Dodgers vs. Blue Jays - Youth and Experience Collide on the Mound for Game 1

United States: The first game of the 2025 World Series will pit two key pitching cards against each other: the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays . While one relies on an experienced starting pitcher, the other is banking on the momentum of a rookie pitcher. The Blue Jays announced Thursday that rookie Trey Yesavage will start for the home team. The pitcher made three regular-season starts before the postseason, where he started three more games. His most recent was Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners . In that 5 2/3 inning outing, he allowed six hits and two runs, struck out seven and walked three, earning him the win. 22-year-old Yesavage will become the second-youngest pitcher to start a World Series game. That record is held by 21-year-old Ralph Branca, who started a game in the 1947 World Series against the New York Yankees for the Brooklyn Dodgers .

Experience:

For their part, the Dodgers have veteran Blake Snell ready as their starter for this game. Snell has established himself as the centerpiece of the Dodgers’ rotation. With two Cy Young Awards in his arsenal, Snell has 15 career postseason appearances. The Dodgers left-hander has a record of seven wins and three losses in these decisive stages. On October 13, he earned the win in the first game of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. In that game, he allowed one hit and struck out 10 in eight innings. With Yesavage and Snell assigned as starting pitchers, a duel is guaranteed where the youngster’s energy and the veteran’s composure will set the tone on the mound at Toronto ‘s Rogers Centre. How many innings will they last? Can they dominate their opponents? The answers to these questions will be revealed once the game is over.

Format and Calendar

The World Series maintains its traditional competition system. It consists of a series scheduled for the winner of four of a maximum of seven games. The team with the best regular-season record among those involved will have home-field advantage. Therefore, they will have guaranteed home-field advantage in four of the seven scheduled games. In this case, the Blue Jays have that advantage, having recorded 94 wins and 68 losses. The Dodgers meanwhile, have recorded 93 wins and 69 losses.

The Match Schedule Is As Follows: