The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 season as heavy favorites to win the World Series. After defeating the Yankees in the previous postseason, they bolstered their roster with key offseason signings, strengthening both the bullpen and the starting rotation. Critics claimed that the Dodgers were “ruining baseball” with their star-studded lineup and stacked pitching staff. Yet, as always, baseball proved unpredictable.
Early in the season, the Dodgers faced adversity. Three of their starting pitchers, including offseason acquisitions Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki, went down with injuries. The bullpen struggled as well; Tanner Scott, another high-profile signing, blew 10 saves. But by season’s end, the rotation returned to health, the offense found its rhythm, and the Dodgers finished 93–69.
The San Diego Padres trailed closely all season, finishing three games behind the Dodgers. In the playoffs, the Dodgers swept the Reds in a quick two-game series before facing the Philadelphia Phillies. Though the Phillies’ starting pitching dominated early, the Dodgers capitalized once the game reached the bullpen, winning the series in four games.
Next came the National League Championship Series against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers. Backed by stellar pitching, the Dodgers swept the Brewers in four games. The final hurdle was the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays. In a thrilling seven-game series, the Dodgers emerged victorious, clinching their second consecutive World Series title.
Game 1
The 2025 World Series opened in Toronto with a bang. The Dodgers sent Blake Snell to face rookie Trey Yesavage. Los Angeles struck early, scoring in the second and third innings to take a 2–0 lead. But the Blue Jays responded in the fourth when Daulton Varsho hit a two-run homer to tie the game.
The Blue Jays’ offense exploded later, knocking Snell out of the game after loading the bases. After a series of singles and a walk, the score reached 5–2. Pinch-hitter Addison Barger then hit a historic grand slam—the first in World Series history—bringing the score to 9–2. Alejandro Kirk followed with a two-run homer, pushing the lead to 11–2. Shohei Ohtani added a two-run shot in the seventh, but the Dodgers could not recover. Toronto won Game 1, 11–4.
Game 2
With their backs against the wall, the Dodgers turned to ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto to face Kevin Gausman. Los Angeles quickly took the lead in the first inning, with Will Smith driving in Freddie Freeman. Toronto tied the game in the third on a sac fly by Kirk.
From the second through the sixth inning, Gausman was nearly perfect, facing the minimum. But the Dodgers’ bats came alive in the seventh, with homers from Smith and Max Muncy putting L.A. ahead 3–1. A bases-loaded wild pitch in the eighth extended the lead to 5–1.
Yamamoto pitched a complete game, allowing four hits, one earned run, and striking out eight. The Dodgers evened the series 1–1 and returned home.
Game 3
Game 3 became an instant classic—a six-hour, 18-inning marathon tying the longest game in World Series history. Tyler Glasnow faced Max Scherzer, and the Dodgers jumped to an early lead with solo shots from Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez.
Toronto fought back with a three-run homer from Kirk and a sac fly from Gimenez, taking a 4–2 lead. The Dodgers answered with key hits from Ohtani and Freddie Freeman to tie the game 5–5. After 18 grueling innings of spectacular defense and clutch pitching, Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off homer. Will Klein’s four-inning relief kept the Dodgers alive, and Ohtani went 4–4 with five walks, reaching base nine times. Los Angeles won 6–5, taking a 2–1 series lead.
Game 4
Shane Bieber faced Ohtani in Game 4. Early scoring from the Dodgers was overshadowed by Guerrero’s two-run homer in the third and a four-run seventh inning by Toronto. The Dodgers managed just one run in the ninth. Toronto evened the series with a 6–2 win.
Game 5
Trey Yesavage returned for Toronto against Blake Snell. The Blue Jays quickly built a 2–0 lead on homers from Schneider and Guerrero, while Kike Hernandez hit the Dodgers’ lone run. Toronto added more in the fourth, seventh, and eighth, ultimately winning 6–1 and taking a 3–2 series lead back home. Yesavage struck out 12, setting a World Series rookie record.
Game 6
Yamamoto again led the Dodgers, facing Gausman. Los Angeles jumped to a 3–0 lead by the sixth, with key contributions from Edman, Ohtani, and Betts. Toronto scored once in the third but could not close the gap. Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki combined to hold the Blue Jays at bay in the late innings.
A peculiar moment arose when Barger hit a ball lodged under the center-field padding; it was ruled a dead ball, preserving the Dodgers’ lead. Tyler Glasnow came in for six outs and closed the game. The Dodgers won 3–1, forcing a decisive Game 7.
Game 7
The final showdown had Max Scherzer against Ohtani. Toronto jumped ahead 3–0 with a three-run homer from Bichette. Los Angeles chipped away with a sacrifice fly from Hernández and a double by Gimenez, trailing 4–3 entering the eighth. Max Muncy’s solo homer tied the game and set the stage for drama.
In the ninth, Miguel Rojas hit a game-tying solo shot—the first ninth-inning, game-tying homer in a Game 7 World Series. In the 11th, Will Smith hit a go-ahead homer off Shane Bieber. Yamamoto, pitching in relief, induced a double play to secure the Dodgers’ 5–4 victory and clinch their second straight championship—the first repeat in 25 years.
Postseason Highlights
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the well-deserved World Series MVP, pitching a complete game in Game 2, six dominant innings in Game 6, and closing Game 7. He went 3–0 with a 1.02 ERA, proving instrumental in L.A.’s success.
Despite outscoring the Dodgers 34–26, the Blue Jays fell short, showing that resilience, timely hitting, and clutch performances define champions. Ernie Clement set a postseason record for most hits, and the Dodgers’ lineup consistently delivered when it mattered most.
This World Series had everything: walk-off homers, marathon extra-inning games, historic pitching, and edge-of-your-seat drama. For the Dodgers, it was more than a victory—it was a statement: teamwork, talent, and perseverance can make history. This series will be remembered as one of the most unforgettable chapters in baseball history.