Well, baseball fans, we've made it! After a thrilling postseason, the 2025 MLB Fall Classic, the 121st World Series, is underway! We've got a fantastic matchup: the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to repeat, facing off against the Toronto Blue Jays, who haven't tasted World Series action since their back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993! Game 1 kicked things off last night in Toronto, and the Dodgers came out strong, taking the opener 5-1. Can the Jays bounce back, or are the Dodgers poised to become the first repeat champs since the turn of the millennium? Let's break it down! 😊
The Stage is Set: A Classic in the Making 🤔
What a contrast in journeys to get here! The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite what some might call a "ho-hum" regular season (by their lofty standards, finishing 93-69), absolutely steamrolled through the National League playoffs. They swept the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Series, dispatched the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLDS, and then swept the team with the best record in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-0 in the NLCS. They've only lost *one* game this entire postseason! Their pitching has been particularly lights-out, allowing just one run in each of their last five wins heading into the World Series.
On the other side, the Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) had a tougher path but showed incredible resilience. They clinched the AL East for the first time since 2015, earning the AL's top seed. After taking care of the Yankees in the ALDS, they found themselves down 2-0 and later 3-2 against the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. But they battled back, forcing a Game 7 in Toronto. Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, George Springer hit a dramatic go-ahead three-run homer, sending Rogers Centre into a frenzy and punching the Blue Jays' ticket back to the Fall Classic for the first time in 32 years! It truly felt like a throwback to the Joe Carter days.
The Dodgers are trying to become the first MLB team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000. The Blue Jays' last appearance was their 1993 victory, capping off their own back-to-back run. History is on the line!
Game 1 Recap: Dodgers Strike First 📊
Game 1 went down last night (Friday, October 24th) at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The defending champion Dodgers showed why they are the favorites, taking the opener with a decisive 5-1 victory. Blake Snell took the mound for LA, facing off against Toronto's rookie sensation Trey Yesavage.
Snell, who was dominant in his NLCS Game 1 start (8 scoreless innings, 10 K's), continued his stellar postseason, picking up the win. The Dodgers' offense provided enough support to quiet the energetic Toronto crowd. While specific stats for Ohtani and Guerrero Jr. from Game 1 weren't immediately available in my search, the 5-1 scoreline suggests the Dodgers' pitching largely contained the Jays' potent offense, which had led the postseason in batting average and home runs coming into the series.
It's a tough start for the Blue Jays, who were hoping to capitalize on home-field advantage and potentially catch the Dodgers a bit rusty after their week-long layoff following the NLCS sweep. Now, Toronto needs to regroup quickly for Game 2 tonight.
Keys to the Series: Pitching vs. Hitting 🧮
This series pits arguably the best postseason rotation we've seen in years against one of the hottest lineups. The Dodgers' starting pitching has been almost untouchable. In the NLCS against Milwaukee, Snell, Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani combined for a minuscule 0.63 ERA over 28 2/3 innings, striking out 35! They limited the Brewers to a .118 batting average in that series. That's just insane stuff.
Projected Pitching Matchups (Early Games)
| Game | Date | Dodgers Starter | Blue Jays Starter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Oct 24 (Result: LAD 5-1) | Blake Snell (W) | Trey Yesavage (L) |
| Game 2 | Oct 25 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | TBD |
| Game 3 | Oct 27 | Likely Glasnow/Ohtani | TBD |
Having four starters of this caliber (Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Ohtani) performing this well in October is almost unheard of. Their ability to limit runs early puts immense pressure on opponents. Yamamoto even threw the first Dodgers postseason complete game since 2004 in the NLCS.
However, the Blue Jays boast an offense that has been firing on all cylinders. They led all playoff teams in batting average (.296) and tied for the lead in homers (20) coming into the series. They have a high-contact approach, striking out less than any other team this postseason. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been on another planet, hitting .442 with 6 HR and 12 RBI through the ALCS, earning MVP honors. If anyone can get to the Dodgers' starters, it might be this Jays lineup.
While the starters are elite, the Dodgers' bullpen had negative WAR during the regular season and has a much higher ERA (4.88) than the starters (1.40) this postseason. Rookie Roki Sasaki has been a revelation as a high-leverage weapon, but beyond him, can others step up if needed? Toronto's best path to victory might be grinding down starters and getting into that bullpen early and often.
Superstars on Display 👩💼👨💻
This series is brimming with star power! All eyes are on Shohei Ohtani. After his historic NLCS Game 4 performance (3 HRs, 10 K's in 6 scoreless innings!), he's looking to add another ring. He hit 55 homers during the regular season and is a threat both at the plate and potentially on the mound later in the series.
For the Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is carrying the offense. His postseason tear has been incredible, and as the face of the franchise (and Canadian baseball), he's looking to cement his legacy. Can he stay hot against the Dodgers' elite arms?
Beyond the megastars, keep an eye on these players:
- Bo Bichette (TOR): Returning from a knee injury that sidelined him since September, his presence adds significant firepower and energy to the Jays' lineup. He's expected to play second base in Game 1.
- Roki Sasaki (LAD): The rookie transformed into a dominant high-leverage reliever late in the season. Can he continue to lock down the late innings for the Dodgers?
- George Springer (TOR): The veteran outfielder delivered the clutch ALCS-winning homer. Can he provide more October magic?
- Kiké Hernández (LAD): Known for his postseason heroics, Hernández adds depth and clutch potential to the Dodgers lineup.
Full 2025 World Series Schedule 📚
Here's the full schedule for the Fall Classic. All games start at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT and will be broadcast on FOX:
- Game 1: Fri, Oct 24 @ Toronto (Result: LAD 5, TOR 1)
- Game 2: Sat, Oct 25 @ Toronto
- Game 3: Mon, Oct 27 @ Los Angeles
- Game 4: Tue, Oct 28 @ Los Angeles
- Game 5*: Wed, Oct 29 @ Los Angeles
- Game 6*: Fri, Oct 31 @ Toronto
- Game 7*: Sat, Nov 1 @ Toronto
*If necessary
2025 World Series Snapshot
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
What an exciting matchup! The Dodgers look formidable, but the Blue Jays have defied expectations all postseason. Who do you think will win it all? Let me know your predictions in the comments below! 😊