LOS ANGELES, CA — The 2025 World Series comes to the West Coast for Game 3 Monday night with the Dodgers and Blue Jays tied at one game apiece. Mookie Betts put it all into perspective when asked about coming back to Dodger Stadium over the weekend stating, “What we did before was unheard of, so this seems a little more normal.”
The 33-year-old future Cooperstown Hall of Famer and three-time World Series champ was referring to their four-game sweep in the NLCS against the Brewers. Yes, getting a split in Toronto after two favors Los Angeles, but only if the Dodgers’ starters can go extremely deep into games.
Mookie Betts and the Dodgers are confident heading into Game 3 of the World Series with the next three games set to be played at Dodger Stadium (Games 3, 4, and 5) – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The only way the Dodgers can win this series is if they can get their starters to go the distance. Because of their bullpen’s inconsistencies, a 2-0 lead in the 7th or 8th inning will probably not hold. The problem is that to throw 105-115 pitches and complete a game, these pitchers need a four-five days of rest after to remain their best and fully effective. I don’t believe they can do it on three or four days rest they’d get in this seven-game series which is being played over eight days (October 24-November 1 if a Game 7 is a necessary).
LA right now needs to have a six-run lead going into the 7th inning, when their pen would typically enter the game, to walk away with a one-run win. That’s asking a lot out of their starters.
With 11 days of rest after the Dodgers swept the NLCS, Blake Snell was not at his sharpest in Game 1 of the World Series Friday night – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Starting pitchers get used to a routine that they feel comfortable with. Everyone is different. Blake Snell, on 11 days rest, was not sharp in Game 1 this past Friday night. Orel Hershiser told me once that, as he got older, he needed more rest days. But he consistently threw eight-nine inning games throughout his career. Snell left Game 1 at the Rogers Centre, an eventual 11-4 loss, allowing five runs after five innings.
Snell had only given up two runs entering inning six. He walked a batter, gave up a hit, and hit a batter, loading the bases. That’s when LA’s bullpen got into the game and not only allowed those three Snell runners to score, but the reliever combined to give up six more runs in that nine-run inning to put the game out of reach.
In Game 2 of the Fall Classic Saturday night, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also on 11 days of rest, pitched his second complete game in the postseason. The last time somebody did that was 24 years ago in 2001, when the then Arizona Diamondback Curt Schilling pitched three consecutive complete games in the NLCS and World Series. Yamamoto retired the last 20 batters he faced in Game 2. He seemed much more comfortable with 11 days rest compared to Snell.
Can Snell come back on four days rest and be effective in Game 5? Can Yamamoto come back in Game 6, if needed, on five days rest?
Only time will tell, and that is why we watch the World Series. We are always hoping to see greatness with our own eyes.
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