News Summary
The Los Angeles Dodgers will defend their title against the Toronto Blue Jays in a momentous World Series. With the Blue Jays back in the championship for the first time since 1993, and the Dodgers aiming for consecutive titles, the matchup promises to capture the attention of baseball fans globally. Both teams have shown impressive postseason performances, with significant viewership spikes reflecting growing interest in MLB. As the first game approaches, fans eagerly anticipate a thrilling series broadcasted in multiple languages across numerous countries.
Toronto – The 2025 World Series will feature the Los Angeles Dodgers defending their title against the Toronto Blue Jays, with the first game scheduled for Friday night at Rogers Centre in Toronto, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. This matchup marks a significant milestone for both teams, as the Blue Jays reach the World Series for the first time since 1993 and the Dodgers aim to secure back-to-back championships, a feat not accomplished since the New York Yankees achieved it from 1998 to 2000.
As interest in Major League Baseball (MLB) surges, postseason viewership in the U.S. has seen an impressive uptick, averaging 4.48 million viewers, representing a 13% increase compared to the previous year and marking the most-watched postseason since 2017. The recent American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 7 between the Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners drew substantial attention, averaging 15.03 million viewers when accounting for Canadian audiences. This game achieved 9.03 million viewers in the U.S. alone, making it the most-watched ALCS game since 2017. In Canada, the game broke records, attracting an average of 6 million viewers, marking the most-watched Blue Jays game ever on Sportsnet.
Overall, the ALCS combined viewership (U.S. and Canada) averaged nearly 9.39 million viewers, a remarkable 60% increase from last year’s average of 5.88 million. The Los Angeles Dodgers also made headlines with their performance in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers. This series was notably popular in Japan, drawing 7.34 million average viewers, up 26% from the previous year, while NLCS Game 4 featuring notable performances, including Shohei Ohtani’s historic three home runs and ten strikeouts, garnered 10.26 million viewers, ranking as the second most-watched League Championship Series game in Japan.
MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. emphasized that the 2025 World Series will showcase the global appeal of baseball, with broadcasts planned across 203 countries and territories in 16 languages facilitated by 44 media partners. The teams’ rosters reflect this international flavor, featuring 13 international players from eight different countries and territories. The Dodgers’ notable players include Shohei Ohtani from Japan, Teoscar Hernández from the Dominican Republic, and Kiké Hernández from Puerto Rico. The Blue Jays boast international stars such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from Canada, Alejandro Kirk from Mexico, and Andrés Giménez from Venezuela.
As the series approaches, the Dodgers are viewed as the favorites to win, having maintained their status as strong contenders throughout the season, despite holding the third seed in the National League. They will rely on the performance of starting pitchers Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of whom excelled during the NLCS. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays’ lineup is bolstered by the contributions of standout players, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer.
This year’s matchup between the Dodgers and Blue Jays provides a thrilling narrative as both franchises have pursued excellence throughout the playoffs. The postseason has tested the Blue Jays, who famously overcame a 2-0 deficit against the Mariners to secure their ALCS spot. While the Dodgers aim for history by potentially being the first team since the Yankees to win back-to-back championships, the Blue Jays look to reclaim their place in baseball history.
The complete World Series schedule is set for a possible Game 7 on November 1, with all games scheduled to be broadcast on FOX, ensuring fans across both nations will not miss any of the action in this exciting championship series.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
MLB Announces 2025 League Championship Series Broadcast Schedule
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Additional Resources
- ESPN: Ranking the Best MLB World Series Matchups Since 2000
- Wikipedia: World Series
- ESPN: Dodgers Strongly Favored to Win World Series
- Google Search: Los Angeles Dodgers
- CBS Sports: World Series Schedule 2025 Dodgers vs Blue Jays
- Google Scholar: MLB World Series
- MLB: Dodgers Starting Pitchers Healthy for World Series
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Blue Jays
- Bleacher Report: Maple Leafs and Raptors Adjust Schedules for World Series
- Google News: 2025 MLB World Series
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