Only two teams remain in the 2025 MLB Playoffs, with the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers set to square off in this year’s World Series. The action gets underway on Friday, with Toronto hosting Games 1 and 2 at the Rogers Centre before the series heads south to Los Angeles.
This is familiar territory for the Dodgers, who are chasing back-to-back titles and their third championship in the past six years. Toronto, on the other hand, will be making their first World Series appearance in 32 years.
Canadians from coast to coast are rallying behind the Blue Jays as they look to win the third World Series title in franchise history, while Dodgers fans are hoping their team can solidify their place as the next great MLB dynasty.
How They Got Here
Toronto finished the regular season with the best record in the AL, putting them in a great position to make a run at this year’s World Series. After skipping the Wild Card round, they blew past the Yankees in the ALDS, scoring 34 runs in just four games.
Things got tougher in the ALCS after the Mariners jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Blue Jays fought back and took the series with a thrilling 4-3 victory in Game 7. It’s clear that Toronto is battle-tested and ready to bring another World Series championship back to Canada.
Los Angeles was in cruise control for most of the year but still managed to pull out another NL West crown. The postseason has been another story, with the Dodgers dominating the competition with ease. They swept the Reds in the Wild Card round and made quick work of the Phillies in the NLDS.
The NLCS was more of the same, with Los Angeles sweeping the Brewers to book their spot in this year’s World Series. With a 9-1 record in these playoffs, the Dodgers are well-rested and look almost unbeatable at the moment.
Key Players
For the Blue Jays, it all starts with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto’s $500-million first basemen has been a major catalyst during the team’s playoff run, leading MLB in a number of offensive categories, including hits (19), home runs (6) and RBIs (12).
The Blue Jays have also gotten great play from George Springer, whose clutch three-run home run late in Game 7 was the final blow needed to send Toronto back to the World Series.
Canada’s team has plenty of talent on the mound, with Kevin Gausman leading a deep rotation that includes veterans like Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer, along with rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage.
You can’t talk about the Dodgers without first mentioning Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese superstar had a slow start to the postseason but made his presence felt in Game 4 of the NLCS. Ohtani was 3-for-3 with three home runs, while also pitching six scoreless innings and racking up 10 Ks in the series-clinching win.
Boasting the biggest payroll in baseball, the Dodgers lineup is loaded far beyond Ohtani. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman continue to deliver, while Teoscar and Enrique Hernandez are both enjoying excellent postseason runs.
When it comes to pitching, the Dodgers are one of the few teams who can match up with the Blue Jays. In addition to Ohtani, Los Angeles has Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto ready to go. Combined with a solid bullpen that includes Roki Sasaki, Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen, the Dodgers have the pitching needed to quiet Toronto’s big bats.
World Series Betting Odds
The Blue Jays may have the better record this season, but odds makers have the Dodgers as heavy favourites leading up to the 2025 World Series. Los Angeles is currently -230 to win the best-of-seven series and become MLB’s first repeat champions since the Yankees in 1999-2000.
Toronto is available at +190 to win the series, which is solid value considering they have home-field advantage and plenty of momentum heading into Game 1. It’s also worth noting that the Blue Jays had the best home record in the AL this year, and you know the Rogers Centre will be rocking from the first pitch to the final out.
If you’re looking to bet on something different, there are tons of World Series specials available. Ohtani is +550 to have 10 Ks and two home runs in the series, which is tempting since we’ve already seen him do it in a single game.
If Toronto is able to pull off the upset, there’s a good chance one of those two players will be the main reason why. Looking at the World Series MVP markets, Guerrero Jr. and Springer offer great betting value at +600 and +1000 respectively.
Time to Play Ball
All of Canada is pulling for the Blue Jays in the Fall Classic, but it’ll be up to the players on the field to take care of business. With two solid teams, each with plenty of offensive firepower and deep pitching rotations, we can expect some entertaining World Series action. With the Dodgers looking to cement their legacy with another title and the Blue Jays hoping to bring another championship back to the North, this is the kind of World Series matchup baseball fans dream about.