The Fall Classic gets underway tonight north of the border with an intriguing matchup between the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the upstart Toronto Blue Jays.
The Dodgers have been sitting back since sweeping the Brewers in the NLCS, while the Blue Jays rallied past the Mariners to capture the American League pennant.
Check out our Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series Game 1 prediction for this matchup at Rogers Center starting at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
World Series Game 1 Prediction: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Pick
Los Angeles is seeking its third World Series title since 2020 and is facing its fourth AL East foe in the Fall Classic since 2018.
Toronto last played in the World Series in 1993, when they stunned Philadelphia on the Joe Carter walk-off home run. The Jays have took both of their World Series appearances, with its first title coming against Atlanta in 1992.
Let's dive into our World Series Game 1 Prediction and pick for the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays throwdown.
Los Angeles Dodgers Preview vs. Blue Jays
The Dodgers are rolling right now, winning nine of 10 playoff games, including a perfect 4-0 road record. L.A. is making its first visit to Toronto this season; the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in two of three meetings at home in August.
The pitching staff has been dominant of late, allowing one run in each of the past five victories. Los Angeles has compiled a 2.45 ERA in the playoffs and has limited opponents to a .145 batting average.
Toronto Blue Jays Preview vs. Dodgers
The Blue Jays fell in a 2-0 hole in the ALCS to the Mariners and needed to win the final two games to continue their season.
Toronto climbed back to force Game 7, only to trail 3-1 in the seventh inning. DH George Springer electrified the Toronto crowd by blasting the go-ahead 3-run homer to give the Jays a 4-3 lead and eventually their first pennant in 33 seasons.
The Jays leads MLB this postseason with a .296 batting average and have hit 20 home runs, which are tied for the most with the Mariners.
World Series Game 1 Prediction: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Pick
Here are some of the more intriguing potential PrizePicks options for Game 1 of the World Series.
Dodgers P Blake Snell vs. Blue Jays Projection: 6.5 Strikeouts
- Snell (2-0, 4.35 ERA) has put together a dominating postseason, striking out 28 batters in 21 innings of work.
- In five of his last six starts, Snell has compiled 9 or more strikeouts, including three double-digit outputs.
- The two-time Cy Young winner racked up 10 strikeouts in 5 innings of a 9-1 blowout over Toronto on August 9.
- In that game, Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero didn’t strike out against Snell. Springer didn’t play.
- The left-hander faces a Blue Jays’ offense that has struck out at 14.8% rate in the postseason, the lowest in MLB.
- Toronto has not struck out more than four times against any starting pitcher in the postseason.
Blue Jays P Trey Yesavage vs. Dodgers Projection: 5 Strikeouts
- Yesavage (1-0, 3.21 ERA) is making just his seventh career start on Friday, but gets the ball in Game 1 of the World Series.
- The right-hander posted 7 strikeouts in the Game 6 victory over Seattle in the ALCS, marking his fourth start of at least 5 Ks this season.
- Yesavage put together a 25.8% strikeout rate in the regular season, which was the best among any Toronto starting pitcher.
- The Dodgers owned a 21.9% K rate this season, but that number slightly increased to 23.7% in the postseason.
- Yesavage didn’t face the Dodgers this season.
- The top strikeout victims in the postseason are DH Shohei Ohtani (17) and 2B Tommy Edman (12).
Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman vs. Blue Jays Projection: 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBIs
- Freeman captured World Series MVP honors last season, highlighted by his walk-off grand slam in Game 1 against the Yankees.
- He didn’t hit a home run in the 2024 playoffs until going deep four times in the World Series.
- Freeman has hit 1 homer in this postseason, which was also his lone RBI in the 2-1 victory over Milwaukee in Game 1 of the NLCS.
- In five of the last six games, Freeman has finished below this projection.
- Freeman has produced at least one hit in 12 consecutive road games.
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Los Angeles hits the road for Game 1 of the World Series against Toronto at Rogers Center. Will the Dodgers continue their dominance on the mound or can the Blue Jays break through behind through for a series opening victory at home?
In addition to the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays game, there are plenty of other projections to consider on PrizePicks. Just pick More or Less for at least two MLB player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks and win real money if your picks are correct. Check out the Playbook for more daily MLB picks throughout the season.
