Blue Jays announce their World Series Game 1 starter

The Toronto Blue Jays have decided on their Game 1 starter for the World Series.

Pitcher Trey Yesavage will start Game 1 of the Fall Classic on Friday for the Jays against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’ll be opposed by Blake Snell, who has gone 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA this postseason.

The Blue Jays have had Kevin Gausman start Game 1 of the ALDS and ALCS. The 34-year-old pitcher is their No. 1, but he made a second start in the ALCS during Game 5. He also pitched an inning of relief in Game 7 on Monday, so Toronto wants him to get some more rest. The team has yet to announce who will start Game 2 on Saturday, though we know that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 for the Dodgers.

Yesavage has mostly pitched well this postseason. The 22-year-old rookie threw 5.1 scoreless, no-hit innings in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees and struck out 11 for the win. He got hit hard in his first start against the Mariners in the ALCS, but he came back to get the win in Game 6 against Seattle.

Yesavage would be set up to start Game 5 and possibly relieve in a Game 7 of the World Series. Gausman, or whomever starts Game 2, could then also start Game 6. Shane Bieber has been the Blue Jays’ Game 3 starter in the ALDS and ALCS. Bieber also started Game 7 of the ALCS. Veteran Max Scherzer would likely get a start for Toronto when the series goes to Los Angeles.

Toronto has home-field advantage and is set up to host Games 1 and 2, as well as Games 6 and 7 (if necessary).