Published Oct 23, 6:33pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 23, 6:33pm ET
Grok AI
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| Toronto Blue Jays | +135 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -149 |
The LA Dodgers had an up-and-down season as they set about defending their 2024 World Series title. They did win 93 games and their fourth consecutive NL West title, but it was not easy.
Once the postseason started, they hit the "on" button, dropped the upstart Reds in 2 straight in the Wild Card Series; beat the veteran Phillies in 4 games in the NLDS; and blew the Brewers off the field in 4 straight in the NLCS.
On the mound, Blake Snell overcame an injury-shortened regular season that limited him to 11 starts and, in the playoffs, has tossed 21 innings, given up 6 hits, 2 earned runs, walked 5, and struck out 28. He has a 0.86 ERA in the 2025 postseason.
Shohei Ohtani has been brilliant at the plate and on the mound. At the plate, he only batted .220, but he has 5 homers, 9 RBIs, and a .967 OPS. In the pennant-clinching game, in addition to pitching a masterpiece, he hit 3 home runs.
LA's starting pitching has carried them in the postseason and saved them from trusting a struggling bullpen. There was no real test for playoff closer, rookie Roki Sasaki.
Teoscar Hernandez has 4 homers in the playoffs. Kiké Hernandez has batted .306.
The Dodgers have never faced Blue Jays' starter Trey Yesavage.
Toronto drafted righty Trey Yesavage in the 1st round (20th overall) from East Carolina University in the 2024 MLB Draft. Now, a year and a half later, he is making his fourth postseason start for the AL champs.
He's been excellent in two starts sandwiching the one in which he struggled.
Against the Yankees in the Division Series, he tossed 5.1 hitless innings, walked 1, and struck out 11, leading the Jays to a 2-0 series lead.
The Mariners knocked him around in Game 2 of the ALCS, but he rebounded in Game 6, surrendering 2 runs and 6 hits over 5.2 frames.
Toronto has ridden its contact-based lineup, power, and tactical bullpen games all the way to the World Series.
During the playoffs, George Springer hit 4 homers, including the game-winner in Game 7 of the ALCS.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a ridiculous slash line of .442/.510/.930 with 6 homers and 12 RBIs to win the ALCS MVP. Ernie Clement batted .429; Nathan Lukes was at .333; and Alejandro Kirk had 3 homers.
The Blue Jays have predominantly relied on bullpen games, using numerous pitchers to get them through. Closer Jeff Hoffman has a 1.23 ERA and 12 K's in 7.1 innings.
Against Snell, Kirk is 3 for 5 with 3 singles; Springer is 5 for 22 with a home run; Guerrero is 2 for 11 with a double.
Shortstop Bo Bichette, out since early September with a knee sprain, was taking grounders at 2nd base in workouts.
Bo Bichette is out doing drills with the infielders 👀 pic.twitter.com/m918wd2zyV
— theScore (@theScore) October 23, 2025
Manager John Schneider said Bichette could play his regular position of shortstop (unlikely), 2nd base (risky, but possible), or DH (most likely).
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Tanner Scott, LAD | INJURED |
| Michael Kopech, LAD | INJURED |
| Kirby Yates, LAD | INJURED |
| Bo Bichette, TOR | INJURED |
| Ty France, TOR | INJURED |
| Jose Berrios, TOR | INJURED |
| Anthony Santander, TOR | INJURED |
For World Series Game 1, can the Blue Jays do what no other team has done this postseason and hit Snell? Guerrero has been otherworldly, but Snell has been masterful and has handled Guerrero in the past.
Yesavage has remained cool and calm, especially considering his limited MLB experience. However, this is the World Series, and those are the Dodgers with Ohtani staring at him from home plate.
Snell has been so brilliant that it's unwise to doubt him. Notably, the Blue Jays' hitting approach is similar to the Brewers' in that they do not strike out and rely on contact. Snell mowed Milwaukee down.
LA will draw first blood and win World Series Game 1 at Rogers Center in Toronto.
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Los Angeles Dodgers -149
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