The 2025 World Series is set! The National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to win their second consecutive championship, and standing in their way, are the American League champs, the Toronto
Blue Jays.
I understand that many Phillies fans might have lost interest in the baseball playoffs as soon as Orion Kerkering threw the ball in the general direction of home plate. But with this being the World Series, you might want to check back in to see which team is going to come away with the big, shiny trophy.
This article will serve as a quick catch up as to what’s happened since the end of the NLDS, who these teams are, and I’ll even suggest who you should be cheering for, if you feel like you need a rooting interest.
Toronto Blue Jays
How they got here
They led the American League with 94 wins, giving them the East title and a bye into the NLDS. There, they defeated the Yankees 3-1 and went to engage in a classic ALCS against the Seattle Mariners, eventually triumphing in seven games.
What they’re good at
They scored the second most runs in the American League thanks to a league high .333 team on-base percentage. They also rank as one of the best defensive teams in baseball thanks to standout defenders like Andres Gimenez and Daulton Varsho.
What they’re not good at
The Blue Jays’ pitching ranked middle of the pack in most statistical categories. Their starting pitching is solid more than dominating, and their bullpen – including their closer who I’ll discuss later – has had their share of blow ups.
Players you should know
- The biggest name is first baseman Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. The second-generation star hasn’t matched his power numbers from his earlier days, but he’s still very dangerous as evidenced by his ALCS MVP award.
- The biggest hit of that ALCS was delivered by George Springer, whose three-run home run gave the Jays the lead in the decisive game seven. The multiple-time All-Star looked like he was on the downside of his career last year, but had a resurgent season in 2025, with 35 home runs.
- The pitching staff is led by Kevin Gausman. The 13-year veteran has somewhat quietly turned into one of the best and most consistent starters in baseball over the past few seasons.
Former Phillies
- For many Phillies fans, closer Jeff Hoffman is in “should of kept” territory. There have been debates whether or not the Phillies should have offered him the same three-year deal the Jays gave him, but he closed out game seven of the ALCS with flourish, unlike his struggles in the playoffs a year ago.
- Seranthony Dominguez is another member of the Blue Jays relief corps. Dominguez has not become any more consistent since leaving the Phillies, and while he can still look dominant at times, he’s also prone to a meltdown inning. He gave up runs in two of his four ALCS appearances.
Los Angeles Dodgers
How they got here
They won the National League West with 93 wins, and have since gone 9-1 in the playoffs, with the one loss coming at the hands of the Phillies. Including the end of the season, they’ve gone 18-3 in their last 21 games.
What they’re good at
The Dodgers led the NL in runs scored, thanks to a league high 244 home runs. The lineup contains an array of All-Stars including three MVP winners. The starting pitching is similarly dominant with pitchers capable of shutting down any opposing lineups.
What they’re not good at
The bullpen was seen as a weakness, but thus far, they’ve been able to overcome it thanks to using starting pitchers in relief, an offense that gives them plenty of cushion, and the emergence of relief ace Roki Sasaki.
Who we should know
- I’ll assume everyone is already familiar with Shohei Ohtani. He’s the best hitter in the game, he can also pitch well, and he just delivered perhaps the most impressive single game performance in baseball history.
- Roki Sasaki missed most of the season with an injury, but he’s been a game changer in the playoffs. The Dodgers now have a flame-throwing pitcher they can deploy in late innings.
- Blake Snell is a two-time Cy Young Award winner but almost feels like just another guy in the Dodgers’ stacked rotation. Coming off an NLCS start where he allowed just one hit in eight shutout innings, he’ll get the start in game one of the World Series.
- Similarly, Freddie Freeman sometimes gets overlooked in the Dodgers’ lineup despite being a nine-time All-Star and former MVP. He’s had a relatively quiet playoffs so far, but he is a former World Series MVP and could go off at any time.
Who should we root for?
This series is tough for the America first crowd. One team is from Canada, and the other team is led by several players from Japan. So, if you’re the xenophobic type, maybe just stick to football. (I think the NFL is done with the European games for the year.)
There’s also the Buddy Kennedy factor. The Phillies released the reserve infielder after a four-game cameo in May. He signed with the Blue Jays and appeared in two games before being placed on waivers. The Dodgers claimed him, and he spent seven games with them. They released him at the end of August and signed back with the Jays, but he is not a part of their postseason roster. So, if you happen to be a Kennedy enthusiast, I’m not sure where your loyalties should lie, but you can be happy that he gets a ring either way.
As for Phillies fans, there’s reason to have bad feelings towards both teams. For fans of a certain age, Joe Carter and the Blue Jays ruined their childhood.
Despite being one of the biggest villains in team history, it felt like Phillies fans never really hated Carter all that much, and more of the animosity was reserved for Jim Fregosi and Mitch Williams. There were times after that series when Carter would appear in Philadelphia, and sure, he was booed, but it felt obligatory more than anything. Oddly, it seemed like Phillies fans just plain respected the guy and what he did.
But it’s also easy to hate the Dodgers. They’ve supplanted the Yankees as the “evil empire” of baseball, using their deep pockets and desirable locale to build a “super team.” Now that every big-name Japanese player wants to join them, it feels almost unfair, and the only way they won’t win is if they suffer injuries, or about ten players slump at the same time.
There’s some debate about whether fans should cheer for or against the team that knocked your team out of the playoffs. It’s easy to be angry at the team than vanquished yours and want to see them lose. On the other hand, if the team that beat yours wins it all, you can take solace in knowing that you lost to the best team. If the Dodgers can somehow sweep the World Series like they did the Wild Card round and NLCS, that will make the Phillies’ lone win against them seem downright impressive.
Personally, I’m pulling for the underdog Blue Jays. They haven’t won anything in a while, and who really wants to see the Dodgers win again? Besides, I’ve attended a game in Toronto, and those were some of the happiest, most positive baseball fans I’ve ever met. It would be nice to reward their positivity with a title.
Who will win?
Sadly, it will be the Dodgers, as they just have so many paths to victory. There are so many players in their lineup who can beat you, and even if they run into a hot opposing pitcher, their pitching staff is more than good enough to compensate.
The Blue Jays’ offense is really good and will probably be able to pull out a win, but ultimately, the Dodgers’ deep roster will be too much to overcome. Dodgers in five.
