News Summary
The 2025 MLB World Series will see the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against the Toronto Blue Jays, fueled by soaring global interest and record-breaking viewership. With postseason ratings hitting their highest since 2017, audiences across the U.S. and Canada have shown increased enthusiasm, particularly during key matches. The upcoming series promises international appeal with a diverse roster of players, enhanced by extensive global broadcasting coverage. As the teams prepare for their first match, both aim to leave a lasting mark on baseball history.
Los Angeles and Toronto Prepare for the 2025 World Series Amid Record Viewership
Los Angeles, CA — The 2025 Major League Baseball World Series is set to feature a matchup between the defending champions Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. This highly anticipated series marks a significant milestone, with increased global interest reflected in record-breaking viewership figures and a broad international presence.
Record-Breaking U.S. Viewership and Postseason Ratings
Across the United States, the MLB postseason has averaged about 4.48 million viewers, representing a +13% increase over last year and marking the most-watched postseason since 2017. This surge in viewership illustrates growing national interest in baseball’s postseason action, driven by compelling matchups and standout performances.
Impressive Viewership in the American League Championship Series
The ALCS game seven, featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, significantly contributed to these numbers. The game attracted an average of 15.03 million viewers when including Canadian broadcasts, making it the most-watched ALCS game in recent years. In the U.S., the game alone drew approximately 9.03 million viewers across FOX platforms, setting a record for the most-watched ALCS game since 2017.
In Canada, the game achieved historic viewership, with an average of 6 million viewers on Sportsnet — the best performance for a Blue Jays game in that country. The combined U.S. and Canadian viewership for the entire ALCS averaged approximately 9.39 million viewers, a 60% increase over the previous year’s average of 5.88 million, confirming increased international enthusiasm for baseball’s postseason.
International Attention and Japanese Viewership Milestones
Internationally, the National League Championship Series (NLCS) also drew notable audiences. The Dodgers’ sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers resulted in the most-watched NLCS in Japan, with an average of 7.34 million viewers. This represents a 26% increase compared to the previous year, underlining the global appeal of Dodgers’ postseason run.
Additionally, NLCS Game 4, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani’s historic performance with three home runs and ten strikeouts, achieved an audience of 10.26 million viewers in Japan. This made it the second most-watched LCS game ever in Japan, showcasing players’ growing international profile and the global reach of postseason baseball.
Global Broadcasts and International Players
The 2025 World Series will be broadcast in 203 countries and territories across 16 languages, through a network of 44 media partners. This extensive coverage highlights the global interest and the increasing international footprint of Major League Baseball.
The series features 13 players born outside the United States and Canada, representing eight different countries and territories. The Dodgers host international talents such as Shohei Ohtani from Japan, Teoscar Hernández from the Dominican Republic, and Kiké Hernández from Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays’ roster includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Canada), Alejandro Kirk (Mexico), and Andrés Giménez (Venezuela), underscoring the diverse origins of players competing at the highest level.
Details of the Series Schedule and Team Outlook
The first game of the World Series is scheduled for Friday night at Rogers Centre in Toronto, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. The series is expected to extend possibly up to seven games, with the final game potentially on November 1. All games will be broadcast on FOX, ensuring broad accessibility for viewers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter as favorites to defend their title and aim for back-to-back championships, a feat last accomplished by the Yankees from 1998 to 2000. Despite finishing as the third seed in the National League, the Dodgers’ roster has been widely regarded as one of the strongest post-season teams, featuring key starting pitchers such as Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of whom excelled during the NLCS.
The Blue Jays’ lineup features key players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, who have been instrumental in the franchise’s remarkable playoff run after overcoming a 2-0 deficit to the Mariners. This is the franchise’s first appearance in the World Series since 1993, symbolizing a significant milestone for the club and its fans.
International Impact and Broader Significance
MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. highlighted that the 2025 World Series underscores baseball’s global nature. The series’ international broadcast reach, combined with the diverse nationalities of the players, emphasizes the sport’s increasing worldwide popularity and influence.
As fans across the globe tune in, the 2025 World Series is expected to be a landmark event in baseball’s modern era, showcasing elite talent, international presence, and expanding viewership numbers across multiple continents and countries.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Major League Baseball Reveals 2025 League Championship Series Schedule
MLB Standings Tighten as Trade Deadline Approaches
Arizona Diamondbacks Prepare for Trade Deadline Moves
Additional Resources
- ESPN: Ranking the Best MLB World Series Matchups Since 2000
- Wikipedia: World Series
- ESPN: Dodgers Strongly Favored to Win World Series
- Google Search: Los Angeles Dodgers
- CBS Sports: World Series Schedule 2025 Dodgers vs Blue Jays
- Google Scholar: MLB World Series
- MLB: Dodgers Starting Pitchers Healthy for World Series
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Blue Jays
- Bleacher Report: Maple Leafs and Raptors Adjust Schedules for World Series
- Google News: 2025 MLB World Series
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