TORONTO, Canada – Rogers Centre pulsed on Friday night as the Toronto Blue Jays opened the 121st World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a classic meeting of a rising contender and the reigning champions eager for another ring.
Toronto earned home-field advantage with a gritty 94-68 season, and the 8 p.m. ET first pitch on FOX opened a series rich in star power, deep pitching, and unfinished business. For the Jays, it represents a chance to end 32 years of October heartache since the back-to-back wins in 1992 and 1993. For the Dodgers, it is about adding another chapter to a modern dynasty.
Both teams took dramatic routes to reach this stage. Guided by John Schneider, the Blue Jays retooled their approach in 2025, focusing on contact, pressure at the plate, and smart baserunning. They topped the AL East for the first time since 2015. Key winter moves brought in Max Scherzer, reliever Jeff Hoffman, and infielder Andrés Giménez.
The front office also locked in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a 14-year, 500 million extension. Toronto shifted from inconsistent challengers to steady front-runners. Their .265 team average ranked fourth in MLB, while their 798 runs placed 19th, a sign of a small-ball identity in a league obsessed with home runs.
October lit the fuse. As the top seed, Toronto skipped the Wild Card round, then beat the New York Yankees in four tight ALDS games. Guerrero Jr. torched pitching with a .429/.500/.786 line, and Scherzer delivered a gem to clinch.
The ALCS against the Seattle Mariners pushed them to the limit. Trailing 3-2, the Jays forced Game 7 with George Springer’s walk-off in Game 6, then rode a ruthless bullpen to finish the job on Oct. 20. Schneider summed it up simply, saying the club had momentum, heart, and a lineup that refuses to fold. The challenge now, he said, is facing the beast.
The Dodgers arrived with a target on their backs. They opened 2025 in Tokyo, easing past the Cubs 4-1 in a showcase that set the tone. A 93-69 record won the NL West again. Their rotation, built around Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and the singular Shohei Ohtani, evoked memories of vintage LA pitching.
April brought a wobble, including a four-game slide capped by a 9-5 loss to Arizona, but they steadied quickly. A 52-29 home mark at Dodger Stadium told the story, with Ohtani’s rare skill set and Mookie Betts’ week-to-week brilliance driving them on.
MLB Fall Classic 2025 Magic
Their playoff run has been nearly flawless. As the second seed, they swept the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Series, outscoring them 16-5. Ohtani blasted two homers in Game 1, and Yamamoto worked 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the clincher.
They carried that surge into the NLDS, knocking out the Philadelphia Phillies in five. The NLCS brought the 98-64 Milwaukee Brewers, the best regular-season team, and the Dodgers rolled in four.
Ohtani starred again in the clincher on Oct. 18, smashing three homers and striking out ten, the perfect snapshot of their control of the moment. LA entered the Series at 9-1 this postseason. Dave Roberts praised their depth and experience, saying the group is built for this stage.
Game 1 matched Snell, sharp through the NLCS, with Kevin Gausman, Toronto’s steady anchor. The Jays carried a 4.19 team ERA, 16th in MLB, but Gausman’s command and late movement have been constant.
Snell’s mix of breaking and off-speed pitches, which he used non-fastballs 57 percent of the time, is a tough look for a Jays lineup with only two left-handers, Giménez and Daulton Varsho. Toronto’s plan is clear. Grind at-bats, raise pitch counts, and draw out the middle relief. Schneider put it bluntly, urging his hitters to wear them down, because seven games reward pressure.
The headline names are impossible to ignore. Guerrero Jr., the hottest bat of October at .450/.520/.900 carries the hopes of a city. An AL scout praised his command of the zone, saying he is punishing pitches few can touch.
Toronto Hosts Games 1 and 2
On the other side stands Ohtani, favourite among MLB.com experts to win Series MVP. He posted a 40-40 season, then raised his level again this month. He could start in Game 3 or 4. Jays catcher Danny Jansen called him a different animal, a nod to his unique impact.
The schedule favours drama. Toronto hosts Games 1 and 2 on Oct. 24 and 25. Los Angeles stages Games 3 to 5 on Oct. 27 to 29. If needed, Games 6 and 7 return to Canada on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Odds lean Dodgers at minus 150. Expert picks are split. Twenty-one lean LA in five, while 11 like Toronto in seven.
Some pundits, including ESPN’s Jeff Passan, believe the Jays’ momentum and the Rogers Centre din could turn the tide. Karl Ravech added a pointed line on social media, suggesting Toronto might save baseball from the weight of LA’s payroll machine.
The theatre extends beyond numbers. It is East Coast grit against Hollywood shine. A roof closed against autumn chill, then opened to cheers, set against those late LA sunsets over Chavez Ravine.
Bryson DeChambeau, still smarting from a Ryder Cup defeat, took it all in from the seats, as the chant of Let’s Go Blue Jays drowned out the pockets of Dodger blue. Toronto’s throwback style challenges the machine. LA counters with star power and years of October muscle.
Only one outcome will stand. Game 2 arrives Saturday, yet Friday’s roar felt like a promise. For Jays fans, this feels like redemption within reach. For Dodgers supporters, it is about history that lasts. Play ball.
