World Series 2025: MLB insiders predict Dodgers-Blue Jays

The 2025 World Series is almost upon us toronto blue jays set to host los angeles dodgers in Game 1 on Friday night.

Which team has the upper hand in the series? What should you expect from the Dodgers’ pitching staff – and the Toronto batters trying to hit LA’s aces? And what X-factors will determine the final team standings this October?

ESPN MLB reporters Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers teamed up to ask 19 baseball executives, scouts, managers and coaches what to expect in every aspect of this year’s Fall Classic, starting with predicting the world champion.

Survey says ______ will win everything:

Los Angeles Dodgers: 18 Reactions

National League Scout: “Dodgers will capture another title with their starting pitching in five games.”

Current Manager: “Dodgers in five. The Dodgers’ starting pitching is so good right now that it’s going to be tough for anyone.”

former manager: “David versus Goliath. I think the Dodgers, just because of the depth of the starting pitching. Both teams have weaknesses in their bullpens, and the Dodgers got more length out of their starters – or at least they let them go deeper.”

former manager: “Nobody is beating that Dodger rotation. People can talk about it all they want [financial] “Inconsistency, but the Dodgers have done a great job of preparing those guys for this time of year, keeping them contained and resting them during the season.”

NL Executive: “I see the Dodgers winning, but Toronto won’t back down. It may take six games.”

Former NL Manager: “I don’t see beating the Dodgers. The best chance to beat them was in a short series.”

American League Coaches: “The Dodgers’ pitching depth is quite impressive. What will help the Blue Jays is that they will not get punched out, and they will have a chance to bother the starters.”

Current Manager: “Because of their starting pitching and the fact that they’re on a heater, I’ll go with the Dodgers. They’ve built enough of a pen to stay competitive late in games. It’s hard for me to believe they can get beat four times in seven games… It should be interesting to the end, with amazing crowd intensity.”

Toronto Blue Jays: 1 reaction

AL Coach: “The Blue Jays seem to have momentum, if there is such a thing. I’ll beat the Jays in six games.”

Current Manager: “I think the Jays have a chance to puncture because of their lineup; the erosion effect is real.”

AL Scout: “Toronto has earned the right to be here. Played consistently all year. Then came up big in the postseason when they needed to.” new york And seattle Are not pushovers. Of course, neither are the Dodgers. to win, Vlad [Guerrero Jr.] Might have to match the entire top of LA’s lineup. He’s been the best hitter this postseason.”

former manager: “It’s no slam dunk [for the Dodgers]Because the Blue Jays have something going on with their offense. Too much contact in this era of baseball. If the Blue Jays can wear down the L.A. starters, I think they’ll beat the Dodgers’ bullpen.”

AL Scout: “If Toronto can increase the pitch count of L.A.’s starters, they have a chance to score some runs in the late innings. I think they’ll do enough to win a game or two, but I don’t think they can win the series.”

when the dodgers are on the field

What to expect from LA’s pitchers and defense

NL Executive: “The starting pitching performance in the NLCS is even more remarkable given that we’re in the day and age of the bullpen. It’s interesting that last year, L.A. had to rely on their pen, but this year, it’s their starting staff. [Blake] snail And those guys are great right now. It won’t be as easy for them against Toronto, so the Dodgers’ bullpen will likely see more action. That’s where they’re vulnerable.”

AL Scout: “I liked it [manager Dave] Roberts let his starting players go. It bore fruit. And now, they all have got a fair amount of rest. I expect exactly the same in the World Series. There’s probably still some doubt in the bullpen, so why not let those guys go longer?”

Current Manager: ,stopped [Sasaki] Big deal for the Dodgers. If that’s not effective they’ll have problems.”

NL Scout: ,Muki [Betts’] The improvement at shortstop makes the Dodgers much better on defense. They’re not as good as the Blue Jays, but that won’t stop them from winning the series.”

AL Coach: ,andy pages The Dodgers need to show up defensively and offensively, and Will SmithThe game will be important.”

What to expect from Toronto’s batsmen?

NL Executive: “That offense is legit. I mean, people are seeing it now, but he’s been dangerous all year. He’s got great balance on both the left and right sides.”

NL Scout: “Their lineup is really deep. There was one game, we were up 5-0 in the second, and it’s one of those things, you never feel comfortable. It’s a mix of five or six guys on top, with power, and then all the guys down there are batting well. So, it’s a deep lineup with a lot of power, I would say that.”

AL Coach: “The Blue Jays’ lineup can put out good pitching, put out bad balls, put balls in play. The Dodger defense is going to be tested.”

AL Manager: “It’s all about whether the Blue Jays can take the Dodger starters out of the game early and get into that L.A. bullpen, which is the Dodgers’ biggest weakness. If they can’t do that, it could be a short series.”

AL Coach: “I’ll be really interested to see how the Dodgers deal with Wlady, because right now, he’s attacking everything in the field. He’s dominating every quadrant. That’s where the star power could work against the Dodgers [starters]They are stars, and they won’t want to step back. And Vladi’s so hot that maybe you should back off in some situations.”

AL Manager: “There’s no way the Dodgers are going to let Vlad beat them. [Alejandro] Kirk And [Addison] Burger Will have to perform.”

AL Coach: “Barger will need some big at-bats for Toronto, as the Dodgers are going to do the best they can around Vlad and have runners on base.”

Former NL Manager: ,[Bo] bichet I think this will be an important role in the series. I’m guessing he’s going to make the play and hit Vlad from behind. … If he’s hitting Guerrero’s back, he’s going to have to defend against Wlad by moving or walking around him.”

When the Blue Jays are on the field

What to expect from Toronto’s pitchers and defense

AL Execution: “One of the interesting things is that none of their super-high-leverage guys are left-handed, so I think the Dodgers have a lineup that can counter that a little bit better than the Jays.”

AL Scout: “You could argue that the Blue Jays’ bullpen [has] It’s gotten better recently, and they’ve certainly been through a lot more. But in a long series, this is the familiar aspect of facing the same relievers again and again. Toronto has the advantage in the pen there, but who’s going to get it [Shohei] Ohtani And [Freddie] freeman Out late in the game?”

Former NL Manager: “I don’t think the Dodger pitching is giving up very many runs, so Toronto will have to stop the Dodger hitters to even have a chance.”

AL Manager: “If the Jays’ left-handers get going, they win this series. You have to neutralize Shohei and the other lefties in that lineup.”

AL Coach: ,[Jeff] hoffman There is an important player in my mind. The Jays will score, but Hoffman will have to finish tough games.”

Current Manager: “As always, making each defensive play without giving up extra outs will play a major role along with two-out hitting.”

AL Scout: “I don’t know how healthy Bichette is, but running [Andres] gimenez Back to second is huge. He has been the best second baseman in baseball with the glove for quite some time. Toronto’s defense is really good, and it makes them even better. The top middle is solid.”

NL Executive: “I think they’re being pretty solid. I think they need to make sure they get Bichette back. But getting Isia Kiner-Falefa [going]They’ve got really good defenders everywhere. Cancer is really good behind the plate. Everybody in the infield can catch the ball and have range, and then the outfielders, they can all throw the ball, they can all get it. They’re all really good players.”

What to expect from LA’s batsmen?

former manager: “You can pitch to Shohei, because he’ll spread the field. But if you throw lefties against him and Mookie and Freddy, eventually you’ll have to deal Teo [Hernandez]Who crushes leftists, or Will Smith, who crushes leftists.”

NL Scout: “It seems like it’s not easy at bat out there at all. It’s like those old Yankees teams where they’re counting all the pitches. They’re not going to chase, and they have power. And so, you have to get in the zone at some point. And it’s really hard to get through that many innings.” [without scoring] Just because they all bat well and then can hit seven or eight balls out of the park.”

Current Manager: “Mookie is a key player because he follows Shohei. I guess [Toronto manager] John Schneider isn’t going to let Shohei defeat him.”

NL Executive: “I think they play smart baseball and they know themselves. But it seems like Bates is a good baseball player. There’s probably going to be a point where he’ll take an extra base or make a really good jump on a passed ball when it’s in the infield or a passed ball that barely squeaks by. So, they have guys like that – Bates or Will Smith, those type of guys who always put themselves in the right spot to play smart baseball.”

The industry believes that X factors will determine the series

NL Scout: “What stands out is that the two remaining teams have spent a lot of money on starting pitching. Starting pitching has been the determining factor in the playoffs.”

AL Scout: “I followed the Blue Jays a few years ago and questioned some of John Schneider’s moves. I wonder if he’ll have any head-scratchers. I saw [Mariners manager] Dan Wilson is being criticized. Roberts can ride those starters, so he may have less of those types of decisions.”

AL Scout: “Then there’s just the broader topic of rest versus rust. I think you’re probably a little better off on paper with rest. But really what it comes down to is the Dodgers staying sharp and the Blue Jays emptying their clip already?”

AL Manager: “It’s one thing to have a day or two off. The Dodgers will have about a week off before we start this. The Jays can ambush them.”