Blue Jays' manager John Schneider announces Game 2 starter for the World Series

After pitching a key inning in the Toronto Blue Jays' Game 7 ALCS win, Kevin Gausman will pitch on regular rest in the World Series.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that the right-hander would start Game 2 on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He'll face Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Neither team has announced pitching plans beyond Game 2.

Gausman, 34, started Game 1 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees and Games 1 and 5 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners.

He additionally appeared in the seventh inning of Game 7 against the Mariners, earning the win after working around three walks for a scoreless frame.

Over 18 total post-season innings, Gausman holds a 2.00 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP, 12 strikeouts and nine walks. He has allowed two home runs.

The 13-year veteran reemerged as the Blue Jays' ace during the regular season, when he posted a 10-11 record with a 3.59 ERA while striking out 189 over a career-high 193 innings.

Gausman will share the mound with Yamamoto, the 27-year-old who's been dominant in his own right.

Over three post-season starts, the Japanese righty has allowed just four earned runs over 19.2 innings while striking out 18 and walking only four.

It marks the continuation of a strong regular season in which Yamamoto pitched to a sparkling 2.49 ERA over 30 starts and made his first all-star team.

Yamamoto threw the first post-season complete game in eight years in NLCS Game 2 against the Brewers, allowing one run and three hits.

Dodgers starters have pitched a staggering 62 per cent of their innings in the playoffs, a stark contrast to the 42 per cent that starters pitched in the team's 2024 World Series run.