What To Know
- October 25, 2025 – The air in Dodger Stadium crackled with electric anticipation as the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Toronto Blue Jays for Game 1 of the 2025 World Series.
- The curtain-raiser on October 23 was a pitcher’s duel turned offensive showcase, ending with the Dodgers claiming a narrow 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Banda, a journeyman with a deceptive sinker, walked the leadoff man before Addison Barger—yes, the Blue Jays’ third baseman, facing his former team after a contentious July trade to L.
October 25, 2025 – The air in Dodger Stadium crackled with electric anticipation as the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Toronto Blue Jays for Game 1 of the 2025 World Series. In a matchup dripping with star power and underdog grit, the Fall Classic has already delivered moments that will echo through baseball lore. With the Dodgers’ powerhouse lineup clashing against the resilient Blue Jays, fans are witnessing a series that blends West Coast glamour with Canadian tenacity. As the World Series score tightens after a thrilling opener, all eyes turn to Game 2, where redemption and revenge hang in the balance.
Game 1 Recap: Dodgers Edge Blue Jays in 5-4 Thriller, Powered by Late Heroics
The curtain-raiser on October 23 was a pitcher’s duel turned offensive showcase, ending with the Dodgers claiming a narrow 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Los Angeles starter Emmet Sheehan, the wiry right-hander acquired in a midseason trade, set the tone early, baffling Toronto’s bats with a mix of cutters and sliders over 6.1 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out eight. His performance evoked memories of a young Clayton Kershaw, steadying the Dodgers’ rotation amid injury concerns.
But the Blue Jays refused to fade quietly. Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Toronto mounted a rally that had Dodger faithful holding their breath. Daulton Varsho, the fleet-footed outfielder whose speed has terrorized AL East defenses all season, legged out a leadoff double, his .285 average and league-leading 42 stolen bases flashing in the Hollywood lights. Alejandro Kirk followed with a sharp single to center, plating Varsho and igniting the bench. Then came the spark: pinch-hitter Ernie Clement, called up from Triple-A in September, roped a two-run double to left, knotting the game at 3-3. Clement’s improbable rise—from overlooked prospect to World Series contributor—personified the Blue Jays’ “never say die” ethos, drawing roars from the contingent of Toronto fans who made the trek south.
The Dodgers responded in the bottom half, capitalizing on a weary Anthony Banda, Toronto’s lefty reliever who had logged 72 appearances this year. Banda, a journeyman with a deceptive sinker, walked the leadoff man before Addison Barger—yes, the Blue Jays’ third baseman, facing his former team after a contentious July trade to L.A.—crushed a three-run homer to right field. Barger’s blast, his 28th of the season, sailed 412 feet and silenced the rally, giving the Dodgers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Final World Series score: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 4.
Toronto clawed back one more in the ninth against closer Evan Phillips, but Kirk’s towering flyout stranded the tying run at third. It was a gut-wrenching finish for the Blue Jays, who finished the regular season at 92-70, their best mark since 2016.
Game 2 Preview: Blake Snell Takes Mound as Blue Jays Seek Split
Tonight’s Game 2 (October 25, 8:08 p.m. ET) shifts the spotlight to the Dodgers’ ace, Blake Snell, the 2023 NL Cy Young winner who signed a blockbuster deal with L.A. in the offseason. Snell, boasting a 2.45 ERA over 180 innings this year, faces a Toronto lineup that’s hit .265 against lefties. The Blue Jays counter with Kevin Gausman, whose splitter has been unhittable down the stretch.
Schedules for the full series project a potential shift to Rogers Centre for Games 3-5 if the Dodgers extend their lead, with the Blue Jays’ home-field advantage kicking in. Weather in L.A. remains balmy—72 degrees and clear—perfect for extra-inning drama. Analysts predict a low-scoring affair, but with Toronto’s bullpen taxed (Banda’s 3.12 ERA belies his fatigue), expect the Blue Jays to lean on Varsho’s wheels and Kirk’s steady bat (.302 average, 18 homers) to manufacture runs.
Team performance analysis reveals the Dodgers’ edge in power (1.12 team HR/9) but Toronto’s superiority in baserunning (+24 runs above average). The Blue Jays’ pitching staff, anchored by Sheehan’s poise and Banda’s versatility, has limited opponents to a .234 average in October. Yet L.A.’s depth—fueled by Barger’s revenge narrative—could overwhelm if Snell delivers six strong innings.
Standout Players Lighting Up the Fall Classic
No World Series tale is complete without its heroes and heartbreakers. Addison Barger‘s grand entrance in Game 1 wasn’t just a home run; it was catharsis. Traded from the Blue Jays for prospects in a move that stung Toronto fans, the 26-year-old infielder has thrived in Dodger blue, slashing .289/.362/.512 since the deal. His timely power swing turned the tide, but whispers in the clubhouse suggest unresolved tension with his old mates.
On the Toronto side, Daulton Varsho embodies the Blue Jays’ scrappy soul. The former Diamondback’s transition to center field has been seamless, his Gold Glove-caliber defense saving three runs in the ALCS alone. In Game 1, his double sparked hope, a reminder that speed can humble even the mightiest arms.
Behind the plate, Alejandro Kirk is the quiet conductor, his soft hands and plate discipline (OBP .378) keeping pitchers off-balance. Teammate Ernie Clement, the unheralded utility man, etched his name in series history with that pinch-hit double—his first extra-base hit in the majors since August. And don’t sleep on Anthony Banda, whose sidearm delivery induced 14 groundouts in Game 1’s late innings, even as fatigue showed.
For the Dodgers, Emmet Sheehan‘s debut in the Fall Classic was a masterclass, his 98-mph heat touching triple digits. Blake Snell, meanwhile, looms as the X-factor, his curveball a weapon that could neutralize Toronto’s contact hitters.
Historic Context: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays – A Clash of Eras
This Dodgers-Toronto Blue Jays showdown marks the first World Series rematch since 1993, when the Jays swept the Phillies en route to back-to-back titles. The Blue Jays, absent from the Fall Classic since that dynasty, carry the weight of a franchise reborn under GM Ross Atkins. Their 2025 run echoes the ’93 magic—underdogs with flair, led by international stars like Kirk (Mexico) and Varsho (USA’s heartland).
The Dodgers, chasing a repeat after their 2024 triumph over the Yankees, represent sustained excellence: three titles in five years, a $300 million payroll fueling stars like Snell and Mookie Betts. Yet history favors the plucky—Toronto’s 1992-93 back-to-backs came against behemoths. With the series tied 1-0? No, Dodgers lead 1-0, but the Blue Jays’ resilience could flip the script, much like their 2016 ALCS comeback.
Key moments like Clement’s pinch hit and Barger’s grand slam (wait, it was a three-run homer, but the drama felt grand) already rival iconic plays. Stats underscore the stakes: Toronto’s +1.8 WAR from bench players leads all playoff teams, while L.A.’s starters own a collective 1.98 ERA in October.
Where to Watch the World Series 2025: Broadcast Schedule and Fan Guide
Catch every pitch of the Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays saga on FOX for U.S. viewers, with streaming on Tubi and the MLB app. Canadian fans, tune into Sportsnet for comprehensive coverage, including pregame analysis from Blue Jays legends like Joe Carter. International audiences can access via MLB.TV, with blackout restrictions lifted for the Fall Classic.
Game 2 airs tonight from Dodger Stadium (FOX, 8:08 p.m. ET). Subsequent games: Game 3 (Oct. 28, Rogers Centre), Game 4 (Oct. 29), and potential clinchers through Nov. 2. For tickets, check MLB.com or resale sites—Rogers Centre packages start at $250 CAD, while L.A. scalps hover near $500.
As the series unfolds, it’s more than baseball; it’s a story of redemption, rivalry, and raw emotion. Will the Blue Jays summon their ’90s ghosts, or will the Dodgers’ machine grind on? One thing’s certain: in this 2025 World Series, every inning pulses with heart. Stay tuned—the Fall Classic is just heating up.
