Kevin Gausman has believed in Blue Jays since signing with team four years ago

Kevin Gausman has believed in the Toronto Blue Jays since 2021 when he first signed with the team as a free agent.

Now the veteran right-hander will be Toronto’s starting pitcher in Game 6 of the World Series as the Blue Jays try to clinch their first Major League Baseball championship since 1993. Toronto leads the best-of-seven series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 heading into Friday’s showdown at Rogers Centre.

“I saw the talent, and everybody talked about the talent,” said Gausman about signing with the team in December 2021 after two seasons with the San Francisco Giants. “We’ve always had the talent since I’ve been here. 

“It’s nice to get to a point where that talent has matured into being one of the last two teams. That’s really exciting.”

Gausman signed a five-year, US$110 million contract with Toronto on Dec. 1, 2021. The Blue Jays are his fifth team after starting his career with the Baltimore Orioles, then moving on to the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco. He’s a two-time all-star with a 112-113 record, 3.81 earned-run average and 1,954 strikeouts over his 13 MLB seasons.

As Toronto’s rotation struggled with injuries this season Gausman has become the team’s de facto ace.

The 34-year-old Gausman (10-11) had a 3.59 ERA with 189 strikeouts over 193 innings pitched as the Blue Jays most reliable starter in the regular season. That reliability has continued into this post-season, with a 2-2 record in five playoff appearances and a 2.55 ERA. He’s struck out 18 hitters in 24 2/3 innings pitched.

“He’s kind of been our guy for the last couple years,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider on Thursday. “He’s pitched in big games before: post-season, regular season, he’s always consistent.

“Love handing him the ball tomorrow.”

Gausman took the loss in Game 2 of the World Series, giving up three runs on four hits but striking out six in 6 2/3 innings of a pitchers’ duel with Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Los Angeles pitcher was stellar in the 5-1 Dodgers win on Saturday, getting eight strikeouts in a one-run complete game.

Both teams will run it back for Friday’s Game 6 with Gausman and Yamamoto facing each other again.

“It should be a fun rematch. I think Kev’s outing kind of got overlooked because Yamamoto was so good in Game 2,” said Schneider. “Kev matched him pitch for pitch there until the seventh. 

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“You think of it as an old school pitchers’ duel about to happen, but you never know how it’s going to unfold. We’ve got all the confidence in the world in Kev.”

Gausman, who is playing in the World Series for the first time in his 13-year career, is looking forward to pitching in front of Toronto’s fans again.

“Rogers Centre is going to be fun. It’s going to be electric. It’s going to be everything that it has been for the last month and probably more,” said Gausman on Wednesday at Dodgers Stadium. “We’re excited to get back there. Obviously, we’re really good at home, so we feel confident playing in front of our own team. 

“The fans there have been awesome, especially lately. They bring the energy, they pick us up when we need it.” 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 30, 2025.