World Series Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Toronto Blue Jays Game 1 – Lineups, Key Players & Storylines (2025-10-24)

Friday, October 24th, 2025

Los Angeles Dodgers Face Toronto Blue Jays in 2025 World Series Opener

The Los Angeles Dodgers arrive in Toronto for the World Series opener against the Blue Jays, carrying not just a championship pedigree but also the weight of public scrutiny. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts smiled off suggestions that he's baseball's "villain," citing the team's historic $509 million payroll and embracing the playful label after clinching the National League pennant: “They said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!”

Despite the criticism about spending, Roberts maintains that his comment was in jest: “I was just having a little fun with people that said that about the Dodgers, but I hope I’m not the villain.”

Dodgers Aim to Make History

The Dodgers are the first defending champions to return to the World Series since the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies. No team has won back-to-back titles since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000, and no National League team has done it since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider sees the Dodgers as formidable, but beatable: “The one thing we cannot do is look over there and say that is Goliath. That is a beatable baseball team that has its flaws, and that has its really, really good strengths. How we expose each of them will determine who wins the series.”

Los Angeles is powered by stars Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts offensively, and boasts an elite pitching rotation with Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers are 9-1 in the postseason, despite starting every series on the road, and have an impressive 14-1 record over the past month.

Freddie Freeman reflected on the magnitude of another possible championship: “Just to win once is hard and now be this close to being able to do it two times in a row, I don’t know if I’ve really grasped the weight of it. Last week you’re starting to get the word dynasty thrown out, and if that’s being thrown out, that means the organization’s doing a really, really good job.”

Blue Jays Return the World Series to Canada

When the World Series was last played on Canadian soil in 1993, Toronto won its second consecutive title with Joe Carter’s iconic walk-off homer. Since then, the Blue Jays have become Canada’s lone Major League Baseball team and now play at the Rogers Centre, formerly the SkyDome.

Upgrades continue at the Rogers Centre, with its capacity reduced to just under 45,000 and more changes planned ahead of 2026. Canadian national pride is evident, as the Blue Jays aim to make history and bring the trophy home. “We represent this entire country and we’re this country’s team, so we want to go out there and do everything we can to make this country proud of us,” said rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage, who will start Game 1 for Toronto in only his seventh big league appearance.

Ohtani Seeks Slump-Busting Magic

Shohei Ohtani, currently in a slump, opted for on-field batting practice—rare for him—in preparation for the World Series. The slugger showcased impressive power, sending drives over the center field fence and off the stadium scoreboard. In a previous slump-breaking session last week, Ohtani went on to hit three home runs and pitch six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts against Milwaukee the next day.

Blake Snell Returns to World Series Mound

Dodgers ace Blake Snell will start for Los Angeles, competing in his first World Series since pitching for Tampa Bay in 2020 against these same Dodgers. In that series, Snell was controversially removed early, and the Dodgers rallied to victory. Reflecting on that experience, Snell said, “Learn from it and ultimately it made me a better pitcher … I’ve matured. I’ve grown up. I was kind of a kid still in 2020.”

After stints with San Diego and San Francisco—and now as a two-time Cy Young Award winner after signing a $182 million, five-year deal with Los Angeles—Snell brings experience and motivation to the Dodgers rotation.

Rust vs. Rest: Historical Perspective

Since 1985, teams coming off longer League Championship Series have prevailed in every World Series against teams who swept their way in four games. Notable examples include the 1988 Dodgers, 2006 Cardinals, 2007 Red Sox, and the 2012 Giants. This trend may play on the minds of both managers.

The Blue Jays enter with significant offensive momentum, spearheaded by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .442 with six home runs and 12 RBI in 11 postseason games.

In summary

The 2025 World Series opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays offers a compelling clash of baseball titans, from roster investments and superstar matchups to national pride and championship legacies. As the Dodgers seek consecutive titles amid scrutiny for their spending, the Blue Jays aim to bring the trophy north of the border with a hungry young roster and a nation’s hopes behind them. With storylines ranging from Ohtani’s quest to spark the offense and Snell's redemption arc to Guerrero Jr.'s red-hot bat, this World Series promises excitement, intensity, and a place in baseball history.

Related Links

• Los Angeles Dodgers News & Updates
• Los Angeles Dodgers Schedule & Scores
• Toronto Blue Jays News & Updates
• Toronto Blue Jays Schedule & Scores
• MLB News