For the 3rd time in 5 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the World Series, and are we really surprised? No, they spend a butt load of money, but so do other teams. As much as I want to hate on them for it, I can’t. They’re better at it than many other teams, such as the Yankees, Mets, and Phillies, who consistently choke year in and year out while spending $250 million on payroll… But that’s for another blog in a few weeks. Let’s give flowers to those who deserve it.
American League Champions
The Toronto Blue Jays are back in the World Series for the first time since Joe Carter’s (biggest World Series homerun ever) walk-off homer in 1993. I was completely wrong about the Jays in my blog post at the beginning of the playoffs. This team is GOOD. Their playoff run has been fueled by standout performances from a mix of stars and rising talent. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been on a historic tear, batting .442 with six home runs and 12 RBIs through 11 games, earning ALCS MVP honors and tying the franchise record for most postseason homers. George Springer, long known for his October heroics, added another clutch moment to his résumé with a three-run blast in Game 7 of the ALCS that propelled Toronto to the World Series. Meanwhile, Addison Barger has emerged as an unexpected postseason contributor, delivering timely power with a crucial home run and three RBIs to help extend the series. On the mound, rookie Trey Yesavage has been electric, setting a franchise postseason record with 11 strikeouts over 5⅓ no-hit innings in Game 2 of the ALDS and following it up with another dominant outing in the ALCS. Bo Bichette hasn’t even played in these playoffs yet, but could be returning. As a reminder, he slashed a .311 batting average with 181 hits, 18 home runs, and 94 RBIs over 139 games. They hit for contact and power, receiving constant production 1-9 in the lineup while also getting key pitching from the starting and relief pitchers. It truly has been a mix of veteran leadership and youthful firepower that has made the Jays one of the most dangerous and entertaining teams of the postseason.
National League Champions
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ return to the World Series was a statement of dominance and resilience, powered by a blend of superstar performances and steady veteran leadership. Shohei Ohtani led the charge with a historic postseason showing in Game 4 with three homers and 10 strikeouts in only 6 innings to earn NLCS MVP honors. Behind him, Yoshinobu Yamamoto showcased his ace form with a brilliant complete-game three-hitter in Game 2 of the NLCS, while Blake Snell set the tone early in the series with eight shutout innings in Game 1. Complementing the pitching staff’s excellence, Mookie Betts provided the spark offensively, hitting over .350 in the playoffs and coming through with multiple leadoff hits that ignited key rallies. With their rotation firing on all cylinders, only allowing 4 runs the entire series, and their lineup anchored by generational talent, the Dodgers’ march back to the Fall Classic is a yearly thing.
Prediction
It’s boring, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are poised to win the World Series over the Toronto Blue Jays in five games, driven by their unmatched championship pedigree and postseason experience. This is a roster built for October, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman all bring proven World Series résumés and the ability to perform when it matters the most, while Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto headline a rotation that has been nearly unhittable this postseason. The Dodgers’ core knows how to handle the big stage; most of their key players have been through deep playoff runs and know how to close out a series. In contrast, the Blue Jays’ youth and inconsistency could be their undoing—their lineup, though explosive, tends to struggle against elite pitching, and their bullpen depth remains suspect in late-game situations despite coming through so far, this postseason. With a blend of power, pitching, and playoff poise, the Dodgers have every advantage to dispatch Toronto quickly and claim yet another championship for their storied franchise.
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