The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the World Series for the fifth time in the last nine years and only the Toronto Blue Jays stand in their way from becoming MLB’s first repeat champion in 25 years.
The 2025 World Series marks the first ever postseason matchup between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, beginning with Game 1 on Friday.
The Dodgers finished the regular season with a 93-69 record and as the third seed in the National League standings. To get to this point, the Dodgers knocked the Cincinnati Reds out in the Wild Card Series as a result of not receiving a first-round bye.
They also took down the top-two seeds in the NL, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series and sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Championship Series.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays finished with the best record in the American League at 94-68, securing home-field advantage through the AL Championship Series. They advanced past the AL Division Series by defeating the New York Yankees in four games and survived a thrilling seven-game set against the Seattle Mariners to reach the World Series.
The Dodgers and Blue Jays played one three-game series during the 2025 regular season at Dodger Stadium in early August. The Dodgers won two of the three games against their World Series opponent.
2025 season review: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays
Aug. 8, Clayton Kershaw outduels Max Scherzer
The Dodgers came away victorious in the pitching matchup between two future first-ballot Hall of Famers. Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers’ bullpen held the Blue Jays’ offense in check despite allowing 10 hits in the game.
The Blue Jays scored first on an RBI single from Addison Barger in the second inning, but it their only run driven in despite having plenty of chances. The team was 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
A two-run home run from Mookie Betts off Scherzer in the fifth inning gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game. L.A. tacked on three more runs with a rally in the seventh inning.
Blake Treinen worked an easy ninth inning to secure the 5-1 win.
Aug. 9, Blake Snell strikes out 10
In just his second start since returning from the injured list, Blake Snell delivered five scoreless innings while striking out 10 batters.
The Dodgers jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the first five innings thanks to a two-run homer from Max Muncy and a solo shot from Shohei Ohtani. The offense exploded for six runs in the sixth inning, with the first six batters of the inning reaching base safely.
L.A. didn’t score again but still cruised to a 9-1 victory.
Aug. 10, Dodgers bullpen squanders late lead
The Dodgers took a 3-1 lead thanks in part to solo home runs from Freddie Freeman and Ohtani.
Tyler Glasnow allowed two earned runs over 5.2 innings of work, but the Dodgers still led 3-2 after six innings.
The Blue Jays took a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning with two home runs off of Treinen, but the Dodgers tied the game in the bottom of the eighth thanks to Freeman’s second bases-loaded walk of the game.
However, the Blue Jays jumped back in front in the ninth inning with a homer off of Alex Vesia. The Dodgers had a prime opportunity to tie or take the lead with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Mason Fluharty struck out Ohtani and got Betts to ground out.
Toronto salvaged a 5-4 win to avoid the sweep, which affected home-field advantage for the World Series.
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