Sun Oct 26 00:00:00 UTC 2025: Headline: Veteran Gausman Set for World Series Start, a Career-Defining Moment
Toronto, ON – After 13 seasons of highs and lows, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman is set to start Game 2 of the World Series, marking a career milestone for the veteran right-hander. Gausman, a former first-round pick who has experienced the peaks of prospect hype and the valleys of being designated for assignment, has found a home and a resurgence in Toronto.
The Blue Jays opted to give Gausman the Game 2 nod, providing him an extra day of rest while keeping rookie sensation Trey Yesavage on schedule. Gausman, who revitalized his career with a devastating splitter, signed a five-year, $110 million deal with Toronto in 2022 and has become a fan favorite, embracing the unique role of playing for Canada’s only MLB team.
“Signing here, I didn’t necessarily understand that it’s one team for an entire country,” Gausman said, reflecting on his time in Toronto. “Now that I’ve been here for four years, I really understand how much they love us, how much they support us, how much they want us to succeed.”
Despite postseason disappointments in 2022 and 2023, Gausman believes the 2025 Blue Jays have finally found the missing piece. At 34, he acknowledges this World Series appearance might be his best chance at baseball’s ultimate prize.
“[The Blue Jays organization] did a really great job of looking internally while also kind of figuring out moves they needed to make. Hat’s off to them for doing everything that they have to get us to this point, and it’s taken a lot of different people.” Gausman said.
Manager John Schneider highlighted the differences between Gausman and Yesavage, despite their similar arsenals featuring a splitter. “It’s a similar arsenal, but their pitches do very, very different things from different angles,” Schneider explained, noting Yesavage’s splitter has more tailing action while Gausman’s plummets straight down.
As Gausman prepares to face the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, including Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, he understands the magnitude of the moment. His journey has been unconventional, but he is now exactly where he wants to be, pitching in the biggest game of his life.
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