John Schneider Sends Yoshinobu Yamamoto Message Before World Series Game 6

“It's always easier when you actually see a guy and feel what his stuff is playing like and what it does in comparison to other guys you've faced,” he said. “The delivery is a little unique, obviously, and there's some deception there, but it comes down to putting together a good plan and seeing how he's going to attack. Is it going to be the same way, which he had a lot of success with? Or is he going to deviate a little bit, and can we be ready to pivot with him?”

Yamamoto last pitched in Game 2 against Toronto, notching eight strikeouts against no walks and four hits over his nine-inning masterpiece. But Schneider thinks that his squad can get to the 5-foot-10, 176-pounder now that it's more familiar with him.

Blue Jays Will Try to Imitate Success Against Blake Snell

Before Toronto lost Game 2 5-1, it scored five runs across five innings against Los Angeles southpaw Blake Snell in an 11-4 Game 1 victory. It then shelled Snell again on Wednesday, scoring five runs on him over 6.2 frames in a 6-1 Game 5 win.

The Blue Jays could stay hot against Yamamoto this time, but he hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since June 13. At the same time, there's evidence backing up Schneider's claim.

Yamamoto is only in his second season and had never faced Toronto before Game 2. Conversely, Snell entered MLB in 2016 and pitched against the Blue Jays on August 9, so their hitters have had plenty of time to study him.

That doesn't guarantee that they'll break Yamamoto's hot streak, but they won't need to if ace Kevin Gausman excels. If the game is a pitcher's duel, it will come down one or two clutch situations.

The contest will start at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox and will be played in Toronto's Rogers Centre.