Published Oct 25, 12:40am ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 25, 12:40am ET
Grok AI
Updated Oct 25, 12:43am ET
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| Toronto Blue Jays | +122 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -134 |
In the 2025 playoffs, Dodgers' Game 2 starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has posted a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings, surrendering 13 hits and 4 earned runs, walking 4 and striking out 18. Against the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS, he pitched a complete game 3-hitter, allowing 1 run — a leadoff homer to Jackson Chourio — and nothing else. He walked 1 and struck out 7.
They will need a similar performance against the Blue Jays to ensure they head back to LA with the series tied at one game apiece.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts' decision-making was questionable in staying too long with starter Blake Snell. The simple explanation is that Snell has been great in the postseason, and the bullpen has been terrible for much of the season.
In the bottom of the 6th, Bo Bichette walked, Kirk singled, and Varsho was hit by a pitch. Then Roberts pulled Snell for young righty Emmet Sheehan. Three of the four batters Sheehan faced reached base. Anthony Banda replaced him, and he promptly allowed a grand slam to Barger.
Criticizing the manager is easy. In this case, it's unfair.
LA mustered 6 hits, one being a Shohei Ohtani garbage-time home run.
Kevin Gausman starts for the Blue Jays in Game 2. Mookie Betts has a long history against Gausman. For his career, he is 16 for 51 with a double and a home run. Max Muncy is 6 for 18 with 2 doubles, 3 home runs, and 6 walks.
The rest of LA's roster has struggled against him. Freddie Freeman is 1 for 9 with a home run. Teoscar Hernandez is 3 for 16 with 3 singles. Ohtani is 2 for 12 with a home run. Andy Pages is 2 for 3 with a double.
The Blue Jays' blueprint came to life in Game 1. Although starting pitcher Trey Yesavage danced through the raindrops, allowing 4 hits and 3 walks, he struck out 5 and held LA to 2 runs. He kept them in the game until Varsho's game-tying homer.
Bichette's first appearance at 2nd base since he was in the minor leagues was uneventful. At the plate, he was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Thus far in the 2025 postseason, Gausman has a 2.00 ERA in 4 appearances, 3 starts. He's thrown 5.2 innings in each start. In Game 7 of the ALCS against the Mariners, he pitched 1 inning and surrendered 3 walks, 1 intentional. He navigated his way out of trouble.
Overall in the 2025 postseason, Gausman has allowed 10 hits, 4 earned runs, walked 9, and K'd 12.
Yamamoto has only faced two Blue Jays hitters in his career, and neither is likely to play in Game 2.
Ty France is 0 for 1 with a walk and a strikeout. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is 1 for 2 with a single.
They were able to save their bullpen from stressful innings and did not need to use closer Jeff Hoffman.
Bichette showed he was healthy enough to play. France is on the roster, but presumably will not start.
Gausman has had some control problems during the postseason, and the Dodgers are not going to do him any favors by swinging at balls out of the strike zone. Betts and Muncy have both hit him well.
Yamamoto was masterful against the Brewers, and the Blue Jays have a similar approach at the plate to Milwaukee. With how poorly the Dodgers' bullpen has performed, expect them to push Yamamoto as far as they can before turning the game over to their more trustworthy relievers, Blake Treinen and Roki Sasaki.
LA will take the second game of the World Series and head home tied 1-1.
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Los Angeles Dodgers -134
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