The Toronto Blue Jays are gearing up to face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the upcoming World Series, set to kick off this Friday at the Rogers Centre. Before Major League Baseball’s championship series begins, here are five key points to keep in mind.
Throughout the 122-year history of the World Series, the hosting of Games 1, 2, and the decisive Game 7 has been determined by various methods. This season, it will be based on the teams’ regular-season win percentages. With the Blue Jays boasting a .580 win rate compared to the Dodgers’ .574, the Rogers Centre will play host to the first two games and potentially Games 6 and 7.
Tickets for the much-anticipated series will go on sale at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
In a surprising turn of events, when Shohei Ohtani, the star player, became a free agent in 2023, speculations were rife that he might join the Blue Jays. However, it was revealed that Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, were leveraging negotiations with Toronto to secure a massive 10-year, US$700 million deal with the Dodgers, ultimately leading to his move to Los Angeles.
After a stellar season with the Dodgers, Ohtani clinched the NL MVP title and will now aim to secure back-to-back World Series victories. With impressive stats such as hitting 55 home runs and 102 RBIs, along with a solid performance as a starting pitcher, Ohtani is set to make a significant impact on the upcoming series against Toronto.
Los Angeles boasts one of the highest payrolls in baseball, with a staggering $509.5 million spent on players this season, comprising a $341.5 million payroll and an additional $168 million in projected luxury tax. This figure nearly doubles the Blue Jays’ $252.7 million payroll, including a projected $13.4 million in tax.
The Dodgers, with eight World Series championships under their belt, hold the fifth position in MLB history. This year marks their 23rd appearance in the Fall Classic, hailing from both Brooklyn, N.Y., and Los Angeles.
On the other hand, it will be Toronto’s third time in the World Series, having emerged victorious in the championship series in 1992 and 1993. The Blue Jays share a perfect winning percentage in the World Series with the Florida Marlins, L.A. Angels, and Washington Nationals.
Interestingly, despite a 37-year age gap, Dodgers Stadium and the Rogers Centre rank as the third and sixth oldest stadiums in Major League Baseball, respectively. Opening in 1962, L.A.’s ballpark can accommodate 56,000 fans, making it the largest in MLB, while the Rogers Centre, inaugurated in 1989, has a capacity for approximately 42,000 spectators, placing it in the league’s top ten.