Dodgers vs. Blue Jays – Preview
Friday, 8:00pm ET • Rogers Centre
Our Pick: Dodgers Moneyline

Game 1 of the 2025 World Series arrives tonight (Friday, Oct. 24) at Rogers Centre, first pitch 8 p.m. ET on FOX, as the defending champion Dodgers visit the Blue Jays in Toronto’s first Fall Classic since 1993. 

The pitching matchup tilts toward L.A. Blake Snell (two-time Cy Young winner) gets the ball after a superb season (2.35 ERA) and an even better October: 3–0, 0.86 ERA with 28 K and 5 BB in 21 postseason innings, including an eight-inning, 10-strikeout masterpiece in NLCS Game 1.  Toronto counters with 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage, making just his seventh MLB start and becoming the first rookie to start Game 1 of a World Series since 2006; he no-hit the Yankees for 5⅓ innings with 11 K in his ALDS debut and then allowed two runs over 5⅔ in ALCS Game 6. 

Why the Dodgers moneyline? Start with run prevention. L.A.’s rotation has authored a historically dominant postseason — a 1.40 ERA through 10 playoff games — and arrives in Toronto on full rest. That baseline advantage matters in a series opener where the margin for error is tight.  Snell specifically has been nails in October, missing bats while limiting traffic, and he’s backed by a defense and game plan that just swept Milwaukee. 

Offensively, the Dodgers’ depth lengthens every inning. Tonight’s expected top four — Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith — forces strikes and punishes mistakes, and Teoscar Hernández/Max Muncy provide right/left thunder behind them. That shape gives L.A. multiple paths to scratch runs even if the rookie’s splitter plays early.  The Jays get a boost with Bo Bichette activated and, notably, starting at second base and batting cleanup following his September knee sprain; helpful as that is, there’s inherent uncertainty in a first game back at a new position — especially against Snell’s mix. 

Markets reflect the edge (ESPN BET had L.A. favored pregame), but the case is more about repeatable advantages: proven, rested starting pitching and a lineup that can win both the power and on-base battles. In a matchup where rookies can shine but variance looms, the Dodgers’ rotation floor and multi-threat offense make them the sound side to win Game 1. 

Pick: Dodgers moneyline (Game 1).