Trey Yesavage, the youngest Game 1 starter since the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca in 1947, wasn’t quite the no-hit strikeout machine he was against the Yankees . But he did pitch Dodgers ace Blake Snell to a draw over four innings, which was enough in the Blue Jays’ 11-4 Game 1 victory .

Yesavage can meet a moment.

“I knew the moment was never too big for him,” said Cliff Godwin, his coach at East Carolina.

The Jays apparently understood that early as well. Though it shocked some to see the No. 20-overall pick in 2024 rise from Low-A Dunedin to Toronto, and ultimately October baseball, sources say Jays people planned for this.

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