This Fall Classic is going to be one for the history books.
After an incredible showing by Shohei Ohtani to take Los Angeles all the way, and Toronto’s huge Game 7 win to meet the Dodgers, this could be a good one.
The Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series odds are tight. MLB odds don’t usually open this close for the World Series. The smart money will find a way to comb through the data to find an edge in this World Series preview.
Check out the latest World Series odds at Lucky Rebel.
Los Angeles Dodgers (-154)
The Shohei Ohtani show just went to the next level. Even sharps couldn’t have called what he did in the ALCS.
The Dodgers legend is coming off a deciding game where he pitched 5+ scoreless innings, threw for 10 K’s (including striking out the side in the first) and blasting 3 homers in the same game. When he heads to Canada for Game 1 of the World Series this Friday, he won’t be pitching but he will be in the lineup. Rested.
Beyond Ohtani, the Dodgers will send an ace to the mound every night, even if the Series goes to seven games. Their starting pitchers combined ERA in 10 starts this October is 1.40. They’ve whiffed opposing batters 81 teams during this same stretch.
Blake Snell already as 10 seasons and 2 Cy Youngs to his name. And he’s got a microscopic 0.86 ERA in the playoffs so far. Snell started Game 1 of the NLCS and threw a one-hit, no-walk, 10K gem over 8 innings. If they want or need to, LA can start Snell in 3 out of 7 World Series games.
It’s tough to find a weak link for Toronto hitters to break through. But it could be in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Roki Sasaki is the X factor in the World Series for LA. He’s throwing 100+ mph heat and closing games every few nights in the playoffs, but he’s still basically a 23-year-old rookie who just had to navigate a move to the bullpen after life as a starter. If there’s a soft spot for the Dodgers, start here. World Series pressure is a whole different ball game.
We’re tempted to fade Sasaki late, especially if he’s coming up against the meat of the Toronto order.
Toronto Blue Jays (+126)
Despite all the deserved attention, Ohtani hasn’t even been the best player in the MLB Playoffs to this point.
It’s Vladdy.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has hit 6 home runs since the playoffs started. He’s only struck out three times in October, a crazy stat for a power hitter.
His slash line is even crazier. At .442/.510/.930, he’s looking at one of the best postseason runs in MLB history.
Every MLB fan – even the casual ones – are going to grab their popcorn when Ohtani is on the mound facing Guerrero. But the Jays have other weapons that they can count on. World Series prop bettors should keep in mind that this is an exception for Guerrero in the playoffs. He’s actually done pretty badly in past Octobers. Before this year, in just six postseason games, he hit .136 and had just one homer. If Guerrero suddenly feels the pressure and slips, the Jays will need to rely on other bats to survive.
Starting with George Springer. He sent the team to the World Series in Games 7 of the ALCS with his 3-run HR in the 7th. And he’s got elite postseason experience. He’s third all-time in MLB playoff home runs, and he took the World Series MVP award back in 2017 with the Astros.
The X factor here is a team effort. Blue Jays just feel like a bigger roll of the dice than the Dodgers overall.
There’s the fact that they haven’t been in the World Series in 32 years. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are the reigning champs and this year will be their fourth Fall Classic in the past 8 seasons.
Then there’s the ghost of Guerrero’s past playoff flops. Add in Jays’ pitcher Trey Yesavage, who’s been dealing in these 2025 playoffs so far. He is still a rookie. The World Series can buckle knees and make palms sweat for anyone, especially rookies.
How to Bet the 2025 World Series
Overall, it’s tough to go against pitching strength. Like the Super Bowl and the “defenses win championships” line, in baseball it’s all about the starters and the bullpen. This is where LA has the edge. Especially since they swept the Brewers in the NLCS and have gotten rest, versus the Jays being pushed to seven games in the ALCS.
The First 5 Innings bet that often gives sharps an edge is tight for the World Series. The Blue Jays are +109 for Game 1 while the LA is -144. Neither side offers a big ROI at the moment – but watch the First 5 odds as the Series progresses. The Dodgers were second in MLB this season in runs scored, so there could be more First 5 openings as pressure gets to the Jays’ pitching. Arms will cool off and bats could heat up.
Sharps will look for overvalued plays, but this late in the season, the lines are as tight as they can get. Your best bets are playing the momentum swings with World Series live betting.
Some examples where the smart money might find an edge…
A big part of World Series live betting to watch for comes down to knowing matchups. If you see a lefty coming up against Ohtani late, especially if the pitcher has been throwing for 50-60+ pitches already, you could cash on a homer or extra-base hit with favorable odds that the books might have been slow to adjust.
If you’re into prop bets, the World Series offers a ton. One example that we like: you can score a serious payout on Player to Hit a Home Run and a Double. For Game 1, Ohtani is paying +1050 and Guerrero +2150.
For World Series MVP bets, the obvious ones are Ohtani (+170) and Guerrero (+600). But if either player cools off, there’s solid value in Springer (+1000) and Freddie Freeman (+1000).
Freeman has not had the hot playoff run like he’s had in previous years, but regression could mean he’s due. He’s got 15 MLB playoff home runs, including homers in 5 straight WS games, and he picked up last year’s World Series MVP award.