The lineup is set, the games are scheduled and we’re ready to play. The Major League Baseball World Series kicks off Friday night with two teams that couldn’t be more different from each other.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Toronto Blue Jays in Game One of the World Series at 8 p.m. EDT in Toronto, marking the start of a best-of-seven series.
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How they got here
These two teams have had very different post season runs so far.
The Dodgers cruised to a 9-1 record thus far through the playoffs, most recently sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 in the National League Championship Series. They eliminated the Cincinnati Reds in the wild card round and the Philadelphia Phillies in the divisional matchup.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays battled it out in the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, winning in seven games. Previously, the Blue Jays played the New York Yankees in the divisional matchup.
The two teams had almost identical regular-season records, with the Dodgers finishing at 93-69, while the Blue Jays wrapped up with a record of 94-68.
Previous World Series appearances
For the Dodgers, this World Series appearance is not a rarity. The team has participated in the Series five times over the past 10 years, including a championship last year. They could become the first repeat World Series winners since the Yankees in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays haven’t appeared in the Series since 1993, when they won the second of back-to-back championships. The franchise has a total of three World Series crowns.
Comparing payrolls
Another difference between these teams? Their overall payrolls. The Dodgers are working with one of the largest payrolls in baseball, sitting at about $321 million. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are working with about $240 million, MLB’s fifth highest.
With the Dodgers regularly in the World Series running, some critics have questioned whether the team’s large budget is a significant factor to its success. Some are even calling for salary caps in the MLB.
World Series schedule
(All times in ET)
Game 1: Friday, October 24 – 8 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, October 25 – 8 p.m.
Game 3: Monday, October 27 – 8 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday, October 28 – 8 p.m.
Game 5 (If needed): Wednesday, October 29 – 8 p.m.
Game 6 (If needed): Friday, October 31 – 8 p.m.
Game 7 (If needed): Saturday, November 1 – 8 p.m.
Where to watch
All World Series games will air on Fox. Anyone who doesn’t have a cable subscription can tune into FOXSports.com, the FOX Sports app and Fox’s new streaming platform, FOX One.
Fox is also available on Fubo, which offers a free trial for the first seven days, Sling and Hulu + Live TV.
