Category News

The 2025 edition of the World Series, which features one more titan looking to defeat a potential new foe, kicks off in Toronto on Friday.

In the past ten years, Major League Baseball’s big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers have been a juggernaut. After losing back-to-back World Series in 2017 and 2018, they triumphed in the Covid-shortened 2020 season, then overcame fellow behemoth, the New York Yankees, last year.

And they have remained victorious in the National League playoffs, defeating only one of their ten postseason games, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1, and sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0.

A revitalized Toronto Blue Jays team is in their way, having defeated the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox to win the AL pennant before winning the game again in the play-offs and coming from 2-0 and 3-2 down to clinch the Seattle Mariners.

But will the Dodgers become the first team to win successive World Series since the Yankees in 1998, 1999 and 2000?

Game 1 (in Toronto): Friday, 24 October

On Saturday, October 25th, Toronto, for Game 2.

Game 3 (in Los Angeles): On October 27th, 2018.

Game 4 (in LA): Tuesday, 28 October

On Wednesday, October 29th, 2018, in LA, game 5*

Friday, October 31st, for Game 6* (in Toronto).

Game 7* (in Toronto): Saturday, 1 November

Shohei Ohtani is the face of baseball right now, ensuring that this World Series will be as closely followed in Japan as it will be in North America.

The 31-year-old is a rare “two-way” player who can play both as a pitcher and a hitter in a game where most college players are instructed to pick one discipline over the other.

He signed a $ 700 million (£558 million) contract with the Dodgers as a free agent for the 2024 season, rejecting the Blue Jays and other potential buyers.

While injury prevented him from pitching last year, he was unanimously voted as the National League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). He made history with a 50 home run and 62 strikeouts as the first MLB player to do so simultaneously when he returned to the pitcher’s mound in June.

And he rewrote the record books in the play-offs, striking out 10 batters and allowing three home runs in the championship game, which was hailed as one of the best in history.

A Sports Illustrated cover is everything television loves to tell a redemption story.

In June 2014, the US magazine Sports Illustrated made a bold front-page prediction that the struggling Houston Astros, in the midst of rebuilding their roster, would win the 2017 World Series.

The prophecy was fulfilled three years later. In the 2017 “Fall Classic,” Houston defeated the Dodgers, with Springer earning the MVP after five of the seven games with home runs.

However, that success was later tarnished by an electronic sign-stealing scandal which left Springer, and other players involved, in the role of MLB’s pantomime villains – particularly in the eyes of Dodgers fans after they also lost the 2018 World Series to a Boston Red Sox team who were themselves later found guilty of sign-stealing.

Springer left Houston for Toronto in 2021 via free agency, but despite turning 36 this year, he still leads the Blue Jays’ starting lineup with a three-run homer in the final AL Championship Series game seven, earning him the title of one of MLB’s best postseason performers of all time.

If Ohtani’s $70 million annual salary were not deferred at all, Ohtani would have earned an even higher figure, and that $68 million is more than the Miami Marlins’ $67 million salary alone.

“Before the season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball”, bullish manager Dave Roberts said after they reached the World Series. “Get four more wins and really ruin baseball,” the saying goes.

A win for the Dodgers, however, might make it more likely that MLB does not have a salary cap, as opposed to the other “Big Four” US sports (football, basketball, and ice hockey).

The players ‘ union, naturally, bitterly opposes a cap. Naturally, MLB and the team owners would like one. Given the amount of money the Dodgers are spending, even the Yankees’ owners have questioned how other teams can compete.

And with the current collective bargaining agreement between owners and players due to expire in December 2026, the two sides seem as far apart as ever.

Founded as an expansion franchise to MLB in 1977, the Blue Jays have been a lone Canadian representative since the struggling Montreal Expos were bought by MLB and relocated to the US capital for 2005, becoming the Washington Nationals.

Although Canada still has seven NHL teams, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1993, the same year that the Blue Jays last won the World Series.

The only other Canadian “Big Four” success came with the 2019 NBA Finals victory for the Toronto Raptors.

The Blue Jays have a local Canadian hero leading the charge this time – first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr, who was born in Montreal while his Hall of Fame father Vladimir was playing for the Expos.

Freddie Freeman, who has dual Canadian and US citizenship because his parents are from Ontario, is opposing him on first base for the Dodgers.

Despite playing for both teams this year, he is a guaranteed World Series champion despite a sluggish .069 batting average in 2025.

Meet Clifton Lewis ‘ Buddy ‘ Kennedy.

He debuted in MLB in 2022 after being picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks after graduating from high school, but by September 2023 he was already moving.

He started his 2025 MLB career with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he was let go in July by the Oakland A’s, St. Louis Cardinals, and Detroit Tigers. He frequently flies between the minor leagues and gets call-ups to the major leagues.

Signing for the Blue Jays, he played only two games before moving to the injury-hit Dodgers in August. He was then let go after only one hit in 17 at-bats, and he was then signed back to Toronto on a minor league deal.

Lionel Messi has been the best MLS player so far, but unless he brings Miami home from the play-offs, the season will be regarded as a failure.

The Argentine forward, who has just won the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals and is reportedly vying for the title of the most valuable player award once more, signed a new deal until 2028.

In the event that that happens, Messi will become the first MLS player to win it twice in its 30-season run.

The 38-year-old and Inter Miami are aware that winning the MLS Cup for the first time in their history is a prerequisite for their ability to defend the league title, which the 38-year-old and Inter Miami have failed to do.

The franchise, which is owned by David Beckham and is led by Javier Mascherano, will take on Nashville SC on Friday in the first game of a best-of-three series. Sam Surridge is the English striker’s attacking partner.

The post-season play-offs are seen as the main piece of silverware in America, even though the league title may be regarded as the most important prize for clubs around the world.

Since Messi left Paris St-Germain for Inter Miami in 2023, the club has been pursuing this goal, but it has not yet been realized.

The 2023 Leagues Cup, a new tournament that pitted teams from the MLS and the Liga MX, was the only knockout competition he and the club have ever won.

Since then, they have lost seven cups and have only added one more trophy, besides the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, to their overall league standing.

If Inter Miami don’t win the MLS Cup, then defender Noah Allen, age 21, said: “Yeah, that’s a failure. We have high expectations of ourselves.

Messi has already had a significant impact at Inter Miami both on and off the field, despite not revealing whether he will participate in the World Cup in North America next summer.

To increase focus, increase fans, increase sales, increase profits, and increase chances of success, a higher calibre of player has been drawn to the club – renowned names like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

The club currently sells more shirts than Juventus, and Messi is in line to buy the franchise when he retires. Vogue magazine also features Messi’s shirts as a fashion item.

In terms of goals and assists, Messi almost broke the previous single-season record held by former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela.

In Los Angeles FC’s 2019 season, the Mexican recorded 49 goals and 16 assists, but Messi only managed 45.

After earning the MLS Player of the Month for the third time this year, earning the Golden Boot, and being on the verge of receiving another MVP award, he enters round one of the play-offs against Nashville.

Some people believe Messi and Inter must achieve MLS Cup success after committing his future to the organization.

The top nine teams from the Eastern Conference and the top nine from the Western Conference advance to the play-offs, which will see eighteen teams advance through the four rounds before the MLS Cup final.

Bradley Wright-Phillips, a two-time Golden Boot winner and former Manchester City forward, said to MLS Apple TV, “You can’t assemble The Avengers without winning the MLS Cup.”

We’re going to judge that against the fact that they won’t win a cup, as they say, and that their time will still be filled with success.

Dax McCarty, a fellow Apple TV analyst and former Atlanta player, said, “When I look back and reflect on Messi’s career, I don’t really think about whether or not he won an MLS Cup. However, whether or not he wins an MLS Cup will undoubtedly have an impact on his legacy.

Lionel Messi has been the best MLS player so far, but unless he brings Miami home from the play-offs, the season will be regarded as a failure.

The Argentine forward, who has just won the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals and is reportedly vying for the title of the most valuable player award once more, signed a new deal until 2028.

In the event that that happens, Messi will become the first MLS player to win it twice in its 30-season run.

The 38-year-old and Inter Miami are aware that winning the MLS Cup for the first time in their history is a prerequisite for their ability to defend the league title, which the 38-year-old and Inter Miami have failed to do.

The franchise, which is owned by David Beckham and is led by Javier Mascherano, will take on Nashville SC on Friday in the first game of a best-of-three series. Sam Surridge is the English striker’s attacking partner.

The post-season play-offs are seen as the main piece of silverware in America, even though the league title may be regarded as the most important prize for clubs around the world.

Since Messi left Paris St-Germain for Inter Miami in 2023, the club has been pursuing this goal, but it has not yet been realized.

The 2023 Leagues Cup, a new tournament that pitted teams from the MLS and the Liga MX, was the only knockout competition he and the club have ever won.

Since then, they have lost seven cups and have only added one more trophy, besides the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, to their overall league standing.

If Inter Miami don’t win the MLS Cup, then defender Noah Allen, age 21, said: “Yeah, that’s a failure. We have high expectations of ourselves.

Messi has already had a significant impact at Inter Miami both on and off the field, despite not revealing whether he will participate in the World Cup in North America next summer.

To increase focus, increase fans, increase sales, increase profits, and increase chances of success, a higher calibre of player has been drawn to the club – renowned names like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

The club currently sells more shirts than Juventus, and Messi is in line to buy the franchise when he retires. Vogue magazine also features Messi’s shirts as a fashion item.

In terms of goals and assists, Messi almost broke the previous single-season record held by former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela.

In Los Angeles FC’s 2019 season, the Mexican recorded 49 goals and 16 assists, but Messi only managed 45.

After earning the MLS Player of the Month for the third time this year, earning the Golden Boot, and being on the verge of receiving another MVP award, he enters round one of the play-offs against Nashville.

Some people believe Messi and Inter must achieve MLS Cup success after committing his future to the organization.

The top nine teams from the Eastern Conference and the top nine from the Western Conference advance to the play-offs, which will see eighteen teams advance through the four rounds before the MLS Cup final.

Bradley Wright-Phillips, a two-time Golden Boot winner and former Manchester City forward, said to MLS Apple TV, “You can’t assemble The Avengers without winning the MLS Cup.”

We’re going to judge that against the fact that they won’t win a cup, as they say, and that their time will still be filled with success.

Dax McCarty, a fellow Apple TV analyst and former Atlanta player, said, “When I look back and reflect on Messi’s career, I don’t really think about whether or not he won an MLS Cup. However, whether or not he wins an MLS Cup will undoubtedly have an impact on his legacy.

For England’s opening Ashes Test match against Australia on Saturday, Mike Lewis has been selected for England’s 19-man matchday squad.

Harry Smith’s absence leaves him with the opportunity to play half-back alongside captain George Williams in the absence of the Hull KR scrum-half.

Lewis won the League Leaders’ Shield and the Challenge Cup as man of the match as Hull KR defeated Wigan in the Grand Final earlier this month.

Jez Litten, a team-mate of his, is also expected to make his first appearance for England since 2023’s mid-season victory over France.

Joe Burgess, their Hull KR team-mate, who returned to the England setup after a 10-year absence when he was called up for the Ashes, has missed out. He scored two tries in the Grand Final.

Instead of announcing a starting lineup, England head coach Shaun Wane has chosen to name a matchday squad. On Tuesday, Australia named their starting 13 players.

England travel to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 1 and AMT Headingley on November 8 after the Test at Wembley on Saturday. All three games will be broadcast live on BBC One at 14:30.

Since his mother is a Londonian, AJ Brimson has made the squad, having previously opted to switch his allegiance from Australia earlier this year.

St Helens forward Alex Walmsley could make his first appearance for England since 2021, while Leigh forward Owen Trout is also in line for an international debut.

Wane stated, “We have a fantastic squad, and it wasn’t easy to narrow down for the first Ashes Test match in 22 years,” but I’m confident the players they chose will face the Kangaroos this weekend.

We’ve spent two fantastic weeks preparing for what will be a historic game under the Wembley Arch.

The Fulton-Reilly Award, which will be presented to the series’ player, will be the winner, among other things.

Bob Fulton and Mal Reilly, two rugby league legends who have appeared in previous Ashes matches, have been the recipients of the new award.

Fulton coached Australia in three more series against Great Britain before taking the lead in the 35 Tests that the Kangaroos won, including four Ashes series.

Jamie Peacock, a former England and Great Britain captain, is optimistic heading into the first Test despite the long wait for Ashes success.

Peacock said he felt the Kangaroos are more vulnerable than some of the great Australian teams he faced in the late 2000s while speaking on the BBC’s Rugby League Top 10 podcast.

It’s a great time to play Australia, he said. We advanced and faced a team that might have had five “Immortals” in it.

They included some of the most renowned players of the past 20 years, such as Paul Gallen, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, and Cameron Smith.

Nathan Cleary will be a standout head and shoulders for this current team. All Pacific Island switches reduce them.

For England’s opening Ashes Test match against Australia on Saturday, Mike Lewis has been selected for England’s 19-man matchday squad.

Harry Smith’s absence leaves him with the opportunity to play half-back alongside captain George Williams in the absence of the Hull KR scrum-half.

Lewis won the League Leaders’ Shield and the Challenge Cup as man of the match as Hull KR defeated Wigan in the Grand Final earlier this month.

Jez Litten, a team-mate of his, is also expected to make his first appearance for England since 2023’s mid-season victory over France.

Joe Burgess, their Hull KR team-mate, who returned to the England setup after a 10-year absence when he was called up for the Ashes, has missed out. He scored two tries in the Grand Final.

Instead of announcing a starting lineup, England head coach Shaun Wane has chosen to name a matchday squad. On Tuesday, Australia named their starting 13 players.

England travel to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 1 and AMT Headingley on November 8 after the Test at Wembley on Saturday. All three games will be broadcast live on BBC One at 14:30.

Since his mother is a Londonian, AJ Brimson has made the squad, having previously opted to switch his allegiance from Australia earlier this year.

St Helens forward Alex Walmsley could make his first appearance for England since 2021, while Leigh forward Owen Trout is also in line for an international debut.

Wane stated, “We have a fantastic squad, and it wasn’t easy to narrow down for the first Ashes Test match in 22 years,” but I’m confident the players they chose will face the Kangaroos this weekend.

We’ve spent two fantastic weeks preparing for what will be a historic game under the Wembley Arch.

The Fulton-Reilly Award, which will be presented to the series’ player, will be the winner, among other things.

Bob Fulton and Mal Reilly, two rugby league legends who have appeared in previous Ashes matches, have been the recipients of the new award.

Fulton coached Australia in three more series against Great Britain before taking the lead in the 35 Tests that the Kangaroos won, including four Ashes series.

Jamie Peacock, a former England and Great Britain captain, is optimistic heading into the first Test despite the long wait for Ashes success.

Peacock said he felt the Kangaroos are more vulnerable than some of the great Australian teams he faced in the late 2000s while speaking on the BBC’s Rugby League Top 10 podcast.

It’s a great time to play Australia, he said. We advanced and faced a team that might have had five “Immortals” in it.

They included some of the most renowned players of the past 20 years, such as Paul Gallen, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, and Cameron Smith.

Nathan Cleary will be a standout head and shoulders for this current team. All Pacific Island switches reduce them.