For a rookie barely 22 years old, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage has had a significant role in several big major league games after starting the 2025 season in the Florida State League.
The biggest one yet comes Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium in Game 5 of the World Series, which has become a best-of-three set to determine Major League Baseball’s next champion.
Toronto’s 6-2 victory Tuesday night against two-way star Shohei Ohtani, in the wake of a mentally and physically taxing 18-inning loss the night before, evened up the Series. Yesavage now can help the Jays get a leg up before events return to Canada.
Yesavage’s next scheduled start will be his eighth career appearance, regular season and postseason combined. It will be his fifth appearance in these playoffs and his second appearance in the World Series, after also being the starter in Game 1.
That doesn’t count Yesavage’s attendance in the 18-inning marathon in Game 3 on Monday, where he watched teammate Shane Bieber head to the visitor’s bullpen, and wondered if he would do the same — just in case the Jays needed him to pitch an inning or donate a pint of blood. Neither pitcher needed to strenuously prepare in order to pitch ahead of schedule, with Bieber taking his regular turn Tuesday to help deliver a Series-tying victory.
In a pregame media session before the Blue Jays got even, Yesavage said the time has come to be ready for anything.
“When I saw Shane go down there,” Yesavage told reporters, “I was, like, anything’s possible at this point.”
Seeing two really good teams go at it for seven hours, it’s just really awesome to be a part of that. I never would have expected that I would be in that situation, but just being a part of this team and being able to just be in that dogfight with them, even without playing.”
Yesavage’s responsibilities grow significantly now, because the team that wins Game 5 also has won the Series 69 percent of the time historically. If nothing more, he’s pitching for a chance to take a 3-2 lead back to the Rogers Centre for a home-field advantage in Game 6 and possibly 7.
The assignment carries similar weight to other appearances Yesavage has made in the playoffs, notably against the Seattle Mariners in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Oct. 19. That one was either win or be eliminated.
“I’ve pitched with our back against the wall already, so I have experienced it,” Yesavage said. “I’m ready to pitch with our back against the wall, or I’m ready to pitch to send this thing to Toronto.”
The Jays have won three of his four postseason starts so far, and Yesavage has posted a 4.26 ERA with 27 strikeouts, 10 walks and 14 hits allowed in 19 innings. His best postseason outing remains his first — an 11-strikeout performance against the New York Yankees in the AL Division Series on Oct. 5.
He doesn’t have to equal that one to give the Jays what they need in Game 5, but a combination of low runs allowed and 5-plus innings of work from their starter would put Toronto in a great position again.
Yesavage understands what’s being asked of him.
“It’s massive,” he said. “Being a rookie that’s 22 years old and having that weight put on your shoulders, it’s a big deal. But everyone in this clubhouse has my back.”
The Jays lineup faces left-hander Blake Snell, whom they also saw in Game 1, when he allowed five runs, eight hits and three walks in five innings. Jays manager John Schneider won’t be sure until close to game time if slugger George Springer will be in the lineup.
He injured his side on a swing in Game 3, exiting early and not returning in Game 4. The Jays didn’t need him to push four runs across against Ohtani, plus two more against L.A.’s bullpen.
Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Game 4 after going 4-for-4 with two home runs and five walks in the 18-inning game.
