Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Blake Snell will take the mound for Game 1 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays this Friday. The announcement sets the stage for a matchup between two rotations, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto slated to start Game 2.
Rotation Strategy and Recent Postseason Dominance
The Dodgers plan to mirror the rotation sequence they deployed during the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Snell enters the Fall Classic following an outing in the opener of that series on Oct. 13, where he tossed eight scoreless innings, surrendered just one hit, and struck out 10 batters. Snell became the first pitcher in Dodgers franchise history to complete eight frames while allowing one or fewer hits in a postseason game.
Yamamoto followed that performance with an outing in Game 2, tossing a three-hit complete game—marking the first complete-game postseason performance by a Dodgers pitcher since 2004. Roberts indicated that while Games 1 and 2 are locked in, the pitching order for Games 3 and 4 at Dodger Stadium remains under evaluation, though Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani are expected to round out the primary sequence. Ohtani earned NLCS MVP honors after hitting three home runs and striking out 10 batters in Game 4 to clinch the pennant.
Bullpen Decisions and Tanner Scott Update
As the club finalizes its roster for the Fall Classic, the coaching staff continues to weigh final decisions regarding the bullpen. Roberts noted that while most of the relief corps is set, one roster spot remains open for discussion. Relief pitcher Tanner Scott, who missed the Division Series after undergoing emergency surgery, is currently eligible to return.
“We’re just waiting for the full clearance from the doctors. He’s anxious, which is a positive thing, and we have a couple more days to evaluate how he responds in his bullpen sessions,” Roberts stated. The Dodgers enter the World Series aiming to maintain the pitching dominance that carried them through the National League playoffs.
What Comes Next
Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for this Friday, with Blake Snell taking the ball for Los Angeles against the Toronto Blue Jays.
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