Blue Jays, Dodgers Expected to Clash in High-Payroll World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers, defending World Series champions and preseason favorites with +450 odds, face the Toronto Blue Jays, who were initially long shots at +6000 but have exceeded expectations to reach the 2025 World Series. The Dodgers, with the second-largest payroll in MLB, are currently favored at -260 to win the championship, while the Blue Jays stand at +220. Despite the Dodgers' star power and strong recent performance, including a sweep in the NLCS led by Shohei Ohtani, the Blue Jays possess a highly paid roster themselves, with multiple players earning over $20 million annually, and boast home-field advantage due to their slightly better regular-season record. Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman expressed confidence in competing against the Dodgers, emphasizing that Toronto also has many high-salary players and a talented roster. Blue Jays manager John Schneider acknowledged the Dodgers as a formidable opponent but stressed the necessity of beating the best to win the title. The World Series is set to open in Toronto, promising a clash of two star-studded teams with rich payrolls and high stakes for their first championship in over three decades for the Blue Jays.