Rays' Blake Snell decision in World Series comes full circle 5 years later with Dodgers

Billy Heyen

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Rays' Blake Snell decision in World Series comes full circle 5 years later with Dodgers image

The last time Blake Snell was on a mound in the World Series, it ended with the photograph above. Snell, disappointed, strolling off to the dugout, the last time he'd ever be on a field in a Tampa Bay Rays uniform.

Five years later, Snell finally gets a return to the bump in the Fall Classic. He'll get the ball in Game 1 on Friday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays.

It's a bit of a full-circle, potentially redemptive moment for Snell.

That last World Series outing was Game 6 in 2020, against the Dodgers.

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Snell was dominant, having struck out nine of the first 16 outs he got. Yet there was manager Kevin Cash pulling Snell before he could face the top three of the Dodgers' order for the third time, a trio that was 0-for-6 against Snell with six strikeouts.

The Rays were down 3-2 in the series but led Game 6 1-0 at the time Snell was yanked. The Dodgers got to the Tampa Bay bullpen, and that meant a ring for L.A. And a departure from town for Snell.

He's pitched for the Padres, Giants and now the Dodgers since then.

And it's because of Snell that the Dodgers are so comfortably in this World Series, trying to repeat after winning in 2024.

In his last two outings, Snell has thrown a combined 14 innings and allowed just two hits and no runs while striking out 19. His first playoff outing was a win, too, going seven frames and giving up just two runs while striking out nine.

Snell has been Koufax-ian, just as he was in that pivotal World Series game five years ago.

Now, Snell is in a Dodgers uniform, and they're hoping he can replicate that in their favor.

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