2025 World Series Preview: Blue Jays vs Dodgers - A Clash of Contrasting Styles
The 2025 World Series features a compelling matchup between the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, who haven't won a championship in over three decades. This historic showdown pits the Dodgers' dominant starting rotation against the Blue Jays' powerful offense led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. With Game 1 set for Friday at Rogers Centre, baseball fans are treated to a classic battle between two teams with fundamentally different approaches to the game.
The stage is set for one of the most intriguing World Series matchups in recent memory as the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers prepare to face the Toronto Blue Jays, a franchise seeking its first championship since 1993. This historic showdown marks the Blue Jays' first World Series appearance in 32 years and only the third in franchise history, while the Dodgers return looking to cement their dynasty with back-to-back titles.
Team Contrasts and Historical Context
This World Series presents a fascinating clash of styles between two franchises with limited regular-season history. The Dodgers hold the all-time interleague advantage at 19-11, with the teams first meeting on June 18, 2002. According to ESPN analysis, this matchup had only a 2.28% chance of happening before the season, ranking 13th among 165 potential World Series pairings.
The Dodgers represent the modern approach with their dominant starting rotation, while the Blue Jays bring a throwback offense focused on standout batting averages and contact hitting. This contrast makes for compelling baseball as the well-rested Dodgers, who swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, face the battle-tested Blue Jays who outlasted the Seattle Mariners in a thrilling seven-game ALCS.
Blue Jays' Path to the World Series
The Toronto Blue Jays have been carried to their first World Series in three decades primarily by the historic performance of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The superstar first baseman has been the best player this postseason, slashing an absurd .442/.510/.930 with six home runs and only three strikeouts throughout the playoffs. As ESPN's Jorge Castillo notes, Guerrero has completely transformed his October reputation after entering the playoffs with a .136/.240/.182 slash line in his first six career playoff games.
Rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage has emerged as a crucial component of Toronto's success, earning the trust of the coaching staff to serve as the number two starter behind Kevin Gausman despite making only three regular-season starts. Yesavage delivered 5⅓ hitless innings with 11 strikeouts against the Yankees in the ALDS and secured three crucial double plays in ALCS Game 6 against the Mariners.
Dodgers' Dominant Pitching Staff
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached the World Series on the strength of what may be the most dominant starting rotation in recent postseason history. Their four starters - Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani - have combined for a remarkable 1.40 ERA across 64⅓ innings this postseason. According to Jeff Passan's analysis, opposing batters are hitting just .132/.207/.201 against Dodgers starters with only two home runs allowed.
The emergence of Roki Sasaki as a dominant bullpen weapon has been equally critical to the Dodgers' success. Sasaki has recorded the final out in five of the Dodgers' nine postseason victories and pitched three perfect innings in the NLDS Game 4 clincher. His adaptation to a high-leverage relief role has solved what was previously a bullpen concern for Los Angeles.
Series Outlook and Key Matchups
This World Series presents the ultimate test of whether elite pitching can overcome elite hitting. The Dodgers' rotation averages 96.8 mph on their fastballs and features multiple pitchers with extensive arsenals - Yamamoto throws six different pitches while Ohtani utilizes seven. However, the Blue Jays have demonstrated exceptional ability against high-velocity pitching, hitting .292 against 97-plus mph fastballs and striking out in only six of 50 plate appearances ending with those pitches.
The series may hinge on how the Dodgers choose to approach Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the plate. If they elect to pitch around Toronto's superstar, the pressure will fall on hitters like Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement to produce in RBI situations. For the Dodgers, Freddie Freeman's performance will be crucial as he bats third in the lineup against Toronto's all-right-handed rotation.
Game 1 begins Friday at Rogers Centre in Toronto, marking the seventh World Series game played outside the United States. With Canada hosting its first World Series game since 1993, the atmosphere promises to be electric as these two contrasting baseball philosophies collide on baseball's biggest stage.
