World Series Preview: Ohtani & Dodgers Face Guerrero Jr. & Blue Jays in 121st Fall Classic

LOS ANGELES, CA—It all comes down to this. The 2025 World Series is set as the Los Angeles Dodgers, the defending World Series champions, will face off against the Toronto Blue Jays in the best-of-seven Fall Classic.

The Dodgers are back in the World Series for the second consecutive season and their fifth appearance over the last nine seasons (2017, 2018, 2020, 2024, 2025).

History and legacy are on the line for Los Angeles as the team aims to become the first in Major League Baseball to repeat as champions in back-to-back seasons since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, marking a twenty-five-year drought, the longest in North American Sports.

While it was no easy task to return to the World Series, the Dodgers sure made it look that way. First on their bucket list was the short best-of-three National League Wild Card Series, where the Dodgers swept the young up-and-coming Cincinnati Reds in two games.

Next up was a date with the No. 2 seed in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies. Los Angeles would take care of business at Citizens Bank Park, taking both games on the road and ultimately closing out the National League Division Series at home in Game Four.

Their final challenger in the National League was the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, and thanks to a masterful outing by the Dodgers’ pitching staff and a historical Game Four by two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers collected their first NLCS sweep in franchise history.

It’s been a year of redemption for the Blue Jays after finishing the 2024 season in last place in the American League East with a 74-88 record.

With multiple questions about the future of their core with key players set to become free agents, the Blue Jays pushed all the chips in for the 2025 season, and so far, it’s paid off.

After a red-hot summer, the Blue Jays caught the New York Yankees and overtook them in the standings, but won the AL East crown on the final day of the regular season.

Their 94 wins this year were enough to secure the team a first-round bye and the No. 1 seed in the American League, meaning the postseason would run through Toronto.

First up for the Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series were their AL East rivals, the New York Yankees, whom they would take down in four games, clinching in the Bronx.

Then the real showdown began in the American League Championship Series, where the Seattle Mariners, the MLB golden story of the 2025 season, looked to punch their first-ever ticket to the World Series.

However, with the series going the distance, the Blue Jays were able to mount a Game Seven come-from-behind victory thanks to a late clutch three-run home run off the bat of George Springer.

Now, the two sides will meet in the World Series for the first time in their history as the Dodgers look to continue their success against American League East World Series opponents.

There are sure to be plenty of storylines to follow for this year’s Fall Classic.

Whether it’s the mention of Ohtani’s supposed flight to Toronto back during the 2024 offseason.

The beef between Kendrick and Drake. Or how both teams in the World Series were top in the league in payroll, with a potential 2027 lockout looming.

Game One: Blake Snell (LHP) (3-0, 0.86 ERA) vs Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.20 ERA)

Game Two: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 1.83 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game Three: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game Four: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

*Game Five: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

*Game Six: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

*Game Seven: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

*if necessary

Game Times

Game One: Friday, October 24th, 5:00 PM PT, Rogers Centre (FOX)

Game Two: Saturday, October 25th, 5:00 PM PT, Rogers Centre (FOX)

Game Three: Monday, October 27th, 5:00 PM PT, Dodger Stadium (FOX)

Game Four: Tuesday, October 28th, 5:00 PM PT, Dodger Stadium (FOX)

*Game Five: Wednesday, October 29th, 5:00 PM PT, Dodger Stadium (FOX)

*Game Six: Friday, October 31st, 5:00 PM PT, Rogers Centre (FOX)

*Game Seven: Saturday, November 1st, 5:00 PM PT, Rogers Centre (FOX)

*if necessary

Who’s in & Who’s Out?

Not much has changed on the injury front for the Dodgers heading into the World Series; however, a significant change to the upcoming roster could be the activation of Tanner Scott.

Scott, 32, was removed from the Dodgers’ NLDS roster after undergoing a lower-body procedure, which also deemed him ineligible to return during the NLCS.

However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at the time did not close the book on Scott this season if the team were fortunate enough to advance to the World Series.

Well, now we’re here, and Scott has told MLB insider Jon Heyman that he is ready and eager to return to the Dodgers roster. But the question is, will they let him?

Day-to-day (2): Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández

10-day Injured List (00):

15-day Injured List (1): Brock Stewart

60-day Injured List (7): Tony Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Evan Phillips

All eyes in Toronto are on all-star shortstop Bo Bichette, who has been out since early September due to a PCL sprain that forced him to miss the entire postseason, despite the Blue Jays having the bye.

Bichete has continued to ramp up baseball activities, including hitting and batting practice in back-to-back days during the American League Championship Series.

The final hurdle for Bichette is his running and defense. Earlier in the week, it appeared that while trying to run the bases, Bichette reaggravated the injury, which led to him not being added to the ALCS roster.

Bichette stated on October 20th that he will be ready for the World Series. Although the Blue Jays still need to complete some baserunning tests, the shortstop sounded very confident that he will come back.

Anthony Santander, a top free agent signing, will not be on the Blue Jays roster. He was removed from the ALCS roster due to back issues, making him ineligible for the World Series.

Another bat that could be considered to rejoin the Blue Jays for the World Series is Ty France, who, like Bichette, got injured in September.

France suffered a left oblique strain and was eying a return during the World Series if the team made it that far. The first baseman has continued to rehab and face live pitching and could be another bat the team adds, but was left off the ALCS roster.

Lastly, one name that could rejoin the team in the World Series but is highly unlikely is right-handed pitcher José Berríos, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation at the end of September.

The right-hander has yet to resume his throwing program, making it unlikely he’ll return this season.

Day-to-day (00):

10-day Injured List (2): Bo Bichette, Ty France

15-day Injured List (1): José Berríos

60-day Injured List (6): Angel Bastardo, Bowden Francis, Ryan Burr, Nick Sandlin, Robinson Piña, Yimi Garcia

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