You probably remember where you were when Miguel Rojas hit that ball.
It was the top of the ninth in Game 7. The Toronto Blue Jays were exactly two outs away from their first World Series title since Joe Carter jumped for joy in 1993. The Rogers Centre was shaking—literally. Then Rojas, a guy who had only hit seven home runs all year, found a Jeff Hoffman slider and sent it into the left-field seats.
Silence.
That single swing didn't just tie the game; it cemented Toronto vs LA Dodgers as the most high-stakes, big-money, heart-shredding matchup in modern baseball. If you think the Yankees and Red Sox is still the peak of the sport, you haven't been paying attention to what’s happening north of the border and out in Chavez Ravine.
The World Series That Changed Everything
Honestly, the 2025 Fall Classic was a fever dream. We saw an 18-inning marathon in Game 3 that was the second-longest in World Series history. We saw Addison Barger—a kid who started the year in Triple-A—hit the first-ever pinch-hit grand slam in the history of the Series.
But mostly, we saw a clash of philosophies.
The Dodgers are the "Death Star." They spent roughly $509.5 million on their roster in 2025. Between Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani, they have a lineup that feels like a cheat code. Toronto, on the other hand, is the "Gritty Contender." They had a $252.7 million payroll—half of LA's—and led the league with 49 come-from-behind wins.
When people search for Toronto vs LA Dodgers, they’re looking for the stats, but the real story is the psychological warfare. Toronto fans still haven't forgotten the "Ohtani Plane" saga of a few years back. Every time Shohei steps into the box in Toronto, the boos are deafening. It’s personal.
By the Numbers: How They Stack Up
Looking back at the 2025 season, the parity was actually wild.
- Regular Season Record: Toronto (94-68) vs. LA (93-69).
- Head-to-Head: The Dodgers took the regular-season series 2-1 in August.
- The World Series Result: Dodgers won 4-3.
- MVP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was basically a robot, pitching 2.2 innings in Game 7 just 24 hours after a 96-pitch masterpiece in Game 6.
Why Toronto Can’t Seem to Close the Gap
It’s about the "Small Moments."
👉 See also: Northwest Stadium Parking Pass: How to Not Get Stuck in Landover Traffic
In Game 6, Toronto trailing 3-1, Addison Barger ripped a liner that looked like it would score the tying run. Instead, the ball got lodged in the fence. Ground-rule double. Runner stays at third. The rally died.
In Game 7, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa was thrown out at home by inches in the 10th inning. If he's safe, the Blue Jays are champions. Instead, the game went to the 11th, Will Smith hit a moonshot off Shane Bieber, and the Dodgers became the first repeat champs since the 2000 Yankees.
The Dodgers have this weird, inevitable quality. They don't just beat you with talent; they beat you because they have nine guys who can all be the hero. While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the ALCS MVP and hit .447 in the postseason, the Dodgers countered with depth. When Ohtani struggled (he went 1-for-4 in Game 1), Yamamoto or Rojas stepped up.
The Shohei Ohtani Factor in Toronto vs LA Dodgers
Let's talk about Shohei.
👉 See also: Where to Watch Tottenham: The Expert Strategy to Catch Every Match
He is the sun that everything in MLB orbits around right now. In Game 3 of the World Series, he reached base nine times. Nine. He was intentionally walked four times because John Schneider simply refused to let him swing.
But Toronto has their own "Ohtani-stopper" in Trey Yesavage. The 22-year-old rookie sensation struck out 12 Dodgers in Game 5. He represents the hope for Toronto. To beat the Dodgers, you don't need to outspend them (you can't); you have to out-pitch them with young, cheap, electric arms.
What’s Next for This Rivalry?
The 2026 season is already shaping up to be a revenge tour for the Jays. They just lost the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes to—you guessed it—the Dodgers. It feels like every time Toronto tries to take a step forward, LA is there to remind them who owns the trophy.
If you're betting on the next Toronto vs LA Dodgers series, keep an eye on these three things:
👉 See also: Who Plays on Fox Today: The NFC West Playoff Showdown You Can't Miss
- The Bullpen Fatigue: Both teams threw over 70 innings in their last seven-game stretch. Whoever rested their arms better in the offseason wins April.
- Vladdy’s Contract: Guerrero Jr. is playing like a man who wants $500 million. If Toronto doesn't lock him up, the Dodgers might just try to buy him too.
- The Rogers Centre Factor: Toronto's home-field advantage (54-27 last year) is real. The turf and the closed roof create a noise level that clearly rattled the Dodgers in Game 1.
The gap between these two teams is essentially the width of a baseball. One bounce, one lodged ball, one Miguel Rojas slider. That’s all that separates a dynasty in Los Angeles from a parade in Toronto.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Track the Pitching Rotations: Watch how Toronto manages Trey Yesavage’s innings in 2026. He is the only pitcher who consistently made Ohtani look human.
- Check the Secondary Market Early: If these two meet in the regular season, tickets will vanish. The 2025 World Series averaged 26 million viewers; the hype is at an all-time high.
- Monitor Vladdy’s Exit Velocity: He outperformed Ohtani at the plate for most of October. If he maintains that 100+ mph average, he’s the clear favorite for 2026 AL MVP.