Why Game 5 is the perfect spot for Trey Yesavage's final start in his rookie season

He's only 22-years-old, but it feels like he's accumulated experiences in a matter of weeks that some major leaguers who are twice his age have never gotten to experience. Trey Yesavage has gone from pitching in the middle of a division title chase, to making postseason starts against the Yankees, to pitching in a must-win playoff scenario, to getting the start in Game 1 of the World Series.

For a kid who wasn't even in camp during Spring Training, his final start of 2025 will come in a scenario he could only dream about in February - and it may be the most appropriate setting for him to start in, in his brief Major League career.

Why Game 5 is the perfect spot for Trey Yesavage's final game in his rookie season

Yes, there is always pressure at this time of the year, but with the way the World Series has played out between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers so far, Game 5, while being pivotal, is also perhaps the least pressure packed game for a starter of Yesavages caliber. If the Blue Jays lose, the season is not lost, the Blue Jays will still have two chances to win the World Series, and they will get both of those chances at home.

Game 6 and if necessary Game 7 will take place north of the border in Toronto at Rogers Centre, the same situation the Blue Jays faced when they played the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. The Blue Jays trailed coming home and needed to win both games, and they trusted Yesavage to get the job done in Game 6 to extend the series.

With the Blue Jays entire season on the line, Yesavage delivered with 5.2 innings pitched, allowing just two earned runs on six hits while striking out seven. In his three other starts in the playoffs, the ramifications were not as dire but Yesavage still did his job in three of those four outings.

His first start was against the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS. Yesavage no-hit the the Bronx Bombers while striking out 11 over 5.1 innings - and controversially being removed from the game after 78 pitches. His next outing came in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Mariners and it was by far his least impactful outing of the playoffs.

In four innings, Yesavage was tagged with five earned runs in four innings on four hits while generating just four strikeouts. He gave up a three-run home run in the first inning and was having to pitch from behind for most of the game. The Blue Jays did tie the game with Yesavage on the mound, but he had to battle through control issues all night in a game that got away from Toronto, and handed Seattle a 2-0 series lead.

But he rebounded and gave them a tremendous effort in Game 6 of that series, which led to him having the opportunity to pitch in Game 1 of the World Series - a test that Yesavage once again passed with flying colours.

Yesavage struck out five batters in four innings, and while the Dodgers made him rack up his pitch count quickly, he got through four innings, on 80 pitches and left the game with the Blue Jays and Dodgers tied 2-2. If the Blue Jays can get a performance like that from Yesavage again, they will gladly take it.

What Yesavage's main goal is in Game 5 is to just keep the Blue Jays in the game and give them a chance to get after Blake Snell and the Dodgers bullpen. Following a much needed calm and controlled effort from Shane Bieber in Game 4, it would behoove the Toronto bullpen to get another day of rest and not exhaust itself after an 18 inning marathon in Game 3.

However, there is an off day on Thursday and if the Blue Jays do need to dig deep and use several relievers, the mindset should be that they get a day of rest ahead of Game 6 regardless - which should play into Yesavages approach to the game, knowing he can go right after guys and really attack them early.

Yesavage has been in so many big pressure moments already this year and into this postseason. He's thrown more innings this year than he ever has in his life and with just a few more good ones in Game 5, he could be leading the Blue Jays back to Toronto with a 3-2 series lead.