MLB World Series 2025: Your One-Page Cheat Sheet for Baseball's Biggest Event

Get ready: the Fall Classic has returned. That’s the nickname fans use to describe the MLB World Series, which takes place from the 25th of October until the 2nd of November.  

This time round, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays will battle across a best-of-seven series to see who will be crowned baseball's champion.

For UK bettors, it's a chance to engage with one of America's longest standing sporting traditions and discover why millions tune in each October for what many consider the peak of professional baseball. 

What Makes the World Series Special 

The World Series represents the culmination of the hard-fought, 162-game regular season and month-long playoff gauntlet of Major League Baseball.  

Two teams of the original 30 remain, having overcome division and championship series to get to this point. The format of the MLB rewards sustained excellence over marathon-like seasons, before it demands peak performance across an intense period of playoffs.  

And this year’s final sees the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers face off against Toronto Blue Jays, Canada’s solitary MLB representative hungry for glory. With a maximum of seven games played out over nine days, audiences worldwide can expect plenty of winner-takes-it-all drama.  

For those watching in the UK – keep in mind games typically start at midnight or 1 a.m. GMT – the World Series offers something a little different from the sports we usually follow. It's baseball at the highest level, where one swing can make the difference, and where strategy and individual brilliance come together under the floodlights. 

Why You Should Be Paying Attention 

Baseball betting might seem like unfamiliar territory, but there are several reasons why the World Series games can be an ideal entry point. 

Manageable series length 

Rather than the regular season’s six-month marathon, with the World Series you’re committing to a total of seven games over nine days. It’s contained, focused and doesn’t ask for months of engagement from you. 

And if one team decides to put the opposition to rout, it could be wrapped up in as little as four games, given that it’s a best-of-seven tournament. 

Deep coverage and analysis 

There’s a flood of attention from the media when it comes to the World Series, meaning pre-game analysis, team news and expert opinions are easy to find. You won't struggle to find information that helps you make informed decisions about these games. 

Varied betting markets 

Baseball offers diverse betting options beyond simple game winners. Game totals, innings-specific bets and player performance props create numerous ways to engage with the action. 

Competitive balance 

Unlike some sports where favourites dominate, baseball's playoff format can create genuine uncertainty. The best teams don’t always win the World Series, and upsets can happen quite often, helping create interesting betting opportunities. 

Betting Basics for Baseball 

If you haven’t placed a bet on baseball before, but we’ve piqued your interest, you’ll be happy to know that the fundamentals translate fairly well from other sports.  

By and large, American sports feature bet types and markets comparable to the ones we’re familiar with here.  

Moneyline (Match winner) 

The US equivalent of a match winner or match result bet. Here, you just back which team you think wins the game outright.  

Baseball doesn’t have draws, with extra innings persisting until someone scores and wins it for their team. 

Run line (Handicap)  

Spead betting, baseball style. Typically set at 1.5 runs, meaning favourites must win by 2+ runs to cover, or underdogs must lose by no more than 1 run (or win outright) for a successful bet.  

Totals (Over/under) 

Decide whether the teams’ combined runs exceed or fall short of the bookmaker’s line, depending on how you perceive the pitching matchups and offensive strength. 

First five innings 

These are bets that settle on outcomes after the first five innings rather than the full game. Popular because starting pitchers, who typically throw at least five innings, can exert more control over early game outcomes. 

Player props 

The individualistic nature of baseball helps create extensive player proposition markets. Will a batter hit a home run? Will a pitcher record 4+ strikeouts? These markets allow focused betting on certain player performances, in addition to outright markets like the World Series MVP. 

What Makes World Series Baseball Different 

A few distinctive aspects of the World Series worth knowing, though you don't need to be an expert to enjoy betting on it. 

Pitching matters 

Baseball revolves around the battle between pitcher and batter. Starting pitchers typically play 5-7 innings before they're replaced by relief pitchers. Games where strong starting pitchers face off can result in low-scoring affairs, while weaker matchups can produce the opposite. 

Series wear and tear 

Unlike one-off football matches, playing up to seven games in nine days means that pitcher fatigue becomes a factor. Relief pitchers used heavily in early games may be less effective later in the series. 

Home advantage exists but varies 

The two teams alternate between venues, with the home-field advantage going to whichever team finished the regular season with a higher win percentage.  

This year, the first two games will be held at the Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre, games three, four and five at the Dodger Stadium and then games six and seven back at the Rogers Centre.  

Home teams generally perform better, but the advantage is less striking than in other sports. 

It's like chess with bats 

Managers make constant decisions about when to replace pitchers, when to use certain batters and how to respond to developing situations in the game. 

These decisions create the strategic depth that baseball fans appreciate, though you can enjoy betting without mastering these nuances. 

Betting on Baseball at Bally Bet 

If you’ve played with us before, you’ll know that it’s straightforward to place your bets here. If not, let us show you how: 

Navigate to the baseball section or search for MLB in the Explore menu. We show markets for the next upcoming game, with markets for later games following soon after. 

Once you’ve selected the game, a number of tabs containing different event markets will appear, with a Bet Builder tab available making it easy to see which markets you can combine. 

When you’ve decided which events you’d like to wager on, just click or tap it to add it to your bet slip. Enter your stake and confirm your selections, then wait a few seconds for confirmation of your bet.  

Responsible Betting on the World Series 

There’s no denying that the World Series is an exciting viewing experience, and should you decide to place a bet on the games, it’s important to maintain responsible practices to keep that excitement positive. Remember to use our deposit limits and range of responsible gambling tools to stay in control of your involvement. 

Set budgets before the first pitch rather than making decisions in the heat of the moment. And keep in mind that, with seven games to enjoy, you don’t need to bet on every game to enjoy the series. The World Series delivers compelling drama even if you're simply enjoying the elite baseball on display. 

The 2025 World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays promises the drama and tension that make this series special. Whether you're a practised baseball follower or just discovering the sport, the Fall Classic offers accessible entry into one of sport's grandest stages. 

Ready to get involved? Join Bally Bet today to explore World Series markets and experience baseball's biggest showcase. 

Keen to learn more about other popular American sports or fancy brushing up on sports betting in general? Make your way to the Bally Bet blog and find all our helpful articles and guides.

All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.