There’s a buzz in the air across Canada, and it’s not just Toronto feeling it. Baseball fans from coast to coast—and even some in the famously rivalrous city of Montreal—are rallying behind the Toronto Blue Jays as they gear up for a historic World Series showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers. For a country that’s longed for a deep postseason run, this Blue Jays squad is suddenly everyone’s team, and their journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
The Blue Jays punched their ticket to the 2025 World Series in dramatic fashion, clinching the American League pennant with a come-from-behind Game 7 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, October 20. It was a game that captured the imagination of fans everywhere. “They did an awesome job and they deserve it. I will be cheering up for them,” said Montrealer Gaelle Noel, capturing the mood of a city that’s usually loath to cheer for anything Toronto.
That’s right—Montreal, home to one of sports’ oldest rivalries with Toronto, is setting aside its differences for now. “You have to give compliments when it’s due,” Noel continued, reflecting a sense of national pride that’s overtaken local allegiances. Santana Enrique, the manager at Sports Crescent in Montreal, echoed those sentiments: “We have no choice but to support them. They represent Canada.”
And represent they do. The Blue Jays haven’t just made it to the World Series; they’ve done so with a roster that’s drawn comparisons to the legendary 1994 Montreal Expos—a team that many still believe was robbed of a World Series shot by the infamous strike. Marquis Grissom, a former Expos player, sees echoes of that fabled squad in the current Blue Jays lineup. “They got a lot of guys that we haven’t even heard of in a while,” Grissom observed. “And those guys got (George) Springer and they got Vladimir Jr., two power guys who hit the ball out of the ballpark and maybe one or two other guys. But they’re very similar to the team that we had in that pitching, guys come out of nowhere.”
One name, though, is on everyone’s lips: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Born in Montreal, the son of Expos legend Vladimir Guerrero, Guerrero Jr. has become the face of this Blue Jays run. His connection to Montreal runs deep, having once appeared as a young child alongside his father at Olympic Stadium. Now, he’s leading Toronto on the biggest stage in baseball, and even the most die-hard Expos fans are finding it hard not to root for him. “Yeah, it’s hard to root for a team from Toronto. Yeah, yeah, blasphemy,” joked Perry Giannias, president of Expos Fest. “But Junior makes it a lot easier. So, you know, with their huge win last night, get on the bandwagon because it’s going to be fun.”
The Blue Jays’ journey to this point has been filled with dramatic moments, but perhaps none more satisfying for some than their elimination of the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series. Game four at Yankee Stadium saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. deliver a decisive blow, sending the Yankees packing and silencing the storied Bronx crowd. For a player who’s made no secret of his feelings toward the Yankees—he’s said he’d never play for them—there was a special satisfaction. MLB Hall of Famer and Yankees legend CC Sabathia didn’t hold back his admiration, posting on X: “That’s legacy @VladGuerrero27.”
But Sabathia’s praise wasn’t limited to Guerrero Jr. The former ace also weighed in on the National League side, where Shohei Ohtani put on a show for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their own Game 4 clincher against the Milwaukee Brewers. Ohtani blasted three home runs and struck out 10, helping the Dodgers to a 5-1 win and back-to-back World Series appearances—a feat not seen since the Kansas City Royals did it in 2014 and 2015. “The true goat of MLB,” Sabathia called Ohtani, a comment that raised eyebrows in New York, given Aaron Judge’s status as Yankees captain.
Now, the stage is set for a classic David vs. Goliath showdown. The Dodgers, reigning champions and perennial powerhouse, stand in the way of the Blue Jays’ Cinderella story. “They are the champs from last year. And it’s going to be a tough series,” said Jean-Paul Marchand, a Bromont resident and die-hard Jays supporter. Toronto-area fan Corry Kuipers put it this way: “I would have said not a chance, but after seeing last night, maybe it’s a Cinderella story if they can do it. It’s like David vs. Goliath.”
The excitement is palpable, and the schedule is set. Game 1 of the World Series kicks off Friday, October 24, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Game 2 follows on Saturday, also in Toronto, before the series shifts to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 on October 27 and 28. If needed, Game 5 will also be in LA on October 29, with potential Games 6 and 7 returning to Toronto on October 31 and November 1, all at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
There’s a sense that this Blue Jays team is more than just a collection of players—they’re a symbol of resilience, of exceeding expectations, and of uniting a country that doesn’t always see eye to eye when it comes to sports. “They’re playing for their country, not only for the city of Toronto, but they’re playing for the city also of Montreal,” Marchand reflected, underlining the national significance of this run.
As the first pitch of the 2025 World Series approaches, anticipation is reaching fever pitch. Whether you’re a lifelong Jays fan, a Montrealer putting aside old grudges, or just a baseball lover looking for a storybook ending, there’s no denying the magic in the air. The Blue Jays are poised to write a new chapter in Canadian sports history—and fans everywhere are along for the ride.
With the series about to get underway, all eyes will be on Toronto’s Rogers Centre Friday night. Will this be the year the Blue Jays capture their first title since 1993, or will the Dodgers’ dynasty continue? One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a series to remember.