The last teams standing in Major League Baseball are all set to play for a ring and a place in the history books. While the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers enter the World Series as the favorite, the Toronto Blue Jays do have a path to pull the upset.

Which team will ultimately celebrate with the Commissioner’s Trophy? That’s what we’ll try to figure out in USA TODAY Sports’ annual Simulated World Series. Using the Dynasty League Baseball online simulation, USA TODAY Sports and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.

Since we’re playing these games beforehand, there are still a few unknowns as we set our rosters and lineups. So the results may not always be exact (though sometimes they’ve been incredibly close), the overall takeaways still stand.

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Game 1 simulation

Perhaps the biggest surprise leading up to the start of the 2025 World Series was the Blue Jays’ decision to start rookie Trey Yesavage over ace Kevin Gausman in Game 1. Frankly, we didn’t see that coming.

The other big decision for Toronto was whether injured shortstop Bo Bichette would be able to play after missing the first two rounds of the playoffs with a sprained knee. We chose to have Bichette active, but only serve as the DH. Fortunately for the simulated Jays, Bichette came through in the clutch with a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to break the game open. (Toronto did, in fact, add Bichette to its World Series roster.)

BOX SCORE: Blue Jays 9, Dodgers 1

FULL PLAY-BY-PLAY: Bichette’s big blast fuels Jays rout

Andres Gimenez added a bases-clearing double in the seventh and Myles Straw hit a solo homer in the eighth to account for the rest of the scoring.

Meanwhile, Gausman was sharp on the mound, limiting the powerful Dodgers offense to one run and three hits in tossing a complete game.

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Game 2 simulation

So about that rookie starting pitcher with only six major league starts under his belt taking the mound in the World Series … Trey Yesavage was not up to the challenge in the Sim Series.

Battling a severe case of the jitters, Yesavage walked four of the first five batters he faced to begin the game, and only recorded two outs before he had to be taken out. The damage: 5 runs, 2 hits, six walks in ⅔ of an inning. Ouch.

The Dodgers scored in each of the first four innings to build a 9-0 lead and cruised to a series-evening victory. Six Blue Jays pitchers ended up issuing a total of 14 walks in the game, making the outcome never in doubt.

BOX SCORE: Dodgers 12, Blue Jays 3

FULL PLAY-BY-PLAY: Dodgers tee off early on Blue Jays rookie

Freddie Freeman had the only extra-base hits of the game for L.A. – a solo homer in the third inning and an RBI double in the seventh. Meanwhile, Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed three runs over seven innings and struck out 12 to get the win.

Two games. Two blowouts. And the two teams head to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 all tied up.

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Game 1 projections, analysis

So what does our simulation tell us about what we can expect when the real Game 1 takes place?

First of all, Yesavage will be under an intense spotlight. Will he be able to handle the pressure the way he’s done so far in the playoffs? The first inning will tell us a lot about him. The Jays could regret not going with their ace, Gausman, as they look to set the tone for the series.
The Jays will certainly welcome Bo Bichette’s bat in the lineup. He hit a career-high .311 this season with 18 homers and 94 RBI. However, if Bichette is in the lineup as the designated hitter, that will mean George Springer has to play the outfield. In Dynasty League Baseball’s defensive ratings, Springer grades out as a D in terms of his range in the outfield. That could make a difference with so many big bats in the Dodgers lineup.
Dodger starter Blake Snell needs to be sharp. He allowed four hits, five walks and three earned runs in 5⅓ innings in Sim Series Game 1 before L.A. went to its bullpen. They’ll be missing an important reliever as left-hander Alex Vesia will miss at least the start of the series due to a personal family matter. (Vesia gave up Bichette’s big home run in our Game 1.)

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Game 2 projections

Yamamoto vs. Gausman should be an excellent pitcher’s duel. Gausman went the distance in Sim Series Game 1, while Yamamoto tossed seven effective innings in his Game 2 start. Both have been outstanding so far in the playoffs.
Runs figure to be at a premium, although Bichette homered again in our Game 2, a solo shot off Yamamoto in the eighth inning. We’re seeing why his bat is so important if the Blue Jays are going to try and slug it out with the Dodgers. L.A. had the second-highest scoring offense in the majors this season, while Toronto ranked fifth.
Toronto’s bullpen will be an interesting case study. The Dodgers have three dangerous left-handed hitters at the top of their lineup in Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy. As the game progresses into the late innings, the Blue Jays will have lefty relievers Brendon Little, Mason Fluharty and Eric Lauer to counter them. We put all three on our Sim Series roster to give the Jays added flexibility if high-leverage innings arise earlier in the game.

TORONTO — Bo Bichette, who has not played since Sept. 6 and missed the Toronto Blue Jays’ entire postseason run due to a left knee sprain, will return for the World Series, while Alex Vesia, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top left-handed pitcher, is not on their roster.

Both clubs released their World Series rosters Friday, Oct. 24 and Bichette was added in place of utilityman Joey Loperfido, indicating he and the Blue Jays were pleased with the outcome of his workout Thursday at Rogers Centre.

Bichette, 27, their two-time All-Star shortstop and a pending free agent, took batting practice and fielded ground balls at second base during Toronto’s World Series workout. His addition comes after the Blue Jays’ defensive alignment was adjusted in his absence, as they moved regular second baseman Andrés Giménez to shortstop and deployed Ernie Clement and, after Anthony Santander’s injury, Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base.

Giménez is the defensively superior shortstop, but Bichette’s bat would be a significant boon to either the Blue Jays’ lineup or bench. He posted a .307 average, 181 hits and an .840 OPS this season.

Vesia, 29, is away from the club after the Dodgers announced he was tending to a ‘deeply personal matter’ involving his wife, Kayla. They have been expecting their first child.

‘The entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family,’ the Dodgers said in a statement, ‘and we will provide an update at a later date.’

The Dodgers now have the option, according to an MLB official, of placing Vesia on the ‘family medical emergency list.’ If Vesia is placed on leave, he would be required to stay for a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven days.

Rather than add lefty Tanner Scott, their $72 million acquisition who has not pitched since the division series, the Dodgers opted for right-handers Will Klein and Edgardo Henriquez. Three of the first four hitters in the Blue Jays lineup are right-handed sluggers in George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk.

Toronto Blue Jays World Series roster

Pitchers (12): RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Shane Bieber, RHP Seranthony Dominguez, RHP Braydon Fisher, LHP Mason Fluharty, RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP Jeff Hoffman, LHP Eric Lauer, LHP Brendon Little, RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Louis Varland, RHP Trey Yesavage.

Position players (14): C Tyler Heineman, C Alejandro Kirk, INF/OF Addison Barger, INF Bo Bichette, INF Ernie Clement, INF Ty France, INF Andrés Giménez, INF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, OF Nathan Lukes, OF Davis Schneider, OF George Springer, OF Myles Straw, OF Daulton Varsho.

Los Angeles Dodgers World Series roster

Pitchers (12): LHP Anthony Banda, LHP Jack Dreyer, RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP Edgardo Henriquez, LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Will Klein, RHP Roki Sasaki, RHP Emmet Sheehan, LHP Blake Snell, RHP Blake Treinen, LHP Justin Wrobleski, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Position, two-way players (14): SS Mookie Betts, OF Alex Call, OF Justin Dean, INF/OF Tommy Edman, 1B Freddie Freeman, INF/OF Kiké Hernández, OF Teoscar Hernández, INF/OF Hyeseong Kim, 3B Max Muncy, DH/P Shohei Ohtani, OF Andy Pages, INF Miguel Rojas, C Ben Rortvedt, C Will Smith.

The NBA world woke to explosive news that the FBI had secured more than 30 indictments tied to alleged illegal gambling scandals, linking three current and former prominent NBA figures.

Current Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones were each arrested Thursday, Oct. 23 for their alleged involvement in the operation, though they are facing different charges.

FBI director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella Jr. announced the indictments Thursday in a press conference.

The case creates a massive ripple effect across the league, not only for Billups and Rozier, but for the NBA’s public perception.

Here’s everything you need to know about the explosive details of the alleged NBA gambling scandals.

NBA fraud scheme: What does this mean for the NBA?

The NBA said Thursday in a statement that both Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been placed on “immediate leave” as the league is “in the process of reviewing” the indictments.

This allows the league some flexibility in removing Billups and Rozier from public view while the legal process plays out and while the league determines what steps to take. The NBA said it would “continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities.”

The league doesn’t have many options aside from that.

The NBA had initially cleared Rozier following an investigation, but the league lacks subpoena power afforded to law enforcement.

On Thursday, January 30, news of an investigation into Rozier in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York came to light. At that point, the NBA said it would cooperate with that investigation, which ultimately resulted in the arrest of Rozier Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department said Billups, Rozier and Jones are each expected to make a court appearance later Thursday.

What does this mean for Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier?

Although the legal process — which may take months, if not longer — will need to play out, involvement in an alleged illegal gambling operation such as this could effectively end the careers of both Billups and Rozier.

Even if both are eventually cleared in the matter, teams may opt to keep their distance from figures who were allegedly connected to a high-profile gambling operation.

But if either or both are found to have committed impropriety, they would be subject to league discipline in addition to any sentencing resulting from the legal process.

Billups, 49, has been the Trail Blazers coach since 2021 and has compiled a 117-212 (.356) record in that span. He was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024 after a 17-year playing career.

Although Portland has not been competitive during Billups’ tenure, he did draw moderate improvements out of its young roster toward the end of last season. The Trail Blazers, though still likely some time away from competing in the stacked Western Conference, had the potential to build on that momentum in 2025-26.

The Trail Blazers lost their season opener Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The team named Tiago Splitter as the interim coach.

Billups had signed a multiyear contract extension with the Trail Blazers, general manager Joe Cronin announced Sunday, April 13, though terms were not disclosed.

Rozier, 31, is currently on the Heat, though he has struggled and has played himself out of the rotation in Miami. In Wednesday night’s season-opening loss against the Magic, Rozier was a healthy scratch.

In 64 games last season, Rozier averaged 10.6 points per game, representing his lowest total since the 2018-19 season. He’s in the final season of his contract with Miami, which had been reportedly looked to offload him in a trade.

What are the charges Chauncey Billups is facing?

Though the indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York does not specify individual counts for the alleged participants, Billups was charged in connection with an illegal poker operation tied to the mafia.

According to Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, charges in this scheme include wire fraud conspiracy, illegal gambling, money laundering, robbery, and extortion.

Beginning as early as 2019, defendants allegedly used wireless cheating technology to run rigged poker games in places including the Hamptons, Miami, Las Vegas and Manhattan.

Billups, who was not the coach of the Trail Blazers at the time of his alleged involvement but merely a former NBA player, was one of the draws that helped lure victims to the illegal poker games. Essentially, the victims were allegedly duped by the allure of playing poker alongside former pro athletes like Billups and Jones.

Yet, according to the indictment, the dealer at the games, the high-profile players and other figures were in on a scam that allegedly tipped information to all players except the victims.

“Once the game was underway, the defendants fleeced the victims out of tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars per game,” Nocella said.

The alleged fraud included self-shuffling machines that had “been secretly altered in order to read the cards on the deck, predict which player on the table had the best poker hand, and relay the information to an offsite operator,” according to Nocella.

“The offsite operator sent the information via cell phone back to a co-conspirator at the table and that person at the table was known as the ‘quarterback.’ The ‘quarterback’ then signaled secretly the information he had received to others at the table and together they used that information in order to win their games and to cheat the victims.”

Poker chip tray analyzers, special contact lenses or eyeglasses that read pre-marked cards, and an X-ray table that reads cards face down were also allegedly used in the scheme.

Members of the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese organized crime families also allegedly became involved, taking a cut of the rigged poker games and enforcing the collection of debts.

Former Cavaliers player and coach Damon Jones, who is also implicated in the alleged insider sports-betting scandal, was also indicted in the illegal poker operation.

What are the charges Terry Rozier is facing?

In a separate indictment, Terry Rozier is one of six defendants charged in an alleged insider sports-betting conspiracy. Damon Jones is also implicated in the alleged scheme. The charges listed in the indictment are conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to the indictment, Rozier, Jones and others allegedly committed fraud by betting based on insider information about NBA athletes and teams from around December 2022 to March 2024.

The non-public information included when players would be sitting out future games or when they would pull themselves out early based on purported injuries or illnesses.

Rozier is accused of manipulating his performance during an NBA game to benefit illegal betting. The game took place on Thursday, March 23, 2023, when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets.

He had averaged 35.3 minutes and 21.1 points per game that season, and entered the night with no injury designation.

He started the game, but played only 9:34 minutes before he left the game with a supposed foot injury. He did not return and would subsequently miss the remaining eight games of the season.

That night, Rozier took just four shot attempts, making two of them, and scored five points, while adding four rebounds and two assists.

According to the indictment, Rozier informed his childhood friend, De’Niro Laster, that he “was going to prematurely remove himself from the game in the first quarter due to a supposed injury and not return to play further.”

Per the indictment, Laster then allegedly sold the information about Rozier’s participation to multiple co-conspirators so that they could place fraudulent wagers.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr. called the alleged setup, “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”

What are the charges Damon Jones is facing?

Former Cavaliers player and coach Damon Jones is allegedly implicated in both schemes.

In the insider sports-betting conspiracy, Jones allegedly provided non-public injury information about the status of two players in NBA games, per the federal indictments.

Based on public injury information USA TODAY Sports reviewed from the dates of those games, those players may have been LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Jones allegedly used his access with the Lakers and their top players to help orchestrate the operation, with the focus being a Feb. 9, 2023 game between the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. According to the indictment, Jones allegedly texted gamblers that “Player 3” would not be playing in that game.

Player 3 is identified in the indictment as “a prominent NBA player” with whom Jones had been teammates and coached. Jones played with James for the Cleveland Cavaliers over three seasons and served as an unofficial Lakers coach during the 2022-23 season, according to the indictment.

At the time of the text message, “Player 3” had not been ruled out of that game against the Bucks.

Jones is also alleged to have tipped off gamblers about the participation of “Player 4” ahead of a Jan. 15, 2024 game involving the Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jones claimed to have learned from a team trainer that “Player 4” was injured and going to play limited minutes during that game.

Identified in the indictment as “one of the Lakers’ best players” during the 2023-24 season, “Player 4” was listed as probable on the team’s injury report. Davis was the only Laker listed as probable on that game’s injury report.

Jones allegedly sold that information for fraudulent gambling purposes, though Davis played and finished the game with 27 points and 15 rebounds.

The 2025 World Series is here. The Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to defend their championship against the Toronto Blue Jays beginning Friday, Oct. 24, and the anticipation is palpable for this best-of-seven matchup.

It’s Shohei Ohtani and the powerful pitching of the Dodgers, coming off a four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, against the big bats of the Blue Jays, most notably Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

It’s shaping up to be a memorable Fall Classic, and perhaps that could include some more extra-innings games. The rules are different in the MLB postseason than the regular season these days when it comes to games that are tied after nine innings.

Here’s a breakdown of MLB’s extra innings rules for the 2025 World Series:

World Series extra innings rules explained

In 2023, MLB permanently instituted a regular-season rule in which, if a game goes to extra innings, both teams start each extra inning with a runner on second base beginning with the top of the 10th. During MLB postseason games, however, the rules revert back to normal for extra innings.

If the Dodgers and Blue Jays were to play extra innings in a game during the World Series, each inning would start with the bases empty.

World Series schedule: TV, streaming for 2025 Fall Classic

Every game of the 2025 World Series will be broadcast nationally on FOX and be live streamed with Fubo. Here’s a look at the full Fall Classic schedule for the Blue Jays and Dodgers:

All times Eastern

Game 1: Dodgers at Blue Jays, 8 p.m. on Oct. 24 (FOX, Fubo)
Game 2: Dodgers at Blue Jays, 8 p.m. on Oct. 25 (FOX, Fubo)
Game 3: Blue Jays at Dodgers, 8 p.m. on Oct. 27 (FOX, Fubo)
Game 4: Blue Jays at Dodgers, 8 p.m. on Oct. 28 (FOX, Fubo)
Game 5: Blue Jays at Dodgers, 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 (FOX, Fubo)*
Game 6: Dodgers at Blue Jays, 8 p.m. on Oct. 31 (FOX, Fubo)*
Game 7: Dodgers at Blue Jays, 8 p.m. on Nov. 1 (FOX, Fubo)*

*if necessary

The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 on ‘Thursday Night Football.’
Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz was sacked five times and appeared emotional on the sideline.
The Vikings are now 2-3 in games started by Wentz, who is filling in for the injured J.J. McCarthy.

Tears filled Carson Wentz’s eyes as he leaned back on the Minnesota Vikings’ bench in the fourth quarter. His walk there was preceded by a helmet toss, which revealed a red forehead – a symbol of his night.

Before that, Wentz had been walloped on back-to-back incompletions that turned the ball over on downs. He laid on the SoFi Stadium ground for a few extra moments as he grabbed at his left hand.

“Yeah, I’m not proud of that,’ Wentz told reporters after the game. ‘I apologize to the equipment guys for that one but yeah, I was in a good amount of pain.”

By game’s end, with the Vikings losing 37-10 to the Los Angeles Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ Max Brosmer was in at quarterback. He had it easy compared to the other guy.

Wentz, Minnesota’s starter for the past five games, bore the brunt of a barrage from the Chargers defense, which sacked him five times in a rebound effort, albeit against a backup with Vikings Week 1 starter J.J. McCarthy still on the shelf with an ankle injury.

“Yeah, I’ve felt better,” Wentz said. “That was a tough one. Thursday nights are always tough but that was a little extra tough. I’ve felt better but we’re walking, and we’re alright.” 

It didn’t help much that the passer entered the Week 8 matchup dealing with an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell noted an overthrown incompletion to Jefferson that a healthy Wentz potentially makes and could have been an explosive play, he said.

Wentz had entered the game 7-0 as a starter on Thursdays. 

“Pain is pain. I felt like I could still help this team and find a way to go down and score and all that stuff. We knew that coming into the game that that was going to be part of it but again, that’s the tough part of Thursday night games. We just don’t quite get the chance to recover but that’s no excuse by any means. When I was playing out there, I felt fine.”

The physicality of the previous game, a 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, was a contributing factor, O’Connell said. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw was able to start, but he lasted two drives. Right tackle Brian O’Neil (knee) was not active. 

“It just felt like we weren’t good enough in any of our three phases tonight,” O’Connell said.

He added: “Injuries and any other excuse you can find them, we will not be doing that.” 

Star receiver Justin Jefferson managed seven catches (11 targets) for 74 yards, but the Los Angeles defense limited his explosive-play ability (his longest catch was 17 yards). The Vikings averaged 3.1 yards per carry on 11 rushing attempts, even in running back Aaron Jones’ return from injured reserve.

The commentary from the broadcast booth was harsh by the pampered standard of announcer analysis, as Prime Video analyst Kirk Herbstreit said, ‘when you’re the captain of the ship, you’re the quarterback, you gotta try to hold some of that emotion in. And I know he’s frustrated, and he’s hurt, but it’s Week (8). There’s a long way to go.’

Wentz finished 15 for 27 with 144 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Vikings are now 2-3 with him as the starter in McCarthy’s stead; the 2024 10th overall pick was the team’s emergency (third-string) quarterback on Thursday.