Garion Thorne gives you a preview, prediction and pick for Game 1 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays got a huge win for their franchise and set the tone for the 2025 World Series on Friday. They’ll look to take two in a row from the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night in Game 2, while the Dodgers will try to avoid going into an 0-2 hole before the series heads to the West Coast.

The Blue Jays’ bats exploded for a nine-run sixth inning, highlighted by a pinch-hit grand slam to cruise to an 11-4 win. They’ll look to take a commanding lead by giving the ball to Kevin Gausman in Game 2, while the Dodgers counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Both starters have been effective in the postseason, so it should be another close, hard-fought game with plenty of drama.

On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Dodgers are road favorites at -150 on the Moneyline, with the run total for the game set at 7.5. Let’s preview this Saturday night Game 2 contest with the help of some odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Game 2 prediction, preview

The Dodgers got back to the World Series by riding their dominant starting pitching past the Reds and Brewers. After an extended layoff, though, Blake Snell didn’t look great in Game 1, allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings, after allowing just two runs on six hits in 21 innings in his previous three playoff starts.

Can Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto avoid the same fate? Yamamoto was dominant in a complete game against the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS. Yamamoto allowed one run on three hits with seven strikeouts. He also had a very strong start against the Reds in the Wild Card series, but the Phillies did get to him for three runs on six hits in the NLDS. Since he hasn’t pitched in almost two weeks, it’s hard to know exactly what the Dodgers will get from Yamamoto, with a wide range of possibilities based on his recent performances.

The Blue Jays will call on Gausman, who has been their Game 1 starter for most of the playoffs. Trey Yesavage was solid in the first game of the World Series, though, allowing Gausman to slide to Game 2. In his three postseason starts, Gausman has allowed just four runs across 17 innings. He also added an inning of relief to earn the win in Game 7 of the  ALCS. Gausman hasn’t been as dominant as Yamamoto, but he has produced solid results in each of his postseason starts and is always a big-game competitor.

The Blue Jays’ Game 1 hero was Addison Barger off the bench with his pinch-hit grand slam. The lefty will likely get the start against Yamamoto in Game 2, and I highlighted how he has been heating up in my top Player Prop Bets for Game 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his hot postseason with two more singles and a walk in Game 1 and is hitting .447 with a 1.441 OPS. Barger and Guerrero are the hottest hitters in Toronto’s lineup, with playoff veteran George Springer in the leadoff spot. The team also welcomed back Bo Bichette (knee) in Game 1 after he had been sidelined since September 6 with a PCL Sprain.

On the Dodgers’ side, Shohei Ohtani provided most of the offense with a two-run homer in the seventh inning right after Toronto scored all their runs. No player in the Dodgers’ lineup had multiple hits, and Ohtani’s dinger was the only extra-base hit.

Since Gausman is a veteran, there are some Dodgers with history against him. I included Mookie Betts in my player props, since he knows Gausman well from their time in the AL East. While the Dodgers’ offense doesn’t have as many scalding-hot hitters overall, they do have plenty of offseason experience. Betts, Freddie Freeman, Kiké Herandez, and Tommy Edman have all come through in the past in these moments on the big stage, and they could come through in the clutch again on Saturday night.

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Game 2 pick, best bet

Best Bet: Over 2.5 home runs (+105)

Four homers were hit in Game 1 of the World Series, and both of these lineups are full of players with power potential. The Blue Jays have 23 homers in their 12 games (1.9 per game), while the Dodgers have 14 homers in their 11 games (1.3 per game). Rogers Centre is usually a homer-friendly environment, and even though there may not be a ton of runs scored, I think we’ll get at least three dingers in Game 2.

Strong Lean: Total Runs – 1st 5 Innings under 3.5 (+114)

Both starting pitchers have been effective enough for me to take the under in the first five innings at plus money. In Game 1’s 15-run contest, only four runs were scored in the first five innings. Both bullpens can be a little shaky, but Yamamoto and Gausman have both been solid throughout the playoffs. After the starters leave in the late innings, I think we’ll see some fireworks that ultimately decide the outcome of Game 2.