Dodgers vs Blue Jays: Starting Lineup - World Series Game 6 Preview

The Blue Jays could be just 27 outs away from their first World Series win in 32 years.

The Jays have never lost a World Series Game 6, and could claim the Commissioner's Trophy for the third time in franchise history with a win tonight.

In Game 6 in 1992, it was Dave Winfield's two-run double in the top of the 11th at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium that gave the Jays the go-ahead as they clinched their franchise-first World Series championship.

And in Game 6 in 1993, as we've seen on repeat quite a bit of late, it was Joe Carter's walk-off blast against the Phillies that sealed their second consecutive crown.

So is Game 6 title time for Toronto once again? Or are the Dodgers going to extend this World Series to a decisive seventh game?

Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA) is on the bump versus Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA). First pitch is at 8:00 PM ET on Sportsnet and FOX.

RF Addison Barger

It's the ace on the mound with a shot at the World Series. Sure, facing Yamamoto is as tough as it gets in the big leagues, but the Blue Jays couldn't have drawn up their pitching plans any better, from Gausman right through to the bullpen.

In Game 2 against the Dodgers, Gausman allowed solo shots to Will Smith and Max Muncy in the seventh inning of that loss, but he was otherwise at the top of his game through 6 2/3 innings.

If Gausman can dodge that one big mistake, he's a pitcher capable of going toe-to-toe with the great Yamamoto.

His splitter also has a much different movement profile from Trey Yesavage's, diving down instead of tailing, so there won't be much overlap for the Dodgers' hitters.

Can Yoshinobu Yamamoto go the distance in three in a row?

That would be unprecedented in this era of the game, but then again, tossing complete games in back-to-back postseason starts hadn't been done in 24 years before Yamamoto's gems in the NLCS and World Series.

Yamamoto has reliably been at his best while on the biggest stage, holding opponents to two earned runs or fewer in six of his eight career postseason starts.

The Dodgers couldn't hope for anyone better on the mound with their season on the line.

Thanks to Trey Yesavage's brilliant performance in Game 5, the Blue Jays have their bullpen in a great spot heading into Game 6.

Seranthony Dominguez and Jeff Hoffman handled an inning each, but with Thursday's off-day, John Schneider should have the entire bullpen to work with in the potential clincher.

How the Blue Jays match up against Shohei Ohtani with their bullpen moves is still a storyline that could determine this series, but their back-end arms and the surprise emergence of Chris Bassitt as a legitimate weapon leave this group in a great place.

In the bullpen, the advantage belongs to Toronto.