome and it’s not raining or cold. But I mean, we feel that, we feel that out here in L.A., you know. We understand what it means to the city and the country, and I think it’s just remarkable. There’s watch parties and then there’s watch parties, you know. That was awesome.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

5:45 p.m. - Yesavage will be better than in Game 1: Former WS champion

Canadian and former World Series winning pitcher Ryan Dempster believes rookie Jays starter Trey Yesavage will have a better outing than in Game 1.

“I think if he has a little bit better fastball command, you could get six, seven innings out of him,” Dempster said on the MLB show Intentional Talk. “Because of the strikeout ability, I think six is his cap. Maybe 18 outs, 19 outs, but if they can get 15 outs where they get through five innings with Yesavage... he’s actually got such an unconventional slider that it actually moves arm side, so it goes more straight down than it does left to right and so lefties just struggle.”

“His stuff is nasty, upper 90s velocity, with that nasty split... This kid’s really good and I think he’s going to be better than he was in Game 1.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

5:44 p.m. - Dodgers players participate in batting practice

5:38 p.m. - Jays are ‘ready’ to face Snell again

Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins says the key to facing Dodgers starter Blake Snell a second time will be to swing unpredictably.

Popkins told MLB Now that Snell is a “gamer” who “knows strategy,” and the Jays’ batters will keep that in mind.

“He can read swings. He has a radar. So as soon as he throws a pitch, he’s reading how you swing at it, where you’re looking, why you’re looking there, and then throwing pitches off those tunnels,” Popkins explained. “So you really have to be unpredictable... He’s going to make an adjustment... we’re pretty sure we know what he’s just gonna make, and then we’ll be ready for whatever he brings.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

5:36 p.m. - Blue Jays players arrive at Dodger Stadium

4:55 p.m. - Dodgers ‘prepared’ to hit against Yesavage again

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his team missed a lot of pitches against Yesavage in Game 1, but they’re prepared to face him for a second time.

“I think at-bat quality is not just pitches. It’s hitting mistakes,” Roberts told reporters before Game 5. “So I do think that the first time through the at-bat, quality was good as far as kind of gathering information. But I think in total, two times through the order, there were a lot of pitches that we missed.”

“So, we have seen him, we’re prepared, and then now it’s kind of nine guys coming together being ready to hunt mistakes, and when you get a mistake, then be... ready to do something with it and continue to fight.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

4:46 p.m. - Springer seen running in the outfield

MLB Network captured George Springer running in the outfield ahead of Game 5. The Jays’ designated hitter was left off the lineup in Game 4 after exiting Game 3 early with an undisclosed injury.

MLB.com writer Keegan Matheson said Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Springer will try to hit off the machine before they finalize tonight’s lineup.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

4:29 p.m. - Yesavage pitching in his first postseason road game

“He doesn’t seem to mind anything, which is amazing for a 22-year-old,” said MLB.com writer Keegan Matheson on MLB Central of Trey Yesavage. “With Trey Yesavage, he doesn’t seem to be aware of the pressure. He doesn’t seem to care about it. This is a guy who started a season in Single-A pitching in front of probably as many people that are in the ballpark... And he’s here at Dodger Stadium.”

Matheson added that pitching in his first postseason road game will provide a “big test” for Yesavage, but as mentioned, the pressure doesn’t seen to be an issue for him.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

4:07 p.m. - Freeman on the revival of splitters

Freeman remarked on the revival of splitters pregame, and gave props to fellow Dodger Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage for their control of the tough pitches.

“It’s definitely a tough pitch when you don’t see them very often and now they’re coming back,” Freeman said. “Obviously, in this World Series, there’s a lot of them, a lot of guys that throw them... Yamamoto throws it at 92 (miles per hour), 93, and then you have Trey today throwing them at 81, 82... They’re all different too, especially Trey. He has such a high release point that it can do so many different things. He was cutting before, he’s faded them, they go straight down. So it’s a definitely a tough pitch because we don’t grow up facing that kind of stuff.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

4:05 p.m. - ‘They’re really good’: Freddie Freeman on the Blue Jays

Speaking to reporters before Game 5, Canadian and Dodgers Game 3 hero Freddie Freeman was sure to give Blue Jays pitchers their flowers.

“They’re really good,” he commented. “It’s the World Series. They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t have good pitching. It’s a lot of combinations of things. We can always talk about the offence isn’t doing good, but you got to realize that’s Major League pitching on the other side, and they’re really good, and they’re in the World Series as well.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

4 p.m. - Dodgers announce starting lineup for Game 5

3:59 p.m. - ‘He can bury a left-handed lineup,’ MLB analyst says of Yesavage

Trey Yesavage is the first to pitch for the Blue Jays tonight, and the Dodgers present a tough matchup for the rookie pitcher, according to MLB Central analyst Mark DeRosa.

DeRosa noted that Yesavage is a “reverse platoon” guy, pitching deadlier for lefties than right-handed players.

“Their lefties in the lineup are Shohei (Ohtani) and Freddie (Freeman) and he’s got reverse splits,” DeRosa, the former Blue Jays player, said. “You’re going to see Tommy Edman hit right-handed tonight, he can bury a left-handed lineup… watch out for Teoscar Hernandez, watch out for Kike (Hernandez).”

That said, DeRosa feels Yesavage will pitch a “heck of a lot better” than Game 1, noting how his slider players differently to others in the big leagues.

“It’s got almost three degrees break towards kind of his arm side, it would signify it’s supposed to take a left-hand turn a good slider. His has got split properties that it’s going straight downhill,” DeRosa said.

- Alex Arsenych, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

3:45 p.m. - Blue Jays considered a ‘massive underdog’

MLB analyst and former pro player Ben Verlander said he doesn’t understand why the Toronto Blue Jays continue to be considered a “massive underdog” to the L.A. Dodgers.

“Everyone thought the series was over. Dodgers win the first game at home in an 18 inning marathon,” Verlander said. “They might end it here in L.A., but that’s just not the case. Nor do I feel like this Blue Jays team should be a massive underdog. I get that the Dodgers are the Dodgers. They’re the defending champs for a reason, they have the greatest player of all time. But right now, with what Vlad Jr. is doing, what this Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff is doing, they should not continue to be an underdog in this series... This Blue Jays team is legit.”

“They’ve been doing this for four months,” he continued. “At this point, they’re not afraid to get punched in the mouth and punch it right back. This is two juggernaut teams going at it. I cannot speak highly enough about this Toronto Blue Jays lineup, and they are the perfect team to head up against the Dodgers with the way this team fights, battles offensively, and is able to put up runs.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

2:58 p.m. - ‘A treat to watch Vlad Jr.’: MLB Central

Baseball columnist and NY Post Sports writer Jon Heyman said on MLB Central that it’s “been a treat to watch Vlad Jr.” this postseason.

“Vlad has been exceptional throughout this postseason,” Heyman said. “I mean, to have a 1.306 OPS... He’s playing great defense. He’s a great thrower to every base. We’ve seen it at third base, home, second, to the toss to the pitcher at first. I mean, he is a terrific all around player.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

1:30 p.m. - ‘I think this thing might go 7’

The MLB Network discussed Wednesday the probability of two-way player Shohei Ohtani pitching again in this series if it goes deep.

Both former Toronto Blue Jay Mark DeRosa and host Greg Amsinger agreed they could see it happening, even if means the Japanese superstar comes out of the bullpen.

“All hands on deck...I think this thing might go 7 (games),” DeRosa said. “They’re gonna need him.”

“If there is a Game 7, I believe that we see Shohei Ohtani coming out of the bullpen,” added Amsinger.

Ohtani pitched for six innings on Tuesday and gave up four hits and four runs.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

1:20 p.m. - ‘L.A. Trey’

Yesavage faced the Dodgers in Game 1, which Toronto ripped away from Los Angeles in an 11-4 onslaught.

The second-youngest pitcher to ever throw the ball in a World Series opener was on the mound for four innings and was charged with four hits and two runs.

Meanwhile, his counterpart Blake Snell, gave up eight hits and five runs in five innings.

It’s unclear who will start Game 6 in Toronto, but manager John Schneider is expected to make that announcement later today.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

12:45 p.m. – How do Dodgers fans say ‘Toronto’?

Fox Sports MLB analyst Ben Verlander surveyed Dodgers fans ahead of Game 5 to see how they pronounce “Toronto.”

Verlander asked more than a dozen different people in and around Dodger Stadium for their take and only three said it just like a local.

“You don’t pronounce the second ‘T,’” he said to those not in the know.

While some Dodgers’ faithful seemed genuinely interested in the lesson, others made their allegiances clear: “I don’t care about that. I know how to pronounce Los Angeles, and that’s about it.”

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

12:15 p.m. - Can Chris Rose beat Alejandro Kirk in a race?

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk may not be the fastest on the bases, but he will definitely cross home plate first before American sportscaster Chris Rose.

That’s according to Kirk’s teammates and several former baseball players. Rose asked them this week how much of a head start he needs to beat the catcher around the bases.

“You’re going down at some point,” Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber told Rose. “When was the last time you hit a full sprint?” Rose replied, “It’s been a while.”

Another Jays teammate, Ty France, doesn’t believe Rose could beat Kirk.

“I don’t think you’re beating him,” France said even when Rose suggested that he start at second base.

Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas said Rose doesn’t have a chance unless the race is held after Kirk catches for seven innings. Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy also said Kirk is going to beat Rose even when the sportscaster starts at first base.

Other players said it doesn’t matter where Rose starts; it’s whether his legs will hold up, especially when turning the bases. They noted that he could injure his hamstring during the race.

Lawrence Butler is the only one who said Rose can beat Kirk, which surprised Rose.

Kirk stole his first base of his career in August.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com digital journalist

12:00 p.m. – Jays playoff games boosting local economy

Canadian financial tech company Moneris released data Wednesday that showed baseball fans are helping to boost spending at restaurants in and around the Rogers Centre during the playoffs.

The data shows that for ALCS Game 7 on Oct 20, when the Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3, restaurants around the dome saw a 29 per cent spike in transaction volume and 17 per cent bump in transaction size, compared to a typical Monday.

Similar increases were also observed on Game 1 and Game 2 of the World Series.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

11:30 a.m. – Final road game for the Jays

Toronto’s Game 5 in L.A. marks the club’s final road game of the season.

The club took to X to post a composite image of a Toronto Blue Jays Hollywood Star, on LA’s iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, to commemorate the occasion.

“Let’s make our mark,’ the post reads.

According to the MLB, in previous best-of-seven postseason series under the current 2-3-2 format, the team playing a tiebreaking Game 5 on the road has gone on to win that series 35 of 61 times.

In any best-of-seven series tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner also has won the series 46 of 68 times, the MLB says.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist

9:45 a.m. – Premier Ford roots for Jays

Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke to reporters Wednesday morning and started with a Blue Jays cheer. Ford congratulated the team on putting the Dodgers to bed in nine innings Tuesday night, as opposed to the 18-inning marathon Game 3.

“I’m going to start off with a little baseball: Go Jays. That was fabulous. We didn’t have to stay up till three o’clock in the morning, and everyone got a half decent sleep,” he said.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca digital journalist