TORONTO — Eight months ago, there was a general feeling of unease as the Toronto Blue Jays gathered for spring training in Florida.
Canada’s lone Major League Baseball team was coming off a last-place finish in the American League East. Top-tier free agents were disinterested. Face of the franchise Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was still a couple of months away from signing a contract extension.
There was the usual optimism for the year ahead but it was hard to say whether a full bounce back would be in the cards.
Well, the Blue Jays didn’t just rebound in 2025. They went from worst to first, and then some.
First they won the American League East Division title. Next it was Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees who fell in the ALDS before Toronto delivered a memorable comeback win over the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS.
Now the World Series has returned to the Ontario capital for the first time in 32 years. And two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers have come north, too, hoping to spoil the party.
Game 1 is scheduled for Friday night at Rogers Centre.
“I’ll put this group of 26 up against anybody,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “And they’re looking forward to taking on what is on paper the best team in baseball, that’s playing really well right now.
“I don’t think they would have it any other way.”
The Blue Jays finished the regular season with a 94-68 record, giving them home-field advantage over the Dodgers (93-69).
Los Angeles swept the Cincinnati Reds in a two-game NL wild-card series before topping the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 in the NLDS. That was followed by a four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS.
Led by Ohtani, who won the NLCS MVP, the defending champion Dodgers have a stacked lineup that includes Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and former Blue Jays slugger Teoscar Hernandez.
“There’s a reason we are here and there’s a reason they’re there,” Schneider said. “I think the one thing we cannot do is look over there and say that is Goliath.
“That is a beatable baseball team that has its flaws, and that has its really, really good strengths.”
Toronto rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.20 earned-run average) will get the start in the opener against Dodgers southpaw Blake Snell (3-0, 0.86). It’s Yesavage’s fourth playoff start and seventh big-league start overall.
“It’s something I never even would have dreamed of,” Yesavage said. “But I’m here now and I’m embracing it fully.”
Both teams were expected to name their 26-player rosters on Friday morning.
The status of shortstop Bo Bichette, who hasn’t played since Sept. 6 due to a left knee sprain, remained uncertain on the eve of the best-of-seven series. He took batting practice Thursday, ran the bases and participated in infield drills.
“He’s feeling good, which is nice,” Schneider said. “Still a few more boxes to check.”
Guerrero, the ALCS MVP, leads a Blue Jays team that can give opponents fits by putting the ball in play and avoiding strikeouts. Guerrero is hitting .442 in the post-season with six homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.440 OPS.
The Blue Jays have used a balanced offensive attack — anchored by Guerrero, George Springer and Alejandro Kirk — to overwhelm opponents.
Toronto is tied for the MLB lead with 20 home runs in the playoffs and leads all teams with a .296 overall batting average and .878 OPS.
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 1.83) was tabbed to start Game 2 on Saturday. The Blue Jays did not immediately name their starter.
After an off-day Sunday, the series will shift to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Tuesday.
Los Angeles is trying to become the first repeat champion since the Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000. The Dodgers have won the Fall Classic eight times.
“We’ve got really good players, they’ve got really good players,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “So the great thing about baseball is anything can happen. It’s going to be a great series.”
The Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and ’93.
“It’s not the best team that wins, it’s the team that plays the best that wins,” said Toronto catcher Tyler Heineman. “Our goal is to play the best.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2025.
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
