Dodgers Vs. Blue Jays: Five Bold Predictions For 2025 World Series

The shape for nan 2025 World Series is officially set aft nan Blue Jays took down nan Mariners successful an enthralling ALCS Game 7 astatine nan Rogers Centre. Now, Toronto will big nan Dodgers connected Friday for Game 1 of nan World Series, nan first clip nan franchise has played successful nan Fall Classic since 1993.

The Blue Jays joined immoderate uncommon institution successful MLB history aft reaching nan World Series contempt losing nan first 2 games astatine location successful a best-of-seven series. Prior to nan 2025 Jays, only 3 teams had ever accomplished that type of comeback––the Yankees successful nan 1996 World Series, nan Mets successful nan '86 World Series, and nan Royals successful nan '85 World Series.

Interestingly enough, Toronto and Los Angeles were nan last 2 contenders successful nan Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes successful nan 2023 offseason. Now, conscionable 2 years later, Ohtani will beryllium looking to break nan hearts of Blue Jays fans each complete again.

There's prima powerfulness connected some teams. The Dodgers, of course, are loaded pinch talent, including 4 erstwhile MVPs successful Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Clayton Kershaw. Their rotation has been outstanding successful nan postseason arsenic nan squad looks to take sides its title, and though nan bullpen is simply a origin for concern, it's held its ain frankincense acold into nan playoff run. Los Angeles is beautiful heavy favored heading into nan series, but it will person to beryllium astatine its champion to grip a Blue Jays squad that has plentifulness of fight.

As for Toronto, there's possibly nary hotter hitter successful shot astatine coming than Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has already belted six location runs successful nan postseason while sporting a batting mean complete .400. He and Game 7 leader George Springer will lead nan complaint for nan Blue Jays arsenic they look to bring location nan franchise's first World Series title since 1993.

Let's make immoderate bold predictions for this year's World Series matchup.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way subordinate Shohei Ohtani was named NLCS MVP. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ohtani hasn't had nan champion postseason, but he made up for overmuch of his struggles astatine nan sheet pinch his performance successful Game 4 of nan NLCS, during which he deed 3 solo location runs and besides dominated connected nan mound, striking retired 10 batters.

That Game 4 was precisely what Ohtani needed earlier nan World Series, and I'm expecting he'll beryllium dialed successful for nan Dodgers arsenic they look to repetition arsenic champions. The two-way superstar didn't person a location tally successful past year's Fall Classic, but I'm predicting that will alteration successful 2025 and Ohtani will deed astatine slightest 2 homers successful nan series. I'm besides anticipating different stellar pitching outing from nan 31-year-old, successful which he will grounds eight-plus strikeouts without surrendering much than 2 runs.

A showing for illustration that would put Ohtani successful position to subordinate a prime group of players—Sandy Koufax, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Willie Stargell and Mike Schmidt—to beryllium named MVP for nan regular play and World Series successful nan aforesaid year.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will enactment scalding hot

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a .930 slugging percent successful nan postseason. / Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

There's possibly been nary hitter seeing nan shot amended than Guerrero of late, and it hasn't really mattered what caliber of pitcher he's facing. While galore Blue Jays batters will apt struggle against nan superb Dodgers' rotation, I'm not anticipating Guerrero will beryllium 1 of them.

Guerrero owns an absurd .442/.510/.930 slash statement pinch six location runs, 12 RBIs and 19 full hits successful 11 playoff games. He's had 9 other guidelines hits and drawn six walks, each while striking retired conscionable 3 times. The erstwhile grounds for fewest strikeouts pinch six postseason location runs was three. He's collected astatine slightest 1 deed successful each but 2 games, and has six games pinch 2 aliases much hits.

While I don't deliberation Toronto will beryllium capable to propulsion disconnected nan upset successful nan World Series, I deliberation Guerrero will person a tremendous bid and proceed to deed nan shot well. I'm expecting him to person astatine slightest 2 games pinch two-plus hits, arsenic good arsenic 2 location runs.

Los Angeles Dodgers alleviation pitcher Roki Sasaki has surrendered 1 tally successful 7 postseason outings. / Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The Dodgers' Achilles' bottommost this play has been nan bullpen. Los Angeles doesn't person galore reliable arms retired of nan 'pen, and though Roki Sasaki has been coagulated successful nan person role, he's not very knowledgeable pitching successful precocious innings. Blake Treinen struggled each season, and things person only worsned successful nan postseason. He owns a 7.36 ERA successful 7 appearances this October, surrendering 3 runs successful 3 2/3 innings.

Dodgers relievers had a 4.27 ERA during nan regular season. That classed 20th among nan 30 MLB teams. Los Angeles will beryllium hoping to thin connected its starting rotation arsenic overmuch arsenic possible, but it will beryllium susceptible erstwhile forced to make a telephone to nan bullpen. I'm expecting astatine slightest 1 crippled of nan bid to beryllium stolen by nan Blue Jays aft a disappointing outing from L.A.'s relievers.

George Springer will present a walk-off hit

Toronto Blue Jays correct fielder George Springer deed a clutch three-run location tally successful ALCS Game 7 vs. nan Mariners. / Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

This prediction ties into nan erstwhile one. I'm expecting nan Dodgers to triumph nan series, but I deliberation Springer will forestall Toronto from getting swept. Springer has been a clutch postseason performer passim his career, and he lifted nan Jays into nan World Series pinch his three-run homer successful Game 7 against nan Mariners.

Springer delivers successful large spots, and I'm expecting he'll get different opportunity to do precisely that successful a cardinal infinitesimal of nan World Series. For each nan big, go-ahead hits he's provided successful October passim his illustrious career, Springer has ne'er collected a walk-off deed successful nan playoffs. I'm predicting he'll do precisely that successful this series.

The Dodgers will look to repetition arsenic World Series champions. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Los Angeles is heavy favored successful this series, and I deliberation nan squad will unrecorded up to expectations and return attraction of nan Blue Jays successful conscionable 5 games. The Dodgers needed 5 games to dispose of nan Yankees successful 2024, and now they will person nan chance to present nan aforesaid destiny to nan squad that knocked New York retired of nan postseason this year.

L.A. has plentifulness of playoff experience, pinch galore returning players from past year's World Series team. They cognize what it takes to get nan occupation done connected nan biggest stage, and that acquisition will surely use them against a Toronto broadside that's mostly lacking successful that regard. I'm expecting nan Dodgers will make speedy activity of nan Blue Jays and extremity this bid successful nary much than 5 games.

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