Throw out the David vs. Goliath soundbites, and pump the brakes on the Los Angeles Dodgers dynasty talk. The Toronto Blue Jays aren’t about to back down from anyone as the 2025 World Series in about to get underway.
The Blue Jays are in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1993, and while they’re +180 underdogs at BET99 in the World Series odds against the star-studded Dodgers, there’s a road map for taking down the defending champs.
These are the three reasons why Toronto can come through on baseball’s biggest stage.
Three Reasons Why the Blue Jays Can Win the World Series
Making contact
The Los Angeles Dodgers starters have blown through these playoffs, leaving a trail of helpless hitters in their wake while posting a combined 1.40 ERA. But this Toronto Blue Jays lineup stands apart from the rest of the league in its ability to put the ball in play.
During the regular season, the Blue Jays had the most hits in the majors (1,461) and the second-fewest strikeouts (1,099), and that knack for making contact has carried over into the playoffs. Toronto has posted an MLB-best .296 batting average while scoring 71 runs in 11 postseason games.
Make no mistake, there’s a gauntlet ahead. From Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, to Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers bring big arms who can pitch deep into contests. But the Blue Jays have worn out some top-tier starters already in this postseason, from Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, to Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo.
Any opponent has to be able to grind through long at-bats against L.A., and Toronto is built to do just that. Whether it’s the power of George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+640 in the World Series MVP odds at BET99) at the top of the order, or more magic from the bottom of the lineup, we’ve seen that winning formula in the last two rounds.
Plus, if Bo Bichette can play a part in this series, that only strengthens the Blue Jays’ hitting threat.
Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSMLB.
(not available in Ontario)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The Guerrero Jr. contract extension hasn’t kicked in yet, but the face of the franchise is already penning his legacy. He’s been a hitting machine for the Blue Jays in this fairy-tale postseason, and any upset starts with another lights-out series from No. 27.
Vladdy is on an October tear to rank alongside any in baseball history, posting a .442 average with six homers and a 1.440 OPS across his 11 playoff outings. That puts him in elite company, and even Shohei Ohtani hasn’t reached that level this month.
The Dodgers will surely pitch him cautiously, perhaps with the occasional intentional walk sprinkled in, but Guerrero Jr. is so locked in at the moment that it may not matter.
Though he’s struggled against Blake Snell, to the tune of a 2-for-11 career record, Vladdy has had success in head-to-head battles with both Ohtani and Glasnow. He also went 3-for-11 against L.A. this season, with two doubles and a home run.
As Guerrero Jr. said himself in the last round, he was "born ready" for the brightest lights in baseball, and he’s backed that up with his numbers. After hitting 22 homers in 156 regular season contests, Vladdy has mashed six in 11 outings on this World Series run. "Born ready" indeed.
Home-field advantage
Homefield advantage for the World Series is a massive boost for the Blue Jays, who are 4-2 at Rogers Centre in this postseason, including the two frenzied, must-win outings against the Mariners in the ALCS.
John Schneider’s squad has played outstanding, complementary baseball in Toronto all year, and only the Philadelphia Phillies had a better home record during the regular season than the Blue Jays’ 54-27 mark. Meanwhile, the Dodgers went 41-40 on their travels.
Opening up at Rogers Centre should also help a roster that’s largely experiencing this stage for the first time. George Springer, the city’s latest sports hero, and Max Scherzer are the only Blue Jays with World Series experience, so starting on the road would have just amped up the pressure.
Instead, rookie sensation Trey Yesavage can take the ball in front of his own fans for the Game 1 start, and the Toronto hitters can find their groove in familiar surroundings. Like in the ALCS, it also gives Toronto the last two games on home turf, which could be decisive in a tight series.
With World Series tickets selling out in minutes, expect a rocking home crowd to be a factor — and it’s worth noting that 20 of the last 29 Fall Classic winners have been the team with homefield advantage.
