Where to watch: FOX/ FOX Sports
Probable pitchers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 1.83 ERA, 18 K) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (2-1, 2.00, 12 K)
The story of Game 1 was perfectly encapsulated in the Blue Jays’ nine-run 6th inning. After five mostly good innings from LA’s de facto ace, Blake Snell, Toronto loaded the bases to chase Snell and began unleashing knockout blow after knockout blow. Ernie Clement singled to center to break the 2-2 deadlock before Nathan Lukes walked to force in Toronto’s fourth run. After an Andrés Giménez RBI single, the haymakers really began to rain in Rogers Centre.
Addison Barger came off the bench and launched a left-on-left grand slam right-center to break the game open and give Toronto a 9-4 lead. The big flies didn’t end there, though, as Alejandro Kirk added a two-run shot to cap off the second-highest scoring inning in World Series history. Shohei Ohtani would hit a consultation two-run shot in the top of the 7th, but LA would go hitless in the 8th and 9th as Toronto sealed the Game 1 win.
After ending the Dodgers’ perfect road record in this postseason, the Blue Jays turn to former Orioles Kevin Gausman to try and take a 2-0 advantage. In his three previous starts this postseason, Gausman has gone 5.2 innings in each outing and allowed two runs or less each time. Los Angeles counters with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is coming off the first complete game in Dodgers postseason history in over 20 years.