Kevin Gausman Set to Shine in World Series After 13-Year Wait

After years of anticipation, Kevin Gausman is finally making his World Series debut. The 34-year-old pitcher has been named the starter for Game 2 of the championship series, where he will face the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers on October 24, 2025, at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Gausman’s journey through 13 MLB seasons has included stints with five different teams, and now he is ready to showcase his talent on the biggest stage in baseball.

Gausman’s Journey to the World Series

Gausman expressed his excitement during a news conference prior to Game 1, reflecting on the challenges he has faced throughout his career. “Every year you go into the season with the hope that you’re one of the last two teams playing. That just hasn’t been the reality for me,” he stated. “I’m just really excited for this group and for myself. It’s been a crazy ride and now we are here, and we’re excited to kind of show the world what the Blue Jays are all about.”

This season, Gausman has been a key player for the Blue Jays, finishing with a record of 10-11 and a 3.59 earned-run average (ERA). He logged 189 strikeouts over 193 innings pitched, proving to be the team’s most reliable starter during the regular season. His performance has only improved in the postseason, where he boasts a 2-1 record, a 2.00 ERA, and 12 strikeouts over 18 innings.

Gausman began his career with the Baltimore Orioles before moving to the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants. He joined the Blue Jays as a free agent in 2022 and has since emerged as a formidable pitcher in the league. Gausman attributes much of his success to the guidance he received from the Giants, who encouraged him to focus on a two-pitch approach, utilizing his splitter, a pitch that was underused in the league at that time.

Postseason Performance and Team Strategy

In a critical moment during the American League Championship Series, Gausman pitched an inning of relief in Game 7, contributing to the Blue Jays’ victory over the Seattle Mariners with a score of 4-3. His performance included earning the win as the pitcher of record when George Springer hit a decisive three-run home run.

Despite his strong performance, Gausman was not slated to start Game 1, as the Blue Jays opted for rookie Trey Yesavage. Gausman acknowledged that his brief appearance in Game 7 did not guarantee him an extra day of rest but expressed confidence in the team’s decision. “I think if I would have thrown maybe fewer pitches and not in such a high-leverage position, then maybe it would have been a different conversation,” he noted.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider explained the rationale behind the pitching strategy, emphasizing the importance of matchups and player routines. Schneider highlighted the effectiveness of both Yesavage and Gausman, noting that their ability to throw splitters could be crucial against the Dodgers’ potent lineup. “This is a really, really good lineup we’re going against, especially at the top of the order,” he said. “It’s stuff that can hopefully combat that and suppress some damage.”

On the opposite side, the Dodgers will counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had a stellar regular season with a 2.49 ERA and 201 strikeouts over 173.2 innings. Yamamoto has continued to excel in the postseason, holding a 2-1 record and a 1.83 ERA with 18 strikeouts over 19.2 innings.

As Gausman prepares for his World Series debut, baseball fans around the world will be watching closely to see if this veteran pitcher can lead the Blue Jays to victory against one of the league’s top teams. The anticipation is palpable, as the culmination of his career-long dream approaches.