After convincingly triumphing over the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series and securing a dramatic comeback victory against the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series, the Toronto Blue Jays have advanced to the World Series.
Facing off against the Los Angeles Dodgers, known as the Final Boss, the Blue Jays have captured the nation’s attention with their exceptional performance this season. However, the Dodgers are a formidable baseball powerhouse.
In terms of financial investment, the Dodgers hold the top spot with a whopping $350 million US payroll, while the Blue Jays are not far behind at $255 million US. Interestingly, despite spending $95 million US more than Toronto, the Dodgers won one less regular-season game.
In the realm of home runs, the focus shifts to Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, who has caused concern among Jays fans with his impressive 55 home runs compared to Toronto sluggers George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto, though, had the highest batting average and on-base percentage in the regular season.
Pitching-wise, the Dodgers have exhibited a stronger lineup during the post-season, with three of their top four pitchers maintaining an ERA of under two. Kevin Gausman of the Blue Jays is the only one with a better ERA than Ohtani.
Despite facing the Dodgers only a few times per season, the Blue Jays have struggled, winning just one game out of a three-game series in L.A. this season. The Dodgers, with a rich post-season history, have been consistent contenders since 2013, clinching the World Series title in 2020 and 2021.
With Canadian sports fans hopeful for another major championship, the Blue Jays carry the hopes of the nation. The last major league championship won by a Canadian team was the 2019 Toronto Raptors’ NBA title. The Blue Jays aim to defy the odds and challenge the Dodgers for victory. The journey begins with Game 1 at Rogers Centre on Friday at 8 p.m.