When Dave Roberts, manager of Los Angeles Dodgers, announced his starting rotation on , the baseball world took note.
Roberts confirmed that left‑handed ace Blake Snell will take the mound for Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, October 25, 2025, at Rogers Centre in Toronto. A day later, the rotation hands the ball to right‑hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Game 2.
Why the rotation matters
The Dodgers’ four‑man staff—Snell, Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and dual‑threat Shohei Ohtani—has been the centerpiece of Los Angeles’ postseason surge. Over ten starts they posted a combined 1.40 ERA, racked up 81 strikeouts and limited opponents to a paltry .132 batting average.
“We knew going into October that the strength of our club was gonna be our starters,” said Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, after the NLCS sweep. “For them to do what they did eclipsed even our expectations.”
Snell’s comeback story
Snell entered the 2025 season on a five‑year, $182 million contract—a deal sealed in the offseason after the Dodgers chased him from Tampa Bay. The veteran Cy Young winner struggled early, landing on the 60‑day injured list in April with a nagging shoulder issue. He didn’t return to the rotation until early August, describing the stretch as “the hardest year of my career” after a hospital stay following his newborn’s delivery.
Since his comeback, the 32‑year‑old has been almost untouchable: 0.86 ERA, 28 strikeouts and five walks across 21 postseason innings. His NLCS Game 1 gem against the Milwaukee Brewers—10 Ks over eight one‑hit innings—made him the first Dodger to throw eight innings while allowing one hit or fewer in a playoff game.
Yamamoto’s rise in the big leagues
At 27, the Japanese right‑hander arrived in Los Angeles after a stellar stint with the Orix Buffaloes, where he earned two Pacific League MVPs. In Toronto, he’ll be trusted with the Game 2 start despite a relatively short MLB résumé—just 12 regular‑season starts for the Dodgers, all after his August return.
“Yoshinobu brings a calm, methodical approach that complements our aggressive rotation,” Roberts explained. “He’s the perfect bridge between Blake’s power and our younger arms.”
The supporting pillars: Glasnow and Ohtani
Glasnow, who finally logged a full season after a decade of injuries, posted a micro‑miracle 0.68 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 13 ⅓ postseason innings. Ohtani, still fine‑tuning his workload after a second Tommy John surgery, contributed crucial middle‑inning outs and even a clutch home run in Game 4 of the NLCS.
The quartet has followed a strict four‑day rotation: Snell → Yamamoto → Glasnow → Ohtani, then back to Snell. That cadence allowed the Dodgers to sweep both the Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds and the NLCS, surrendering just two earned runs in four games.
What the Blue Jays face
Toronto’s opponent, the Toronto Blue Jays, entered the series riding a hot offense that averaged 5.2 runs per game in the ALCS. Their ace, Chris Sale, will counter Snell on the mound, setting up a classic left‑vs‑right matchup under the bright lights of Rogers Centre.
“We respect the Dodgers’ staff, but we’ve got depth in our bullpen,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “If we can get early runs, Blake’s stuff will be a test, but we’re ready.”
Historical context: defending a title
The last team to repeat as champion was the 1998–2000 New York Yankees, a feat that has eluded clubs for a quarter‑century. The Dodgers, fresh off a 2024 World Series win that came despite what Friedman once called a “shoestring rotation,” have deliberately built this four‑ace core to avoid a repeat of last year’s gamble.
“We learned that putting together a deep, healthy staff was the only way to win twice,” Friedman reflected. “The contracts we signed—Snell’s, Yamamoto’s Japanese posting fee, Ohtani’s extension—were all about locking in that stability.”
Key facts
- Game 1 start: Blake Snell – Friday, Oct 25, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre
- Game 2 start: Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Saturday, Oct 26, 2025
- Dodgers rotation ERA (postseason): 1.40
- Opponents’ batting average vs Dodgers starters: .132
- World Series 2025 broadcast: Sportsnet (Canada) and MLB Network (U.S.)
What’s next?
If the Dodgers win Game 1, the pressure will shift to the Blue Jays, who must steal a game before the Dodgers’ staff gets another round of rest. Should Snell falter, Roberts has a contingency: roll the dice on Thomas Kowell, the veteran reliever who finished the NLCS with three scoreless innings.
Meanwhile, analysts will watch how Ohtani’s workload is managed. The 31‑year‑old’s recent outings suggest he can still pitch six innings, but the Dodgers are cautious, preferring to preserve his arm for a potential Game 6 or 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Dodgers’ rotation compare to previous World Series champs?
Los Angeles fields the lowest combined postseason ERA (1.40) among champions since the 1995 Braves. Their four‑ace staff also logged 70 % of total innings, a higher share than the 1998 Yankees (≈55 %). This depth is unprecedented in the last 25 years.
What challenges does the Blue Jays’ offense face against Snell?
Snell’s 0.86 ERA in the 2025 playoffs stems from a 12‑strikeout average and a walk rate under 0.3 per inning. Toronto’s hitters, who thrive on fastballs, will need to sit on early counts and look for his occasional change‑up, which has a whiff rate of just 17 %.
Who will pitch if Snell is unavailable for Game 1?
Roberts has hinted that reliever Thomas Kowell could be tapped. Kowell threw 3.2 scoreless innings in the NLCS and has a career 3.45 ERA in high‑leverage situations, making him the logical emergency starter.
What does a repeat championship mean for Dodgers’ front office?
A back‑to‑back title validates the massive payroll commitments—Snell’s $182 M deal, Yamamoto’s posting fee, Ohtani’s $270 M extension—and cements Andrew Friedman’s reputation for building a sustainable, elite rotation rather than a single‑year surge.
When is the next World Series game after Game 2?
If the series stays on schedule, Game 3 is set for Sunday, October 27, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET, with Dodgers’ third starter Tyler Glasnow taking the ball.
