The World Series is shaping up to be a Toronto party. Game 5 at the Dodgers stadium opened up with fireworks—except not the sparkly kind, just the one from the Blue Jays bat. Davis Schneider sent Blake Snell’s first pitch of the night screaming into the seats, and before the LA crowd could even phantom, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came and followed with another blast two pitches later.

Just like that, it was 2-0.

And by the time the dust settled, the Blue Jays had taken Game 5 with a commanding 6-1 win. They are now moving ahead 3-2 in the series, ensuring that the curse they seem to have had since 1993 finally breaks. The battle, of course, was never meant to be easy, given they are head-to-head with the supposed “evil empire of baseball,” aka the Dodgers.

But now, the scene has shifted back to the Rogers Centre, and the Dodgers will be relying on one big arm—Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Japanese ace has been LA’s anchor all year—and now the Dodgers need him to be their savior. But first—how did the Dodgers the team of supertstrs with a $700 million two-way phenom on their team, reach this position?

How did the Dodgers get outplayed by the Toronto Blue Jays?

Just three pitches into Game 5, it was clear that Toronto was not playing scared. The Schneider-Guerrero back-to-back bombs were just the start—the statement was still left. Sure, Guerrero has been on a tear this postseason, but one thing his dad schools him on is not to be overconfident. His early celebrations after the Game 4 win didn’t sit well with Vladdy Sr., and you bet as a former player, he knows what overconfidence can do.

Thankfully, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. didn’t let it get to his head, nor did the rest of the players. Behind him, Toronto’s rookie sensation Trey Yesavage was unhittable. The 22-year-old righty delivered one of the most dominant starts. 12 strikeouts, no walks, and complete command of his lethal slider-splitter combo.

His performance silenced an already quiet Dodger offense! LA really looked lackluster; their lineup, even though loaded with superstars, couldn’t find the rhythm. Mookie Betts is still not being himself, and he even had a meltdown, “I don’t want to speak on anybody else. But for myself, I’ve just been terrible…I mean, we’ve got a lot of confidence, but we’ve got to hit. I mean, it’s the name of the game; we’ve got to hit.” Freeman looked pressed, and the team felt stranded. Dave Roberts said it bluntly, “They find a way to connect hits, and we don’t.”

Now, if not the bats, the arm can only save them.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto—the arm that can save the Dodgers

If Jays wants to bring the trophy north of the border, they need to solve the Yoshinobu Yamamoto puzzle. The man in his last two starts has gone 18 innings, allowed just two earned runs, given up only four hits, walked one batter, and struck out 15. He has basically been lights out, and if there is one name that can flip the Dodgers’ future, it is probably only him.

The 25-year-old has been as good as the hype that was created when he first signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA in the regular season. But what really is the edge is his postseason heroics.

His masterpiece of pitching back-to-back complete games in his starts in the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series against the Blue Jays at their home ground was epic. And it shows why LA would rely on him—his command, his poise, and his ability to mix the pitches simply baffle even the crème de la crème Toronto lineup.

And Toronto knows that is coming; they have seen Yamamoto once already in the series, and they will try and adjust more. For now, though, no one seems to have cracked the Japanese ace’s code. Yamamoto, though, after the loss, is as calm as it can be, saying. “I just want to give us a chance to win. I’ll prepare like always.”

And right now, this is the only thing that Dodgers fans and the team would want to hear.

Dave Roberts is trusting Yamamoto in the crucial moment

Dave Roberts is no stranger to these elimination games. He has been through enough October heartbreaks to know when to panic and when to remain calm. After the Game 5 loss, he did sound frustrated, but he was still confident in his team and in Yamamoto.

Roberts mentioned, “We’ve won two games in a row before… It all comes down to one. I hope Yamamoto pitches well, and we have to have good at-bats and play clean ball.” That trust between the manager and his ace has been one of the most defining storylines this postseason.

Roberts’ biggest challenge is not managing the mood; it is actually reawakening the offense that goes quiet when it shouldn’t. And they can’t just rely on Shohei Ohtani—what about the rest? Sure, Ohtani has been brilliant, lights out, but it can’t just be his bat, and Ohtani’s Game 4 performance did show a decline after that grueling 18-inning game. 

The Dodgers have scored only three runs in the last two games, and they look uncomfortable against the Blue Jays’ power and pitching. For now, Roberts plans to review the lineup, saying, “I haven’t had time to think about it. I’ll do whatever I think is best to win. Regardless of who takes the field, we all have to have good at-bats. That’s what I trust.” 

So, who holds the edge heading into Game 6?

The numbers all say that Toronto should close this out. The Jays are 8-2 at home this postseason, and the Rogers Centre crowd could be too much to deal with on a Friday night. Kevin Gausman is also the starter of their choosing for Game 6, and let’s just say he has pieced together a rather stellar playoff run with a 2.55 ERA this time around.

Still, there is something about Yamamoto that keeps this hope alive—that this is far from over. The Dodgers have the better arm on the mound, and if the lineup wakes up or if Ohtani, Freeman, or Betts can provide early offense, then the momentum can swing fast.

Do you remember how LA trailed 2-1 in last year’s NLDS against the Padres and then came roaring back to win it all? They have been here before. All they need to do is ensure they keep Toronto’s hitters in check. Game 6 is not just another elimination game—it is a crossroad. The Jays need to end their 32-year-old championship drought, and the Dodgers need to do something not done since the Yankees’ back-to-back championship wins—they need to win again.

For now, given Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s poise, his numbers, and more, he looks ready to take revenge and get those rings for his mates.