The 2025 World Series started on Oct. 24, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers’ continuous postseason dominance against the emergent Toronto Blue Jays. As of Oct. 26, both teams have won one game each. If the Dodgers want to go for a second consecutive title, they will need to take full advantage of having games three through five at home and give their starters opportunities to pitch deep, as they are known to be high level performers.
Game one of the World Series took place at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, where the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 11-4. The game was contested up until the sixth inning, when the Blue Jays unexpectedly took control of the game, as sportsbooks expected the Dodgers to win. The Dodgers have a strong résumé when it comes to postseason baseball, while the Blue Jays haven’t been in the World Series since 1993.
The Dodgers are the predominant team in the National League West and the winner of last year’s World Series. Los Angeles punched their ticket to the Fall Classic by sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the League Championship Series. Before the World Series, the Dodgers had lost only one game in the 2025 postseason.
Winning for the Dodgers is not new. The Dodgers have appeared in the World Series five times in the last nine years — winning it twice over the last five seasons. They haven’t missed the postseason since 2013. This historic stretch hasn’t gone unnoticed, leading bettors and Dodgers fans alike to think that the next World Series will be theirs. Despite losing game one, I think that if the Dodgers play their cards right with both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, they may be able to win back-to-back ring.
Game one did not go the Dodgers’ way, largely due to two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell’s sixth-inning collapse. Snell began the game with a ballooned pitch count. In the first inning alone, he threw 29 pitches and allowed the Blue Jays to load up the bases. Despite stranding no runs in the first, he surrendered a two-run home run to outfielder Daulton Varsho in the fourth inning. Snell exited in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and no outs, allowing the Blue Jays to gain a nine-run lead. Snell fell short in game one, which was uncharacteristic given his postseason performances in the past.
Home field advantage is something the Dodgers have to their advantage going forward with the other games. During the regular season, statistically, the Dodgers have more wins against the Blue Jays than losses. For context, the Dodgers also a better regular season percentage than the Blue Jays. Using their historically good background, combined with the comfort of knowing their home field from top to bottom, would also lead the Dodgers to their consecutive win.
Alongside Snell, Yamamoto, a Cy Young candidate as well, lead the Dodgers rotation. Both with his bat and on the mound, Ohtani, the 2024 MVP winner, has shown his passion and dedication through the work that he has put in this season. Ohtani is the Dodgers’ “best man,” arguably after winning three MVPs and likely a fourth one after this season. In game two, the Dodgers evened the series behind a stellar outing from starting pitcher Yamamoto. Yamamoto delivered a historic performance, throwing a complete game with only four hits allowed. He shut down the Blue Jays bats, as they struggled to catch up, falling short and not bringing in runs on the few opportunities they had.
As for the rest of the Series, the Dodgers have a pretty solid chance of winning regardless. I can confidently say that, based on the Dodgers’ recent history, they can bounce back from this current loss. To assist with that, the Dodgers can work on the bullpen to be better by placing Yamamoto as the standard for pitching and Ohtani for batting. Not all is lost, I can confidently say that the home games will bring hope for the Dodgers and allow them to use that advantage to take the lead.
