Friday, Oct. 24th, 2025. This day marks the first of the World Series matchup, the Los Angeles Dodgers vs the Toronto Blue Jays. Canada head to head with LA is sure to make for an interesting dynamic. Bleacher Report recalls how fans see it as a new chapter for the ongoing high-profile rivalry of rappers Drake (Canada) and Kendrick Lamar (LA). The Dodgers are known to be a steady force, while the Blue Jays are resilient underdogs. They will play in a best-of-seven series, and only one can come out on top. But, who will that be?
According to Sports Illustrated, the Dodgers are nothing short of set for success, with a 68.25% chance of winning. The Blue Jays on the other hand, are longshot candidates, with a winning probability of 35.71%. Fangraphs display similar odds. The Dodgers are still in the favorable position with 66.7%, and the Blue Jays not so much, sitting at 33.3%.
The Dodgers seem to have all their ducks in a row to be back to back champions. However, the real question isn’t if they will, it’s why do we care? What makes the World Series of relevance and something to take note of?
Oak Park High School junior Kate Newman is backing the Dodgers. She has been a fan of them her entire life as she grew up in LA. She was confident they would win in the upcoming series.
“I’m interested in the MLB because I’ve played baseball since I was little,” Newman said. “I’m really intrigued with the stats and players.”
Senior Royce Willis is rooting for the dark horse, the Blue Jays.
“I don’t want a repeat World Series winner,” Willis said. “I’m also just a salty Dodgers Hater”.
However, despite his prejudice, he believed that if he “had to bet, the Dodgers [would] win in five games.” What makes him so invested is he has “always loved baseball” and his love “started with the MLB.” He also loves the storyline of “USA vs Canada” and finds that to be the best part of the upcoming series. For his MVP, he thinks Teoscar Hernandez could be a good “dark horse pick” as “he was very good in the playoffs with the Dodgers.”
Freshman Max Berhkoh found the Dodgers’ chances of success promising if they “keep up their game and teamwork.” He loves following the MLB as when your team makes it to the World Series it “feels awesome” and like all the “cheering and support really paid off”. While he’s never been to a World Series game, he wants to go as he “bets the energy and crowd are more intense than a regular game.”
Junior Bryce Whitcanack is also hoping the Blue Jays will come out victorious. While his “favorite team is the San Francisco Giants”, they are “the Dodgers biggest rival”, giving him the Blue Jays to cheer for. He cared to watch the match as “there is some story to the series.” He finds it compelling that “the Dodgers are trying to win it all two years in a row and Canada is finally back in the World Series and they have a great playoff atmosphere.”
Overall, Oak Park students chose to follow the World Series because they love the sport and both the history and statistics that come with the MLB. This year made for an entertaining face-off, and it was enthralling to see how it unfolded.
“It’s cool to think that you’re watching the very last few innings of baseball of the year, almost like watching the sunset,” Willis said.
Saturday, November 1st, 2025. This day marks the last of the World Series matchup, and the Dodgers take the win against the Blue Jays. They played an intense seven games, with the final game ending 5-4 after 11 innings.
I think Shohei Ohtani will be the World Series MVP because he’s been on fire recently and making remarkable history in each and every game,” Newman said previously.
The MVP turned out to be Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yahoo Sports reports that while Ohtani still performed well, Yamamoto had a dominant and clutch performance. He left a huge impact on the team, being credited with three wins in the series.
One of the most memorable parts of this World Series was the 18 inning marathon of Game 3.
“I was so tired the next day at school, but It was so worth it,” Berkhoh said. “Watching Freddie Freeman hit that walk-off home run was historic”.
The game lasted six hours and 39 minutes, and is one of the longest running baseball games in history, tying with Game 3 of the 2018 World Series, between the Dodgers and Red Sox.
The Dodgers were able to take their back to back win. While the overall consensus of Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s rap battle is debatable, Kendrick Lamar won in baseball. The percentage stats still upheld, but the Blue Jays were close to giving them a run for their money. Overall, it made for a great World Series for both Blue Jays and Dodgers fans and reminded baseball fans why they love the sport so much.
