Nobody expected the plane tracker to matter again. But there we were, nearly two years after the infamous "Ohtani is on a flight to Toronto" hoax, watching Shohei Ohtani walk into Rogers Centre—this time wearing Dodger blue for Game 1 of the 2025 World Series. It felt like destiny, or maybe just a really expensive joke.
Toronto fans didn't forget.
The "We don’t need you" chants echoed so loudly during Ohtani's ninth-inning plate appearance that you could barely hear the crack of the bat. Of course, the Blue Jays were leading 11-4 at the time, so the bravado was easy. It's funny how a nine-run sixth inning can turn a "David vs. Goliath" narrative into a party. But as any baseball fan knows, poking the bear—especially a $700 million one—is risky business.
The World Series Matchup Nobody Saw Coming
If you told a Jays fan in May 2024 that they’d be hosting Game 7 of the World Series in 2025, they would’ve asked what you were drinking. That 2024 season was a disaster. Last place. A stagnant offense. It was brutal.
But baseball is weird.
Toronto flipped the script by becoming the kings of the comeback. They led the league with 49 come-from-behind wins in 2025. They weren't just winning; they were ripping hearts out in the eighth and ninth innings. Meanwhile, the Dodgers were doing exactly what the Dodgers do: spending money and winning games. They navigated a shaky 22–32 mid-season stretch only to emerge as a juggernaut yet again.
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When the Toronto Blue Jays contra Dodgers showdown finally locked in, it wasn't just a series. It was a clash of philosophies. On one side, you had the "built-not-bought" (mostly) Toronto squad anchored by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was hitting a ridiculous .447 in the postseason. On the other, the Los Angeles dynasty looking for back-to-back titles.
Game-by-Game: A Seven-Act Drama
The series was a roller coaster. No, that’s too cliché. It was a car crash you couldn't look away from.
- Game 1 (Toronto wins 11-4): The Rogers Centre was electric. Trey Yesavage, a kid making $57,000, started against the most expensive lineup in history. Toronto exploded in the sixth. Even Ohtani’s late-game homer couldn't dampen the mood.
- Game 2 (Dodgers win 5-1): Yoshinobu Yamamoto happened. He threw a four-hitter. It was the first World Series complete game since 2015. He looked like a machine, mixing splitters and 96 mph heaters that made Vladdy look human for once.
- Game 3 (Dodgers win 6-5): This was the 18-inning marathon. Eighteen. In Los Angeles, the game lasted so long people were eating breakfast by the time Freddie Freeman hit the walk-off home run. Ohtani reached base nine times in this game alone.
- Games 4 & 5: Toronto actually rallied back in LA. They took both games to head back to Canada with a 3-2 lead. At that point, the city of Toronto was convinced the 32-year drought was over.
The Yamamoto Factor and the Game 7 Heartbreak
If there is a "villain" in the Toronto story, it isn't Ohtani. It's Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The man was untouchable. He earned the World Series MVP for a reason. In Game 6, he came back on short rest to stifle the Jays’ bats again, winning 3-1 and forcing the ultimate Game 7.
November 1, 2025. Game 7.
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Toronto jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The stadium was shaking. You could feel the 1993 vibes in the air. But the Dodgers are a different breed of relentless. They chipped away. Then, in the top of the ninth, with two outs, Miguel Rojas—of all people—hit a game-tying home run.
The air left the building.
Toronto had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. One hit. That’s all they needed. But they couldn't find the gap. The game went to extras, and the Dodgers eventually clawed out a 5-4 win in the 11th. The Dodgers became a dynasty. The Blue Jays became a "what if."
The Teoscar Hernandez Revenge Tour
Kinda awkward, right?
Teoscar Hernandez, a guy Toronto fans absolutely adored, was the one hurting them in the opposite dugout. He even admitted before the series that he nearly signed back with Toronto in the 2024 offseason. Instead, he took a three-year deal with LA.
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He didn't just play; he crushed. His solo shot in the middle of the series shifted the momentum when the Dodgers looked gassed. Watching "Teo" celebrate on the Rogers Centre turf while wearing LA gear was a bitter pill for the Blue Jays faithful to swallow.
What the Numbers Actually Tell Us
People love to call this a "David vs. Goliath" story because of the Dodgers' payroll. Honestly? It's a bit of a stretch. While the Dodgers were #1, Toronto was sitting at #5 in total payroll. This wasn't a bunch of scrappy underdogs; it was two heavyweights swinging for the fences.
The regular season history between these two is surprisingly sparse—only 30 games played before this series, with the Dodgers holding a slight edge. But after 2025, this has turned into a genuine cross-continental rivalry.
What’s Next for the Blue Jays and Dodgers?
The fallout of this series is already changing the 2026 landscape.
Toronto has stopped playing "nice guy" in free agency. They recently signed Kazuma Okamoto and are reportedly playing hardball with stars like Kyle Tucker and their own Bo Bichette. They’ve adopted the "Dodger posture"—basically telling players they need the Jays more than the Jays need them.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are eyeing a three-peat. They’ve already added Edwin Díaz to an already terrifying bullpen. They aren't just trying to win; they're trying to break the league.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans:
- Watch the 2026 Schedule: The first time these two meet in the regular season, expect fireworks. The "We don't need you" chants are now a permanent part of the Toronto-Ohtani lore.
- Monitor the Bo Bichette Negotiations: With the Dodgers potentially in the mix for a shortstop, the "Toronto Blue Jays contra Dodgers" battle might move from the field to the front office.
- Keep an eye on Trey Yesavage: The Game 1 hero proved that high-priced talent can be neutralized by young, fearless pitching. His development is the key to Toronto returning to the Fall Classic.
The 2025 World Series proved that the Blue Jays are finally back in the elite tier of MLB. They lost the ring, but they gained the respect of the league. Just don't ask them about private planes to Toronto anytime soon.