Winner-Take-All Championship Showdown
Daily MLB Picks - Expert Analysis
đ Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
â° Time: 8:00 PM ET
đ Venue: Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
đïž TV: FOX
⟠Probables: Tyler Glasnow (LAD) vs Max Scherzer (TOR)
After six dramatic games filled with record-breaking performances, 18-inning marathons, and heart-stopping moments, the 2025 World Series comes down to one final game. The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers escaped elimination in Game 6 with a 3-1 victory behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto's brilliance and a game-ending double play that will be replayed for generations. Now they face the Toronto Blue Jays in a winner-take-all Game 7 at Rogers Centre, where 50,000 fans will create a deafening atmosphere for their team's first championship opportunity since 1993.
This is what baseball dreams are made of: Game 7, World Series, everything on the line. One team will etch their name in history. The other will go home devastated. There is no tomorrow.
Blake Snell got chased in a nine-run sixth inning disaster. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dominated with 3 RBI. The Blue Jays sent a message: this won't be easy for the defending champs.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto's complete game masterpiece (105 pitches, 4 hits, 8 Ks, 0 BBs). Will Smith and Max Muncy hit crucial seventh-inning homers. LA showed championship composure on the road.
An instant classic. Freddie Freeman's leadoff home run in the 18th ended the 6-hour, 39-minute marathon. Shohei Ohtani went deep twice and had 4 intentional walks. Alejandro Kirk hit a three-run bomb in the fourth. This game took everything out of both teams.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s two-run homer (his 7th of the postseason) powered a four-run seventh. Shane Bieber outdueled Shohei Ohtani, striking him out twice. Toronto's resilience shined through.
Historic night at Dodger Stadium. Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit back-to-back leadoff home runsâthe first time in World Series history. Trey Yesavage set a Fall Classic rookie record with 12 strikeouts and became the first pitcher with 12 Ks and zero walks in a World Series game. Toronto was one win away.
Survival mode activated. Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw six brilliant frames (1 ER, now 4-1 with 1.56 ERA in October). Mookie Betts broke out with a two-run single. The game ended with Kiké Hernåndez making a catch and doubling off a runner in the ninth. Tyler Glasnow got a three-pitch save. Game 7 was forced.
| Split | ERA | IP | WHIP | K/9 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 3.19 | 90.1 | 1.04 | 11.8 | Dominant when healthy |
| Postseason | 1.50 | 18.0 | 0.94 | 12.5 | Elevated in October |
| vs Blue Jays (Series) | 0.00 | 1.0 | 0.00 | N/A | 3-pitch save in Game 6 |
Scouting Report: Glasnow brings elite stuff with a fastball that sits 97-99 mph and a devastating slider. His postseason ERA of 1.50 across 18 innings shows he elevates in big moments. The question is workloadâhe threw just three pitches in Game 6 relief, but Dave Roberts will need him to go deep tonight. When Glasnow locates his heater up and buries his slider, he's virtually unhittable. The Blue Jays have barely seen him this series, which could work in his favor or against him depending on whether he establishes his rhythm early.
Keys for Glasnow:
| Split | ERA | IP | WHIP | K/9 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 5.19 | 85.0 | 1.29 | 10.2 | Age 41, limited innings |
| Postseason | 4.50 | 10.0 | 1.40 | 9.9 | Mixed results |
| vs Dodgers (Series) | N/A | 0.0 | N/A | N/A | Has not pitched yet |
Scouting Report: Mad Max. The ultimate competitor. At 41 years old, the three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series champion gets the ball in the biggest game of the season. His regular season numbers (5.19 ERA) tell the story of a pitcher managing innings and preserving his arm for October, but when the lights are brightest, Scherzer has historically delivered. His fastball now sits 91-93 (down from his prime), but his breaking ball, changeup, and baseball IQ are elite. He knows how to pitch, not just throw. The Dodgers have star power, but Scherzer has been there beforeâhe won Game 7 of the 2019 World Series with the Nationals.
Keys for Scherzer:
Series Leaders:
What the Dodgers Need Tonight: Los Angeles has the offensive firepower to score in bunches, but they've been inconsistent. They scored 11 runs in the 18-inning Game 3 marathon but managed just 1 run in Game 5. Mookie Betts breaking out in Game 6 is massiveâwhen he's locked in, the entire lineup flows. The key is getting to Scherzer early before he settles into a rhythm. If the Dodgers can jump ahead 2-0 or 3-0 in the first three innings, Scherzer's age and workload become factors. Late-game at-bats will be crucialâthis team has the depth and experience to manufacture runs.
Series Leaders:
What the Blue Jays Need Tonight: Toronto's offense runs through Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and he's been unstoppable with 8 postseason homers and a .364 average against LA. If Vlad gets his pitch, he's not missing it. The historic back-to-back leadoff homers in Game 5 showed this lineup can explode instantly. The Blue Jays need to work Glasnow's pitch count earlyâmake him labor through the first three innings and get into the Dodgers' bullpen by the sixth or seventh. Home-field advantage and crowd energy will fuel this lineup. Rogers Centre will be rocking, and that emotional lift translates to aggressive, confident at-bats.
Rogers Centre will be the loudest building in baseball history tonight. 50,000 fans who have waited 32 years for this moment will create an atmosphere that rattles opposing pitchers and energizes the home team. The Blue Jays are 5-1 at home this postseason. The roof will be closed, creating a pressure cooker environment. The Dodgers must handle this chaosâyoung players can wilt under this intensity.
Neither starter will go nine innings. Dave Roberts and John Schneider must manage their bullpens perfectly. The Dodgers have Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, and others who have been dominant. Toronto has Jordan Romano and Ryan Yarbrough. One wrong matchup, one bad pitch, and the season is over. Expect both managers to have quick hooksâthis is not the time to let a starter face the lineup a third time if they're struggling.
The Dodgers survived elimination and carry momentum from the incredible Game 6 double play finish. But Game 7 is a complete reset. The Blue Jays had a chance to win at home in Game 6 and failedâhow do they respond? Championship teams compartmentalize failure and move on. If Toronto comes out tentative or tight, LA will pounce. If Toronto plays loose and free, their offensive firepower takes over.
In a tight Game 7, one error can cost a championship. The Dodgers' game-ending double play in Game 6 saved their seasonâthat defensive execution must continue. The Blue Jays' defense has been solid all series. Expect small ballâbunts, hit-and-runs, stolen bases. The team that executes fundamentals wins.
The Dodgers are trying to repeat as championsâsomething no team has done since the 2000 Yankees. They have the pressure of defending their title. The Blue Jays are trying to deliver Toronto's first championship since 1993. They have the pressure of 50,000 fans and an entire nation watching. Who handles the pressure better? Who stays calm in the chaos? That intangible will determine the outcome.
Moneyline Value: The Dodgers opened as -137 favorites (57.8% implied probability), which feels light given Glasnow's dominance. The market is pricing in home-field advantage and Guerrero Jr.'s tear. The Blue Jays at +112 (47.2% implied) represent value if you believe in Scherzer's experience and Rogers Centre's energy. This line suggests the market sees a true toss-up with a slight Dodgers edge.
Total Analysis (8.0): The total opened at 8.0, which is low for a Game 7 with two offenses capable of erupting. The market expects both Glasnow and Scherzer to pitch well under the pressure. Historically, Game 7s trend under because pitchers pitch carefully and managers have quick hooks. However, if either starter gets shelled early, this total sails over. The 18-inning Game 3 showed both offenses can score. Lean slightly under due to pitching quality and defensive intensity.
Runline Considerations: The Dodgers -1.5 at +122 is intriguingâif LA wins, they likely win comfortably given their offensive firepower. But Game 7s are often decided by one or two runs. The Blue Jays +1.5 at -149 is expensive but offers insurance if Toronto loses a close game. Avoid the runlineâstraight moneyline or total is the play.
Toronto Blue Jays 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 3
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning. Max Scherzer pitches 5.2 solid innings, exiting with a standing ovation. Toronto's bullpen holds on despite a late Dodgers rally. Rogers Centre explodes as Jordan Romano gets the final out. The Blue Jays are World Series champions for the first time since 1993.
Recommended Bet: Blue Jays ML +112 (1 unit)
Game 7 of the World Series is why we love baseball. Two teams. Nine innings. Everything on the line. No script, no guaranteesâjust pure competition at the highest level. The Dodgers have the experience, the talent, and the momentum from Game 6. The Blue Jays have the home crowd, the hottest hitter in baseball, and a pitcher who has been here before.
One team will celebrate in champagne-soaked jubilation. The other will endure the crushing devastation of falling one game short. This is the pinnacle of sports drama.
Enjoy the game. This is what baseball is all about.