Honestly, if you told a baseball fan three years ago that the biggest beef in the sport would involve a team from the AL East and a team from the NL West, they’d probably assume you were talking about some weird Spring Training scuffle. But after the 2025 World Series, the vibe around blue jays vs dodgers has completely shifted. It’s not just interleague play anymore. It’s personal.
Between the Shohei Ohtani free agency plane-tracking saga—which, let's be real, was the peak of internet delusion—and that soul-crushing Game 7 in Toronto, these two fanbases basically look at each other like sworn enemies now.
What Actually Happened in the 2025 World Series?
Most people remember the ending, but the path there was pure insanity. The Blue Jays finally made it back to the Fall Classic for the first time since '93. They had home-field advantage. They had a lineup that felt like a video game. But the Dodgers? They were the defending champs. They had the "Death Star" roster.
The series went the distance, and Game 7 was arguably the most stressful four hours in Canadian sports history.
Toronto was up 3-0 early thanks to a Bo Bichette moonshot. It felt like a "where were you" moment. But then, things got weird. Miguel Rojas—yeah, the guy you probably didn't have on your "clutch homer" bingo card—tied it up with a solo shot when the Jays were just two outs away from a parade. Then Will Smith (the catcher, not the actor) crushed Toronto's dreams in the 11th inning.
Dodgers win. Blue Jays fans staring into the abyss. It was brutal.
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The Ohtani Factor and the "Almost" Signing
You can't talk about blue jays vs dodgers without mentioning the ghost of 2023. Remember the private jet? The one everyone thought was carrying Shohei Ohtani to Toronto? Turns out it was Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank.
That single 24-hour window of misinformation created a permanent chip on the shoulder of every Jays fan. When Ohtani eventually signed that massive $700 million deferred deal with LA, it didn't just make the Dodgers better; it made Toronto the "spurned lover" of MLB.
Now, every time Ohtani steps into the box at Rogers Centre, the boos are louder than they are for the Yankees. It's a level of pettiness that makes regular-season games feel like Game 7.
The 2026 Outlook: Can Toronto Finally Get Revenge?
Entering the 2026 season, the landscape for blue jays vs dodgers looks a bit different but just as spicy. Toronto lost Bo Bichette to free agency, which genuinely hurts the "vibes" of the core. But they didn't just sit on their hands. Adding Kazuma Okamoto from Japan and snagging Dylan Cease for the rotation shows they aren't backing down.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are just... being the Dodgers. They signed Kyle Tucker. Because of course they did.
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Comparing the Rosters (The "Eye Test" Version)
If you're looking at these teams on paper, it's a clash of philosophies.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: They are the high-efficiency machine. Betts, Freeman, Ohtani, and now Tucker. It’s a lineup where the 8-hole hitter could probably lead the league in doubles on any other team. Their pitching, led by Yoshinobu Yamamoto (who was a flat-out monster in the 2025 playoffs), is deep.
- Toronto Blue Jays: They’re the "grind you down" team. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is coming off a postseason where he hit over .400. Even without Bichette, the lineup is pesky. Their rotation, now featuring Cease, Gausman, and a healthy Shane Bieber, is arguably better than the one they took to the World Series last year.
The pitching matchup is where the real chess match happens.
Yamamoto vs. Gausman is a purist's dream. You have the splitter vs. the "kitchen sink" approach. When these two teams meet in 2026, don't expect many high-scoring blowouts. Expect 3-2 games that take five years off your life.
Why the "Blue vs. Blue" Rivalry is Good for Baseball
Baseball needs villains. For the rest of the league, the Dodgers are the perfect corporate giant to root against. For the Dodgers, the Blue Jays represent the loud, rowdy neighbors to the North who won't stop complaining about 2025.
It’s the kind of friction that makes a random Tuesday night game in May worth watching.
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Honestly, the schedule makers did us a favor. Interleague play is more frequent now, meaning we don't have to wait three years for a rematch. We see the fallout of the World Series almost immediately.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're planning on betting or just following the blue jays vs dodgers matchups this year, keep these specific factors in mind:
- Watch the Home/Road Splits: Toronto was nearly unbeatable at home last year until the very end. The Rogers Centre crowd is legitimately a factor, especially with the new stadium renovations bringing fans closer to the action.
- The "Springer" Variable: George Springer loves playing the Dodgers. He’s got that 2017 MVP history with Houston, and even at 36, he seems to find an extra gear when he see the LA logo. He’s a "buy low" candidate in fantasy if he’s facing LA pitching.
- Bullpen Volatility: Both teams overhauled their relief squads. The Jays brought in Tyler Rogers (the submariner), while the Dodgers grabbed Edwin Diaz. Late-inning drama is practically guaranteed.
- The Okamoto Factor: Keep an eye on how Kazuma Okamoto adjusts to MLB velocity. If he can bridge the gap left by Bichette's departure, the Jays remain top-tier contenders.
The 2025 World Series wasn't an ending; it was a prologue. Whether it's the "Ohtani Plane" trauma or the Game 7 heartbreak, the Blue Jays have every reason to play with a chip on their shoulder. On the other side, the Dodgers are looking to build a dynasty.
Check the 2026 MLB schedule and circle the dates when these two meet. It's going to be loud, it's going to be petty, and it's definitely going to be worth the price of admission.