Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays: World Series Preview

Dodgers starters have averaged close to six and a half innings per start so far in the playoffs, with eight quality outings in 10 games. We’re talking 81 strikeouts, 19 walks, and just two home runs.

No one could have guessed that L.A.’s starters would be quite this dominant, but it shouldn’t come as a shock that starting pitching is the Dodgers’ greatest strength. A four-man rotation of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto , Shohei Ohtani, and Tyler Glasnow is ridiculously dominant. Those four have combined for a 3.21 ERA in their careers. They combined for a 2.68 ERA in the 2025 regular season. They have a 1.40 ERA in this year’s playoffs.

Those four names alone explain why the Dodgers are the favorites in this series. The Blue Jays’ bats have carried Toronto to this point, but Snell, Yamamoto, Ohtani, and Glasnow will be their greatest test yet.

Will Bo Be Back?

Bo Bichette is one of the best contact hitters in the game today. So, as much success as the Blue Jays have managed without him, there’s no doubt their offense is better when Bichette is in the lineup.

After missing the ALDS and ALCS recovering from a knee sprain, the All-Star shortstop is doing everything he can to make it back on the field for the World Series.

According to Bichette himself, there’s no question he’ll join the fight against the Dodgers. “I’ll be ready,” he proclaimed amid the post-Game 7 excitement on Monday night.

His manager, however, wasn’t quite so confident. As of Monday, John Schneider said Bichette wasn’t “back on the bases” or “full go” at shortstop quite yet. The long and short of it?

“We’ll see how he goes over the next couple days.”

Isiah Kiner-Falefa stepped up in the ALCS (5-for-15, .800 OPS), but Blue Jays fans were surely nervous every time he came to the plate in a pivotal spot.

If Bichette is ready to play the field, Bichette can slot back in at shortstop, pushing Andrés Giménez back to second and IKF to the bench. If Bichette needs to DH, George Springer could take over right field, with Addison Barger moving in to play third, and Ernie Clement replacing Kiner-Falefa at second. Either way, the defense might suffer, but the offense would improve in a major way.

A Battle of Superstars

I’m sure you’ve heard that the Dodgers are a superteam. I’m sure you’ve heard that the Blue Jays’ roster is 26 men deep. Yet, in many ways, both of these teams are defined by their leaders, and that was on full display in their respective League Championship Series.

Shohei Ohtani was named the NLCS MVP after playing the greatest game in postseason history: six scoreless innings, 10 strikeouts, three at-bats, three home runs. Before that day, he had actually been in a bit of a slump, but that performance was a reminder of his singular, game-changing talent.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. earned ALCS MVP honors by continuing his historic performance from the ALDS. With six home runs, 12 RBI, and a 1.440 OPS in October, Guerrero is enjoying one of the greatest postseasons in recent memory, and perhaps the very best in Blue Jays history.

The World Series is Dodgers vs. Blue Jays. But it’s also Ohtani vs. Guerrero. Get ready for a good show.

Prediction

Dodgers in six

I desperately want this series to go all seven games.

I want to see Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, and Max Scherzer go toe to toe with Snell, Yamamoto, Ohtani, and Glasnow. I want to see Guerrero and Ohtani trade historic, team-carrying performances. I want to see Freeman, Betts, and Springer add to their career highlight reels.

Yet, I feel the same way I did when the Dodgers were set to face the Reds, the Phillies, and the Brewers. Their starting rotation is just such a massive advantage that I’m guessing they’ll have their second consecutive World Series title wrapped up by Halloween night.