World Series starts: Blue Jays’ hot bats grab early edge over Dodgers’ elite arms

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Toronto — For the first time in 32 years, the Toronto Blue Jays are in the World Series. The last time they reached this stage was 1993, when Joe Carter’s famous walk-off homer delivered a second straight championship.

Now, after edging the Seattle Mariners in a bruising seven-game ALCS, Toronto will host the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-seven showdown that begins Friday night at Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays finished with a 94–68 record in the regular season, one game better than the Dodgers. That slim margin gave them home-field advantage, a factor that has decided 20 of the past 29 World Series titles. Given that Toronto struggled on the road this year, their return to Canada’s loudest baseball stage could not be better timed.

This will be the Blue Jays’ third Fall Classic, and the first World Series game on Canadian soil since 1993. It will also be the first time Toronto meets the Dodgers in October. Los Angeles, by contrast, is appearing in its fifth World Series in nine seasons and is chasing a chance to become MLB’s first repeat champion since the Yankees dynasty of 1998–2000.

Dodgers’ rotation built on dominance

Los Angeles has been extraordinary in October, winning nine of 10 postseason games. The formula has been straightforward: starting pitching. Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani have combined for a 1.40 ERA in 64⅓ innings, holding opponents to a .132 batting average. Jeff Passan said it bluntly: “Their extraordinary starting pitching… systematically dissected Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Milwaukee’s offenses.”

Adding to that strength has been Roki Sasaki, who shifted into a bullpen role in October and closed out five games with electric stuff.

Alden Gonzalez noted that Sasaki’s reemergence saved the Dodgers: “Had it not been for Sasaki recapturing the velocity on his fastball and quickly adapting to a high-leverage bullpen role, they likely would not be here.”

The concern for Los Angeles is offense. The Dodgers are hitting .223 in the postseason and will need Freddie Freeman, the 2024 World Series MVP, to spark production. Ohtani also remains a key variable. His three-homer, 10-strikeout performance in the NLCS clincher was one of the most remarkable games in postseason history. If his bat stays hot along with his pitching, the Dodgers may prove impossible to slow.

Guerrero Jr. carries Blue Jays’ hopes

If the Dodgers’ story has been pitching, Toronto’s is offense—and one man in particular. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been sensational, slashing .442/.510/.930 with six home runs.

Jorge Castillo wrote, “Guerrero has been the best player in this postseason — and, yes, that includes Shohei Ohtani.”

For a player who had entered October with just a .136 average in his postseason career, the turnaround is stunning. His ability to hit top-tier pitching has given Toronto its backbone. But the Dodgers will almost certainly pitch around him, making production from Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement critical.

Another emerging hero is rookie Trey Yesavage. The 21-year-old right-hander, with only three regular-season starts, has looked fearless on the mound. He struck out 11 Yankees in the ALDS and induced double plays to beat the Mariners in Game 6 of the ALCS. David Schoenfield pointed out that scouting reports now exist on him, which may test his command against Los Angeles’ patient hitters.

George Springer is also central to Toronto’s chances. At 36, the veteran hit .309 this season, the best mark of his career, and added a decisive three-run homer to win the ALCS. His postseason reputation dates back to his 2017 MVP run with Houston. Booed in Los Angeles for his ties to the Astros’ scandal, Springer now has the chance to redeem his reputation in the biggest spotlight.

The bullpen battle

Toronto’s biggest weakness is its relief corps. Manager John Schneider has relied heavily on Louis Varland, acquired at the trade deadline. He has pitched in 10 of Toronto’s 11 playoff games. While the Jays could line up multiple left-handers to counter Ohtani, Freeman and Max Muncy, those arms have been shaky in October.

Los Angeles has its own late-game questions. Sasaki has carried the load, but with more video and scouting reports available, the Blue Jays may find ways to attack him. If they succeed, the Dodgers will be stretched thin in the later innings.

A duel of stars with Canadian ties

One storyline certain to draw headlines is the duel between Guerrero and Freeman. Guerrero was born in Montreal while his Hall of Fame father played for the Expos. Freeman, whose parents are from Ontario, holds Canadian citizenship and has represented the country in the World Baseball Classic. Their battle at first base captures both national pride and star power.

Shohei Ohtani’s presence makes the matchup truly global. The 31-year-old superstar, who turned down Toronto before signing a $700 million deal with Los Angeles, is the face of the sport in Japan. His two-way dominance means this World Series will be followed closely in North America and abroad.

Historic stakes

For Los Angeles, a repeat championship would mark its ninth overall and cement its place as baseball’s modern juggernaut. The Dodgers’ $321 million payroll, coupled with Ohtani’s deferred contract structure, has already sparked debate over competitive balance.

Dave Roberts leaned into the criticism after clinching the pennant: “Before the season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball.”

For Toronto, the stakes are history and redemption. Canada has not celebrated a World Series since Carter’s 1993 homer, nor a championship in any of the “Big Four” sports since the Raptors’ 2019 NBA Finals win. A Blue Jays triumph would end decades of waiting and further elevate Guerrero into franchise lore.

Head-to-head and shared ties

The Dodgers lead the all-time series with Toronto, 19–11. In August, they took two of three games at Dodger Stadium. Blake Snell and Clayton Kershaw combined for 16 innings of one-run ball before Ernie Clement’s homer salvaged one win for the Jays.

Connections abound between the franchises. Don Mattingly, now Toronto’s bench coach, managed the Dodgers from 2011 to 2015. Chris Woodward, Toronto’s former shortstop, is Los Angeles’ first-base coach. Teoscar Hernández, now a Dodger, won two Silver Sluggers in six years with Toronto, while Max Scherzer, now with the Blue Jays, once posted a 2.01 ERA as a Dodger.

Schedule set for international stage

The World Series opens Oct. 24 and 25 at Rogers Centre before shifting to Los Angeles for Games 3–5. If needed, Games 6 and 7 return to Toronto on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Each game is set for 8 p.m. ET and will air on FOX.

This is only the seventh time a World Series game will be played outside the United States. Canada will host with an energy unmatched since 1993. For a nation that has waited three decades for its baseball return, the sight of Rogers Centre under October lights promises to be unforgettable.

The keys to watch

Three questions hang over this series. Can the Dodgers’ starters, who have dominated everyone so far, silence Guerrero and Toronto’s red-hot bats? Can the Blue Jays’ bullpen hold off Ohtani, Freeman and Mookie Betts in late-game situations? And will home-field advantage, which has historically tilted championships, finally deliver Canada another title?

What is certain is that the World Series offers a clash of styles and histories. The extraordinary Dodgers, built on pitching depth and big spending, against the combative Blue Jays, powered by a superstar bat and an inspired run. For one team, it is the chance to extend dominance. For the other, it is the chance to bring a championship back across the border.

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