2025 World Series: Dodgers vs Blue Jays Preview & How to Watch

The stage is set for the 121st Fall Classic, and baseball fans worldwide are preparing for what promises to be an electrifying showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. This unprecedented matchup marks the first time these two franchises have met with the game's ultimate prize on the line.

Game 1 tips off Friday, October 24 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) at Rogers Centre in Toronto, where the Blue Jays will leverage home-field advantage after posting the best record in the American League during the regular season.

Dodgers Eye Historic Back-to-Back Championships

The defending World Series champions arrive in Toronto riding a wave of momentum that has seen them win nine of their 10 playoff games this October. If successful, the Dodgers would become the first team to repeat as champions since the New York Yankees accomplished the feat in 2000—a milestone that has eluded baseball's elite for a quarter century.

The Dodgers' path to dominance has been paved by one of the most extraordinary starting rotations in postseason history. Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani have combined for a microscopic 1.40 ERA throughout the playoffs, systematically dismantling opposing lineups with surgical precision.

Snell, who will likely take the mound in Game 1, has been nothing short of unhittable. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has posted a 3-0 record in three playoff starts, allowing just two runs over 21 innings while striking out 28 batters. In his last outing against the Brewers, he faced the minimum 24 batters over eight innings, surrendering only a single hit.

Ohtani's Legendary Performance

While the Dodgers' pitching has dominated headlines, Shohei Ohtani delivered what many are calling the greatest individual performance in baseball history during Game 4 of the NLCS. The Japanese superstar hit three home runs while also striking out 10 batters over six innings on the mound—a two-way display that earned him NLCS MVP honors and reminded the world why he's considered the best player on the planet.

According to MLB.com's panel of experts, Ohtani is the overwhelming favorite to win World Series MVP, garnering 25 of 56 votes. As one expert put it: "After watching Game 4 of the NLCS, it would be downright foolish to pick anyone other than the author of the greatest individual performance in the history of the game!"

Blue Jays' Cinderella Run Fueled by Guerrero's Historic Postseason

The Blue Jays arrive at the Fall Classic after a grueling playoff journey that saw them defeat the Yankees in four games before outlasting the Mariners in a thrilling seven-game ALCS. The team's 32-year championship drought has created pent-up excitement across Canada, with Rogers Centre expected to generate deafening crowd noise throughout the series.

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having one of the greatest postseasons in MLB history. Through 11 games, Guerrero is batting .442 with six home runs, 12 RBIs, and a staggering 1.440 OPS. To put those numbers in perspective, only four players in history have posted an OPS above 1.200 in a postseason that culminated in a World Series championship—and Guerrero's current mark sits well above that threshold.

The Blue Jays received a critical boost with the expected return of shortstop Bo Bichette, who missed the final six weeks of the regular season and postseason with a knee injury. His potential availability adds another dynamic weapon to Toronto's already formidable lineup.

George Springer, who delivered the walk-off home run in Game 7 of the ALCS, brings valuable World Series experience and clutch hitting. Veteran Max Scherzer has also been instrumental in the rotation, replicating the magic that has defined his Hall of Fame career.

Expert Predictions Split on Series Outcome

Despite the Blue Jays' home-field advantage and offensive firepower, MLB.com's expert panel favors the Dodgers, with 36 of 56 voters picking Los Angeles to prevail. The most common prediction is a Dodgers victory in five games, garnering 21 votes.

However, 20 experts believe the Blue Jays can pull off the upset, citing Toronto's 54-27 home record during the regular season and the potential to expose the Dodgers' bullpen weakness if they can chase the starters early.

"The Dodgers are a juggernaut that will not be stopped. As long as their starting pitchers are healthy and firing on all cylinders, they should win this Series with relative ease," Mark Feinsand, MLB.com's senior national reporter, predicted.

On the flip side, those backing Toronto point to intangibles. "The Blue Jays have an unshakable spark, the backing of an entire country, and a young star in Vlad Jr. poised to leave his mark," noted one content producer.

How to Watch the 2025 World Series

All World Series games will be broadcast nationally on FOX and FOX Deportes, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET each night. Fans without cable have several streaming options to catch every pitch:

Live TV Streaming Services

• DirecTV Stream: Offers a five-day free trial with access to FOX and unlimited cloud DVR storage
• Fubo TV: Currently offering a free trial, includes 100-plus live channels and ESPN Unlimited
• Hulu + Live TV: Running a promotional rate of $65/month for the first three months (regular price $90/month)
• Fox One: Fox's new streaming platform at $20/month provides access to all Fox Sports content, including every World Series game

For cord-cutters in range of a local FOX affiliate, a digital antenna remains the most economical option for free over-the-air access.

International viewers can follow the action through 44 media partners broadcasting to 203 countries in 16 languages. In Canada, Sportsnet TV and Radio will provide comprehensive national coverage.

Complete World Series Schedule

The series follows a 2-3-2 format, with all games scheduled for 8 p.m. ET start times:

• Game 1: Friday, October 24 – Dodgers at Blue Jays (Rogers Centre, Toronto)
• Game 2: Saturday, October 25 – Dodgers at Blue Jays (Rogers Centre, Toronto)
• Game 3: Monday, October 27 – Blue Jays at Dodgers (Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles)
• Game 4: Tuesday, October 28 – Blue Jays at Dodgers (Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles)
• Game 5: Wednesday, October 29 – Blue Jays at Dodgers (Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles)*
• Game 6: Friday, October 31 – Dodgers at Blue Jays (Rogers Centre, Toronto)*
• Game 7: Saturday, November 1 – Dodgers at Blue Jays (Rogers Centre, Toronto)*

*If necessary

Umpiring Crew Announced

Major League Baseball announced that Mark Wegner will serve as crew chief for the Fall Classic, marking his third World Series assignment and first as crew chief. The veteran umpire, with more than 25 years of experience, will lead a seven-person crew that includes Jordan Baker, Adam Hamari, Adrian Johnson, Will Little, Alan Porter, and John Tumpane.

The seven-umpire format allows for distinct home plate assignments in a potential seven-game series, with one umpire off the field each game. Jeremie Rehak and regular season crew chief Dan Iassogna have been assigned to Replay throughout the series.

A Series for the Ages

This World Series represents a collision of baseball narratives: a dynasty seeking to extend its reign versus a franchise hungry to reclaim past glory. The Dodgers bring championship pedigree, a rotation for the ages, and the sport's brightest star in Ohtani. The Blue Jays counter with a slugger having a postseason for the record books, passionate home crowds, and the belief that this is their moment.

As the baseball world turns its attention to Toronto, one thing is certain—the 121st Fall Classic promises drama, excellence, and moments that will be replayed for generations. Whether Los Angeles completes its championship repeat or Toronto ends three decades of disappointment, fans are guaranteed a spectacle worthy of October baseball's grandest stage.