Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Dodgers shouldn't tempt fate with Blake Snell in World Series

By Seth Carlson | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 3:45 PM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday that lefty Blake Snell will take the ball as their Game 1 starter in the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

And with that development, history lurks in the background. What do we mean by this, exactly? Many baseball fans will recall that Snell was the victim of some extreme overmanaging by Tampa Bay Rays skipper Kevin Cash in the 2020 World Series, ironically against the Dodgers.

Cash infamously opted to yank Snell in the sixth inning of Game 6 that year, despite the lefty's previous dominance and the Rays leading 1-0 up until that point. Furthermore, the veteran southpaw had only thrown 73 pitches, a fairly efficient pitch count all things considered. And unsurprisingly, that decision backfired as Los Angeles went on to win that game and the championship, the franchise's first since 1988.

So, that brings us back to Friday night in Toronto. The Dodgers must learn from Tampa's mistake and allow Snell to run wild if he's got his best stuff working.

Dodgers need to make sure they don't repeat infamous World Series history with Blake Snell

Starting pitchers for Game 1 of the World Series tomorrow: Blake Snell vs. Trey Yesavage.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 23, 2025

Fortunately, the numbers suggest that Snell will be prepared for the moment. His 0.86 ERA in three postseason starts this year and 2.58 ERA in 15 career playoff starts are proof of his mettle. And it's not as though Los Angeles has an elite bullpen this postseason, either, unlike that 2020 Rays team, which had a plethora of filthy late-inning arms.

But if all of that isn't enough, the concept of history repeating itself should certainly suffice. The Dodgers are seeking to become the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees to repeat as World Series champions, which will mean all hands on deck from every player, including Snell. That also means now isn't the time to ponder innings limits or pitch counts. Save that for the regular season.

Seth Carlson

Seth Carlson is an experienced writer and editor based in the NYC area with a particular love for all things baseball. He has a demonstrated history of delivering insightful analysis and engaging content across multiple outlets and industries. Seth brings his expertise and commitment to high-quality coverage to Yardbarker’s readers.

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