The 2025 MLB World Series kicks off tomorrow night, featuring the defending 2024 World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto. 

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Road to the World Series:

The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to win back-to-back World Series for the first time in franchise history. The Dodgers finished the regular season with a record of 93-79, which was the team’s worst win percentage since 2018.

The Dodgers were placed as the 3 seed in the National League. Despite their worst regular season record in 7 years, they have breezed through the playoffs so far. In the Wild Card round, they defeated the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 in a best-of-three game series. 

Then, in the ALDS, the Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 in a best-of-five game series. Following that, they swept the one-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the ALCS in a best-of-seven game series to reach the World Series again.

This offseason, the Dodgers picked up two superstar pitchers. Roki Sasaki from Japan, and two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell. Both have dealt with injuries throughout the season but have been important pieces to the Dodgers’ postseason success since their returns. 

The Dodgers arguably have the best roster in baseball, and, with that, arguably the best player in baseball in Shoehi Ohtani. Coming off of an MVP season last year, Ohtani has lit it up again this season both at the plate and on the mound. In the beginning of the playoffs, Ohtani struggled brutally at the plate. He recorded just one hit in 18 at-bats against the Phillies. Recently, he has turned things around. Ohtani is coming off of one of the greatest single game performances in MLB history in game 4 against the Brewers to send the Dodgers to the World Series. He was the first player in MLB history to hit for three home runs in a single game, while also tossing for ten strikeouts on the mound. He was also the first pitcher to ever have a multi-homerun game in the playoffs.

Toronto Blue Jays’ Road to the World Series:

The Blue Jays, on the other hand, finished the regular season with a record of 94-68 and won the American League East for the first time in 10 years after having the tie-breaker over the New York Yankees. 

After a great regular season, they kept their momentum heading into the playoffs— securing the first seed in the American League. The Blue Jays had a first round bye before facing off against their division rivals, the New York Yankees in the ALDS (American League Division Series). The Blue Jays prevailed and won the series 3-1 in a best-of-five game series. 

Following the series, the Blue Jays then faced off against the Seattle Mariners, who had a 90-72 record in the regular season. Seattle started the series up 2-0, but Toronto fought back, winning 2 games to even up the series. Then Seattle won game 5, and Toronto won game 6, which forced a game 7 in Toronto. Toronto trailed 3-1 to the Mariners in the bottom of the seventh inning, until Blue Jays outfielder George Springer hit a three-run home run to put Toronto up 4-3, which would ultimately be the final score— sending the Blue Jays to their first World Series since 1993. 

Matt’s Prediction:

Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2) 

World Series MVP: Tommy Edman

Best Pitcher: Roki Sasaki

Ryan’s Prediction: 

Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers (4-0) 

World Series MVP: Shohei Ohtani 

Best Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani