When Blake Snell, the left‑handed ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers, takes the mound this Friday, the stakes couldn't be higher. The 2025 World SeriesRogers Centre in Toronto pits the Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays, and Snell has been the most dominant pitcher of the postseason so far – posting a minuscule 0.86 ERA over 21 innings and fanning 28 batters. Fans care because his performance could finally deliver that elusive championship ring the Dodgers have chased for two straight seasons.
Road to the World Series
The Dodgers clinched the National League pennant on October 22 with a 5‑2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager for a decade, summed it up: “That was the most dominant performance we’ve ever seen against us.” Snell’s eight‑inning gem in Game 1 of the NLCS, where he allowed just one hit and no walks, echoed Don Larsen’s perfect‑game legacy – the fewest batters faced in a postseason start since 1956.
Snell’s Postseason Dominance
Across three starts in the 2025 playoffs, Snell’s line reads like a résumé for the Hall of Fame: 4‑1 W‑L record, 2.42 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and a strikeout‑per‑nine‑innings rate of 13.7. What makes it remarkable is the consistency of his changeup. He generated 58 swings on the pitch, missing on 38 of them – a 65.5% whiff rate that ranks fifth‑highest for a single pitch in the pitch‑tracking era (minimum 25 swings). By contrast, his regular‑season changeup whiff rate sat at 43.5%, still elite and his fourth straight year of double‑digit swing‑and‑miss percentages.
- 21 postseason innings, 0.86 ERA
- 28 strikeouts, 0 walks
- 65.5% whiff rate on changeup
- Average exit velocity against: 86.2 mph
- Hard‑hit rate: 34%
His 2025 advanced metrics also show a weighted on‑base average against of .278 and a barrel rate of just 5.8%, indicating that even when hitters make contact, the quality is low.
Inside the Pitching Arsenal
Snell’s repertoire now boasts four reliable offerings – a fastball that tops out at 96 mph, a cutter, a curveball, and the dreaded changeup. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior praised the balance on October 24: “He’s peaking. He can throw four pitches anytime. That forces hitters to pick a side, a speed, a shape.” The former ace himself explained his mindset: “In each start you just learn. You dissect what you liked, what you didn’t, where you got lucky, where you didn’t. It’s about finding a way to get better and reading the hitter.”
Reactions from the Dugout
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will hand Snell the ball for Game 1, hoping the ace can cement another postseason legend. “Blake’s been delivering October brilliance all season,” Roberts said. “If anyone can set the tone, it’s him.”
Across the league, analysts are already noting the historical weight of Snell’s performance. Baseball‑reference veteran Emily Hart remarked, “You don’t see a left‑hander dominate both the regular season and the playoffs with that level of consistency since the late‑90s. It’s a rare convergence of health, poise, and a contract that finally bought him peace of mind.”
What This Means for the Dodgers
Beyond the immediate chance at a second straight championship, Snell’s dominance reshapes the Dodgers’ long‑term outlook. The five‑year, $182 million deal signed last winter is already paying dividends, turning a high‑risk free‑agent acquisition into a postseason cornerstone. With the bullpen humming and the offense still churning – the team hit 68 home runs during the regular season – the Dodgers appear poised to rewrite franchise history.
Should Snell win his first World Series ring, he will join an exclusive club of pitchers who have captured the Cy Young in both leagues and hoisted the Lombardi of baseball. Even if the series swings the other way, his 2025 campaign will be cited for years as the benchmark for playoff pitching excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Blake Snell’s performance affect the Dodgers’ chances of winning the World Series?
Snell’s sub‑1.00 ERA and 28 strikeouts in just 21 innings give the Dodgers a near‑certainty of early leads in each of his starts. Historically, teams that win both of their Opening Games in a World Series increase their championship probability to roughly 60 %.
What makes Snell’s changeup so effective in the postseason?
The changeup sits at 78‑80 mph, yet its spin mimics a fastball, causing hitters to swing early. In 2025 it produced a 65.5 % whiff rate, the fifth‑best single‑pitch rate since 2008, meaning roughly two‑thirds of swing attempts missed entirely.
Has any pitcher matched Snell’s eight‑inning, one‑hit, walk‑free performance in recent postseason history?
The last comparable outing came from Jacob de Grom in the 2018 NLCS, but Snell’s combined ERA and strikeout totals are unmatched for a left‑hander since the start of the pitch‑tracking era.
What does the Dodgers’ five‑year contract with Snell mean for the team’s payroll flexibility?
Locking Snell at $182 million spreads the cost at roughly $36.4 million per season, allowing the Dodgers to allocate remaining payroll toward depth pieces while retaining a top‑tier ace on the rotation.
Who are the key opponents the Dodgers will face after Game 1?
If the series moves to a traditional 2‑3‑2 format, Toronto’s left‑handed starter Kevin Gausman will likely take the ball for Game 2, setting up a classic left‑on‑left duel that could define the early narrative.