The Fall Classic is Here

With a win over the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the World Series after claiming the title last year. This marks the Dodgers’ fifth appearance in the World Series within the last decade, and they’re aiming for their third championship since 2020.

On the other side, we have the Toronto Blue Jays. They’re entering the Fall Classic for the first time since 1993, a year when they secured their second consecutive World Series title.

Let’s go over the dates and times for the World Series:

The home field advantage is based on the regular season records. The Dodgers wrapped up their season with 93 wins and 69 losses, while the Blue Jays narrowly surpassed them, ending with 94 wins and 68 losses.

This means that if there’s a Game 7, it will be hosted in Toronto.

Game 1: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays, Friday, October 24th, 8 PM ET, FOX

Game 2: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays, Saturday, October 25th, 8 PM ET, FOX

Game 3: Blue Jays vs. Dodgers, Monday, October 27th, 8 PM ET, FOX

Game 4: Blue Jays vs. Dodgers, Tuesday, October 28th, 8 PM ET, FOX

Game 5*: Blue Jays vs. Dodgers, Wednesday, October 29th, 8 PM ET, FOX

Game 6*: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays, Friday, October 31st, 8 PM ET, FOX

Game 7*: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays, Saturday, November 1st, 8 PM ET, FOX

The two teams took distinct paths to reach this point.

While both finished with similar records, the Blue Jays managed to top the American League, earning a bye in the wild card round. The Dodgers, on the other hand, secured the third seed in the National League and kicked off their playoff run against the Cincinnati Reds as a wild card team.

Los Angeles triumphed in the initial two games of that series and progressed to face the Philadelphia Phillies, who were seeded second in the National League. The Dodgers claimed both games in Philadelphia and wrapped up the series with a thrilling Game 4 win in extra innings.

Their reward? Facing the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, where they decisively won, thanks in part to a historic performance by Shohei Ohtani in the series finale.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, faced the New York Yankees in the ALDS. They took a 2-0 lead but lost momentum in Game 3 before closing the series the following night with a win in Game 4.

After the ALDS wrapped up, the other series between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers concluded, giving Toronto a chance to rest. The ALCS began in Toronto on October 12 after the Mariners won a pivotal fifth game.

Initially, the Blue Jays dropped the first two games at home and traveled to Seattle with their backs against the wall. However, they turned it around, winning the next two games to even the series and heading back to Rogers Center for the final two games. Although Seattle edged out a victory in Game 5, Toronto rallied to win the last two games, securing their spot in the Fall Classic.

If you’re a fan of the Blue Jays, this must feel like a significant moment, especially when you consider past World Series history.

In 1988, the Oakland Athletics faced off against the Boston Red Sox and then lost to the Dodgers in the World Series, which Los Angeles won in seven games over the New York Mets.

In 2006, the Tigers defeated the Athletics, only to fall to the St. Louis Cardinals, who also went to seven games against the Mets.

The Rockies, in 2007, swept the Diamondbacks but were then swept themselves by the Red Sox, whose series against the Indians lasted seven games.

In 2012, the Tigers managed to sweep the Yankees and the Giants but needed seven games to defeat the Cardinals.

Among these teams, only the Athletics and Tigers have successfully won a game in their respective Fall Classics.

If history is any indication, one might say the Blue Jays are poised for success, having won their last showdown with the Mariners in seven games, while the Dodgers put up a strong performance against the Brewers.

Yet, history alone might not suffice for Toronto as they face four standout pitchers—Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani—along with a strong lineup that boasts some of the best players in the game.

World Series Prediction: Dodgers in 6 games
World Series MVP: Shohei Ohtani