LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — It is official, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays are facing off in Major League Baseball’s Fall Classic. After an extensive 162 game season, the final two remain, and the 121st World Series is here.
The two teams are meeting after very different runs in the postseason. Finishing third in the National League with a 93-69 record, the Dodgers began the playoffs with a quick sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Wild Card Series. Facing the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series, the Dodgers fought through close games, ending in a 3-1 series win. Most recently, in the National League Championship Series, the Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 with their superior starting pitching staff.
As for the Blue Jays, the team finished first in the American League with a 94-68 record. Skipping the AL Wild Card, the Jays dominated the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, winning 3-1. Toronto’s season looked terrifyingly close to its end after the Seattle Mariners took the lead in the American League Championship Series 2-0; however, the Jays stuck it out to Game seven, where George Springer hit a game-winning 3-run home run to win the AL Pennant.
Now, where do these teams have the edge, and which players should the opposite team watch out for?
Los Angeles
Perhaps the most standout feature of the 2025 Dodgers is their starting pitching rotation. In the NLCS, their 4-man rotation gave up a total of two earned runs. Two-time Cy-Young winner, Blake Snell, is set to take the mound for Game 1 of the World Series. Snell’s last performance was spectacular. Pitching 8 innings, Snell allowed one hit (to which he picked off) and zero walks, facing the minimum number of batters possible. Los Angeles’ Game 2 starter is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched a historical, complete game, allowing just one run. Let’s not forget Tyler Glasnow with a 0.68 earned run average this postseason, and of course, Shohei Ohtani.
This year’s NLCS Most Valuable Player, Ohtani, began the 2025 playoffs uncharacteristically slow. Before Game 4 of the NLCS, Ohtani was hitting about .158 with 17 strikeouts. Yet, his previous performance was long forgotten after he pitched six scoreless innings and hit three home runs in the same game.
“That was probably the greatest postseason performance of all time … there’s a reason why he’s the greatest player on the planet,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in an interview after Game 4 of the NLCS.
Besides Shohei Ohtani, both Kike and Teoscar Hernandez have been crucial to the Dodgers’ offensive power. 2024 NLCS MVP Tommy Edman has also been hot this postseason, hitting a 0.286 average.
Toronto
Despite the Dodgers’ elite pitching, the Blue Jays led all of MLB in batting average this year. ALCS MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been an absolute beast this postseason, batting .442 with six home runs and an especially low strikeout rate. Also heating the Jays’ offense is George Springer. Coming off a career-best year, Springer has already proven he can show up in the clutch. Additionally, missing the ALDS and ALCS, Bo Bichette is reportedly ready to return for the Fall Classic, batting .311 in the regular season, Bichette’s power and eagerness could pose a real threat to Los Angeles.
Though maybe not performing their best this playoffs, the Blue Jays pitching staff is made up of some dominant and historic arms. The ALCS Game 1 Starter, Kevin Gausman, is a two-time All-Star pitcher who has posted a 2.12 ERA in his three postseason starts. Moreover, the Jays rotation includes future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer and former Cy-Young winner Shane Bieber. Lastly, rookie Trey Yesavage has been a surprising yet crucial arm for Toronto. Only 22 years old, Yesavage pitched five and a third innings with 11 K’s in his last start.
“(Yesavage)’s not scared of anybody. Maybe he’s a little young and maybe naïve, but he’s just going to go after guys” said Gausman.
So, who will win it all? The reigning World Series Champs, or the team who has not been to the Fall Classic since 1993. Though this year’s Dodgers postseason dominance has been electric, do not underestimate the momentum a Game 7 comeback win can do for a team.
“I think it’s a great matchup that combines two opposite teams, fanbases, and philosophies,” said Akshay Verma, a senior at Los Alamitos High School.
The 2025 World Series will be streaming on FOX, kicking off Game 1 on Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. eastern time/5 p.m. pacific time.
