The Los Angeles Dodgers evened the World Series at one game apiece with a 5–1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night at Rogers Centre, powered by a rare complete-game performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Entering Game 2, betting markets listed the Dodgers as slight road underdogs, generally around +110, while the Blue Jays opened near -130 after their convincing win in the series opener. Those odds shifted substantially once Yamamoto delivered a commanding outing that evoked classic postseason pitching displays seldom seen in modern baseball.
Yamamoto, pitching in his second primary league season, threw a four-hitter that marked the first World Series complete game since 2015 and his second straight nine-inning effort of this postseason. The 27-year-old right-hander struck out eight, issued no walks, and retired the final twenty batters he faced. His performance followed a three-hit complete game in the National League Championship Series, making him the first pitcher since Curt Schilling in 2001 to record consecutive postseason complete games. It was also the first full game by a Dodgers starter in the World Series since Orel Hershiser in 1988.
Throughout the night, Yamamoto showcased a deep and precise pitch mix featuring splitters, curveballs, cutters, and a fastball that averaged just over 96 mph. He generated seventeen swings and misses and managed a stressful early inning before settling into full control. After hitting George Springer with a pitch and allowing a single to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the third, Yamamoto allowed no further baserunners. His ability to adjust, particularly after a first inning in which he appeared overly energized, allowed him to dominate the Blue Jays’ lineup as the game progressed.
Offensively, the Dodgers leaned on catcher Will Smith, who drove in three runs and broke a 1–1 tie with a solo home run in the seventh inning. Smith’s drive into the second deck came on a full-count fastball from Kevin Gausman, who had been brilliant through much of the outing, retiring seventeen straight Dodgers before Smith’s decisive swing. Max Muncy followed later in the inning with an opposite-field home run, also off a fastball, extending Los Angeles’ lead and shifting momentum firmly in its favor.
The scoring began in the first inning when Freddie Freeman doubled after fouling off several two-strike pitches, then came around on Smith’s single. Toronto responded in the third with its only run of the game. After Yamamoto hit Springer near the wrist, Guerrero lined a ball off the left-field wall for a single, putting runners on the corners. Alejandro Kirk’s sacrifice fly brought Springer home, but Yamamoto prevented further damage by inducing two quick outs.
Gausman’s efficient night unraveled in the seventh, and Toronto’s bullpen could not suppress the Dodgers’ offense. A run-scoring wild pitch in the eighth and an RBI forceout from Smith added insurance, sealing a comfortable lead for Los Angeles.
The Blue Jays, who welcomed back Bo Bichette as a pinch hitter after his prolonged absence due to a knee injury, mustered little sustained offense against Yamamoto. Bichette grounded out in his lone at-bat before remaining in the game at second base. Toronto struggled to adjust to Yamamoto’s pitch sequencing and command, managing only four hits and stranding multiple early opportunities.
The win restored balance to a series that began with Toronto’s offensive breakout in Game 1. With Yamamoto now 5–1 across two postseason runs with Los Angeles, the Dodgers have won seven of his eight playoff starts, underscoring his impact on the organization since signing a record twelve-year, $325 million contract last offseason.
Game 3 will shift to Dodger Stadium, where Toronto plans to start veteran Max Scherzer, who will become the first pitcher to start World Series games for four different franchises. Los Angeles counters with Tyler Glasnow, who enters the matchup with a 0.68 ERA in thirteen and one-third postseason innings. With the series tied and both teams relying on accomplished right-handers, Game 3 promises to shape the momentum of a Fall Classic now defined by standout pitching and timely power.