by Cary Osborne
Blake Snell’s words got a little more excited, his expression seemed to perk up a bit. There’s something a little more satisfying about a second chance against an opponent.
Game 5 of the World Series is the third time since mid-August that Snell will has the same team in close proximity.
He faced the Padres six days apart in August. He faced the Phillies 19 days apart. Now he faces the Blue Jays five days apart in the World Series.
“Yeah, I like it,” Snell said. “Good or bad start the first game, it doesn’t matter because the second game, I always feel, is going to be better because they always say it’s advantage hitter because they have seen you, but I think it’s advantage pitcher because you’ve pitched against them, you know what they can do, it’s fresh in your head, you have an idea.”
Padres
· First time (Aug. 16): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 3 Ks
· Next time (Aug. 22): 7 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 R, 5 Ks
Phillies
· First time (Sept. 17): 7 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 12 Ks
· Next time (Oct. 6, NLDS Game 2): 6 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 0 R, 9 Ks
Snell allowed eight hits, three walks and five runs in Game 1 of the World Series against the Blue Jays.
“I just pitched against them and didn’t execute, and now I have an opportunity to go execute and see how good I am and how much those five days in between got me locked in to be the best version of me,” Snell said. “I like (pitching against a team the second time) a lot, and I’m going to pitch the same to some guys, different to some guys. You’re going to go through that battle. But I like it because there’s a comfort to it. You’ve already faced them, you know what they can do, now you just got to execute.”
2025 World Series: Blake Snell looks for the advantage the second time around was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.